New Japanese Language Proficiency Test

The Japanese Language proficiency tests have changed for good. It is important for Japanese Language province test aspirants to know the details. Given below is the summary of changes.

Source – Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES).

Overview of the new test

The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has been offered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES) since 1984 as a reliable means to evaluate and certify the Japanese proficiency of non-native speakers. In 2008, there were as many as 560,000 examinees throughout the world.

Over time, test applicants became diversified, and use of JLPT results has expanded to include employment screening and evaluation for promotions and pay raises. Many outstanding suggestions for improvement were also submitted by a wide variety of individuals around the world.

To ensure the continuing relevancy and accuracy of the JLPT, the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services will introduce a revised version of the test in 2010. This new test will take full advantage of the most advanced research in Japanese pedagogy and testing theory, and reflects the vast wealth of data accumulated since the original JLPT was launched over 20 years ago

Points of revision

Revised to measure communicative competence required to perform tasks.

Emphasizing both practical Japanese communicative competence and knowledge of the Japanese language, this test measures language knowledge which includes vocabulary and grammar, and the competence required to perform communicative tasks using such language knowledge.

* Answers will be machine-scored as in the current test. Note that the new JLPT will not include sections to measure speaking or writing proficiencies directly.

Revised to increase the number of levels from 4 to 5

The new test increases the number of test levels from 4 (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 and Level 4) to 5 (N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5). The table below shows the corresponding levels of the new test to that of the current test.

“N”stands for both “Nihongo” and “New”

Revised to achieve score equating.

Revised to provide a Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Can-do List (tentative)

The new JLPT provides a -Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Can-do List”(tentative), a list of Japanese language activities which successful examinees THINK they can do, obtained and presented through a survey.

A Can-do List will be presented to help examinees and others better understand the test results in terms of practical language use.

The table below is an example of the list of activities currently being developed.

Sample, Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Can-do List (tentative)

* The test level(s) corresponding to the samples above are not shown because descriptions are currently under development.

A Summary of Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level

The table below shows the summary of the linguistic competence required for each level. This table outlines what is expected of examinees for each level of the new JLPT in terms of Reading and Listening. The linguistic knowledge needed to execute the behaviors described will be required by the examinees to pass their respective levels.

Test sections and Test time

The table below shows the Test sections and the times allotted for each section.

* The time allotted for each section may change. The time allotted for the Listening section may differ slightly according to the length of the recorded materials.

Levels N1 and N2 have TWO test sections each: (1) Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) and Reading, and (2) Listening.

Levels N3, N4 and N5 have THREE test sections each: (1) Language Knowledge (Vocabulary), (2) Language Knowledge (Grammar) and Reading, and (3) Listening.

Test results

Test results

The table below shows the Scoring Sections and range of scores

Levels N1, N2 and N3 have THREE scoring sections each:
(1) Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/ Grammar), (2) Reading, and (3) Listening.

Levels N4 and N5 have TWO scoring sections each:
(1) Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/ Grammar) and Reading, and (2) Listening.

Pass or fail

The requirements for passing have changed so that examinees must now exceed the minimum acceptable score for both the total as well as each scoring section. Failure to exceed the minimum acceptable score in any scoring sections will result in a fail for the entire test, even if your total score is above the minimum acceptable score. The purpose of setting a minimum acceptable score for each scoring section is to assess the comprehensive proficiency.

The minimum acceptable score for passing both the total score and each scoring section will be announced in 2010.

Score report

As in the sample below, the score report will show (1) scores for each section, (2) total score, and (3) reference information. The reference information is provided as a guide for the examinee ‘s future Japanese study, and is NOT intended to determine pass or fail.

Example: A sample of an examinee’s N3 test results
* The sample format shown below may change

Composition of Test Items

The table below shows the composition and approximate number of test items for each level. Please refer to “New Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Sample Questions” for the form and content of each test item.

* The table above shows the approximate number of test items in each section of the test. The actual number may vary slightly from session to session. The number of test items shown above may also change.

* The reading section may contain more than one test item per passage.