Ready for N5? JLPT Guides & List of 100 Kanji

If you are considering taking a Japanese language exam to evaluate your ability, JLPT would be a great choice. There are more than 1 million people taking this test in one year. People take JLPT to measure their own level of proficiency, to attain employment, to get a salary increase, to get a promotion, or for admission / graduation to education institutions.

In this article, there is overall information about JLPT, including the background information about JLPT, a brief introduction to N1~N5, test information in 2022, and lastly the preparation for JLPT N5. Moreover, a list of 100 kanji needed for the N5 test is in the last part of this article. Don’t forget to check it!

What is JLPT 日本語能力試験 ?

JLPT is the abbreviation for “Japanese-Language Proficiency Test”, which the Japanese name is 日本語能力試験 (ni-hon-go-nō-ryoku-shi-ken). This test is founded by two organizations Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) in 1984.

JLPT was first held in only 15 countries and there were only around 7,000 people taking the test. Until now, there are around 95 countries and areas all over the world holding the exam. Even in 2017, the registration number of JLPT is over 1 million. The number of test-takers has a significant growth year by year.

People can take the test not only in Japan but also in many other countries across North America, Latin America, Oceania, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Middle East, Africa, and North Africa. (Click the link for the list of the countries!)

What can you do with a JLPT certificate?

In recent years, there are over a million people who apply for this test all over the world. There are mainly 5 advantages to getting a JLPT certificate.

◉ It is for those who have an immigration plan to Japan

◉ For those who want to require a Japanese medical license / take an assistant nurse exam

◉ Who is seeking a job position in Japan

◉ Definitely for those who want to evaluate their Japanese ability

5 levels of JLPT

This test is arranged into 5 levels, N5, N4, N3, N2, and N1, in which the order is from low to high. There is no limit that one needs to take or pass a lower level in order to take a higher-level test. In this case, you can apply to any level you would like to take the test.

In all the levels, the main test sections include

1. Language Knowledge(Vocabulary / Grammar): 言語知識（文字・語彙 / 文法）
2. Reading: 読解
3. Listening: 聴解

All of the questions are with several options. There is no oral or writing test in all the levels of JLPT.

N5

◉ Linguistic competence required: The ability to understand some basic Japanese.

◉ Overall pass marks / full marks: 80 / 180 points

❝ Check the 100 KANJI LIST for N5 in the LAST section of this article! ❞

N4

◉ Linguistic competence required: The ability to understand basic Japanese.

◉ Overall pass marks / full marks: 90 / 180 points

N3

◉ Linguistic competence required: The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to a certain degree.

◉ Overall pass marks / full marks: 95 / 180 points

N2

◉ Linguistic competence required: The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations, and in a variety of circumstances to a certain degree.

◉ Overall pass marks / full marks: 90 / 180 points

N1

◉ Linguistic competence required: The ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of circumstances.

◉ Overall pass marks / full marks: 100 / 180 points

Registration to JLPT

Who can take JLPT?

JLPT is a test designed for non-native Japanese learners to evaluate one’s language level. In this case, even if one has already possessed Japanese nationality, it is possible to take the test for being a non-native speaker! Also, there is no age limit for registration.

When is JLPT 2022?

Generally, JLPT is held twice a year, which is in early July and December. To be more specific, most of the time, JLPT is held on the first Sunday of July and December.

❖ Taking in Japan

• Test information releasing: (First test) around early February and (Second test) around early July.
• Registration period (Online only): (First test) from late March to mid-April and (Second test) from late August to mid-September.
• Receive test voucher: (First test) mid-June and (Second test) mid-November.
• Test results releasing: (First test) early September and (Second test) early February.

Test Fee: 6,500 JPY (consumption tax included)

More information: https://info.jees-jlpt.jp/info/

❖ Taking in the United States

Test Fee: 100 USD

JLPT in the United States is held by the American Association of Teachers of Japanese (AATJ). There is no July test in the United States. Information on test locations will be released in May or June of 2022. You can find the latest registration information here: https://www.aatj.org/jlpt

❖ Taking in other countries or areas

• Some countries/cities only held one test (July or December) each year.

• Depending on the countries there will be different registration periods and the date of the result. Check this site for the information on the area you are going to take JLPT: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/application/overseas_list.html

💡 Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), remember to check the official website for the latest news of JLPT!

Preparing for the JLPT N5 Test

After a long introduction of information about JLPT, let’s take a look at what kind of questions will appear in the JLPT N5 test and the suggestion for each section!

💡 Language Knowledge (Vocabulary):

Be sure to be familiar with all the hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji. In the vocabulary test section, you will be given some questions about simply choosing the correct hiragana for katakana or kanji word. This would be comparatively easy with other sections, which might be regretful to lose points here! Check my other article for the hiragana, katakana, romaji chart, and download it to practice.

✎ Choose the correct hiragana for a kanji/katakana word given in the question.

✎ Select the most proper word to complete the given sentence in the question.

✎ Choose the option that possesses the closest meaning to the given sentence in the question.

💡 Language Knowledge (Grammar)・Reading:

After the learning of grammar needed for N5, it is suggested to make sentences using contain that grammar. In this case, you can make sure the usage is correct or not. Besides, it is helpful for remembering the grammar with your own sentence.

As to the reading section, when you are doing the practice workbook, pay attention to if you are spending too much time reading. If yes, make sure to improve your speed of reading before the test!

✎ Choose the correct particle that best fit into the given sentence in the question

✎ While there will be 4 consecutive blanks in a sentence, you need to construct the sentence with the 4 options given and choose the correct option to the designated blank.

✎ You can pick the correct word that can best fit into the blank in an article.

✎ Choose the correct option to the question according to the given article.

💡 Listening

In this section, the conversation you will hear are about the situation in daily life. Besides more practice before the test, make sure you possess the ability to pick up the necessary information.

✎ Choose the best option for the given question according to the description or conversation you heard.

100 Kanji list of JLPT N5

Number & Time

Direction

Human & Body

Color

Adjective

Verb

Summary

Thank you for finishing this article. If you are ready to take the JLPT N5 test, hope you have found the information you would like to know. Since the beginning of learning anything usually takes more time and effort, it is important to build a strong foundation in the first phase. As to pass N5, it is essential to build a firm foundation of hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji.

Below is the excel and PDF version of the JLPT N5 100 kanji chart for download. Please feel free to print it out and practice!