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JLPT N5: passing score, questions and how long to study
N5 is the easiest of the five levels of the JLPT (日本語能力試験, Japanese-Language Proficiency Test). N5 means the ability to understand some basic Japanese, and jlpt.jp says N4 and N5 measure basic Japanese mainly learned in class.
On this page
What JLPT N5 tests
jlpt.jp groups the levels like this: N4 and N5 test basic Japanese learned mainly in class; N1 and N2 test Japanese used in a broad range of real scenes; N3 bridges the two.
- Reading: typical expressions and sentences in hiragana, katakana and basic kanji.
- Listening: short, slow conversations about daily life and the classroom.
- The summary is written as reading and listening activities; vocabulary and grammar are required too but not listed.
- Every question is multiple choice, on a computer-scored answer sheet. There is no speaking or writing test. Most questions have four choices; some listening questions have three.
- No question requires specific knowledge of Japanese culture.
Sources: jlpt.jp: summary of each level, jlpt.jp: FAQ
JLPT N5 passing score
You pass N5 with 80 or more out of 180 in total, at least 38 out of 120 in vocabulary, grammar and reading together, and at least 19 out of 60 in listening.
| Level | Scoring sections | Total to pass | Minimum in each section | CEFR on the score report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | Vocabulary, grammar and reading (0 to 120); Listening (0 to 60) | 80 of 180 | 38 of 120; 19 of 60 | A1 |
A score below the minimum in either section is a fail, however high your total. If you miss a section you fail and the score report shows asterisks instead of any section scores. Scores are scaled, so you cannot work out your score by counting correct answers. These pass marks have applied since the July 2010 test (December 2010 for N4 and N5). A pass of 80 or more is shown as CEFR A1 on the score report, and only people who pass see a level. Everyone gets a score report; people who pass also get a certificate.
Sources: jlpt.jp: scoring and pass marks, jlpt.jp: FAQ, jlpt.jp: CEFR level on score reports
JLPT N5 test sections and times
In Japan, N5 is an afternoon test: the room opens from 14:30 to 15:10 and the test starts at 15:10. December 2026 N5: Vocabulary 15:10-15:50, Grammar and Reading 16:10-17:05, Listening 17:35-18:20.
| Level | Session in Japan | Parts and minutes | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | Afternoon | Vocabulary: 20 min; Grammar and reading: 40 min; Listening: 30 min | 90 min |
Section hours include instruction time, not just answering, so the minutes above are answer time and each block on the clock is longer. Late for the first section means you cannot take it; later sections are not scored and you cannot pass. What to bring and the rules: test day guide.
Sources: JEES: December 2026 test guide, JEES: December 2026 test-day guide (PDF), jlpt.jp: test sections and times
What each JLPT N5 section asks
N4 and N5 have two scoring sections: Language Knowledge and Reading combined (0-120) and Listening (0-60). Vocabulary, grammar and reading share one 120-point scoring section, so strength in one can make up for weakness in another inside it. Listening has its own minimum.
| Timed part | Question types (from jlpt.jp) |
|---|---|
| Vocabulary, 20 minutes | N5 vocabulary questions come in four types: kanji reading, orthography, contextually-defined expressions and paraphrases. |
| Grammar and reading, 40 minutes | N5 grammar questions come in three types: sentential grammar 1 (selecting the grammar form), sentential grammar 2 (sentence composition) and text grammar. N5 reading questions are comprehension of short and mid-size passages, and information retrieval. |
| Listening, 30 minutes | N5 listening questions are task-based comprehension, comprehension of key points, verbal expressions and quick response. |
N4 and N5 have the same question types except usage in vocabulary, which N4 has and N5 does not. To see real questions, use practice tests and sample questions.
Sources: jlpt.jp: scoring and pass marks, jlpt.jp: test sections and times
JLPT N5 pass rate
These are the numbers jlpt.jp published for the December 2025 test in Japan.
| Level | Applied | Sat the test | Passed | Passed, Dec 2025 (Japan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | 5,496 | 4,647 | 2,486 | 53.5% |
'Examinees' includes people who sat only some sections, so the pass rate is lower than pass share among people who sat the full test. Japan N5 passed at 53.5% in December 2025 (2,486 of 4,647) and 57.8% in July 2025 (2,527 of 4,373). Only about 5,000 people sit N5 in Japan per test. That is small next to the 87,608 people who sat N4 in December 2025, so the N5 rate describes a small group. A pass rate shows what share of that day's test-takers passed. It does not show how hard N5 is for you, and we found no source that explains why the N5 rate is higher than at the other levels. The July 2026 flash figures count 6,950 domestic N5 applicants against 41,081 at N4. We could not find July 2026 pass data on jlpt.jp on October 5, 2026. All levels together passed at 33.5% in Japan in July 2025 and 27.6% in December 2025, so treat one test's N5 rate as a snapshot.
Sources: jlpt.jp: test data by test (1), jlpt.jp: test data by test (2), jlpt.jp: announcement (PDF), jlpt.jp: test data by test (3)
How long does it take to reach N5?
No source gives a personal forecast, and the figures below differ by about a factor of two because each counts something different.
| Source | What it measures | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| JLPT, old four-level test (before 2010) | Normal study time for old Level 4, whose pass line now matches N5. | About 150 hours of study and the first half of an elementary course. |
| Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I (3A Corporation) | The publisher says Shokyu I equals N5. | About 150 hours, a publisher estimate. |
| Genki I (Japan Times Publishing) | The publisher says Vol. 1 reaches N5 and CEFR A1. | No figure for Vol. 1 alone. About 200 hours for Vols. 1 and 2 together, a publisher estimate. |
| Marugoto Starter (A1) (Japan Foundation) | Two companion coursebooks of 18 lessons each, used together or separately. The Japan Foundation does not say how its books map to JLPT levels. A1 is the level shown for an N5 pass. | Katsudoo (speaking and listening): 30 to 40 classroom hours. Rikai (characters, vocabulary, grammar): 40. Together 70 to 80, our sum. |
The Japan Foundation figures count classroom hours of two books. The old JLPT scale says hours of study and does not say whether that includes homework, and we found no source that explains the gap between 70 to 80 and 150. Someone who already reads hiragana and katakana will need less, but we have no sourced number for that. Even the US State Department says the time for its own Japanese course varies with natural ability, prior experience and classroom time. At 5 hours a week, 70 to 150 hours is 14 to 30 weeks; at 10 hours a week it is 7 to 15 (our arithmetic). Plans, books and apps: study guide.
Sources: jlpt.jp: FAQ, jlpt.jp: old four-level test criteria (PDF), 3A: Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I, Japan Times: GENKI I, Japan Foundation: Marugoto course details, jlpt.jp: CEFR level on score reports, US State Department: Foreign Service Institute language training
A nine-week study plan before test day
Count nine Monday-to-Sunday weeks back from your test day: Sunday 6 December 2026 if you already hold a seat, because applications for that test closed, or the next test date once JEES publishes it. At the Japan Foundation's 70 to 80 hours that is about 8 to 9 hours a week, and at 150 hours about 17 a week (our arithmetic).
| Week | What to do |
|---|---|
| 1 | Learn hiragana. Read each letter aloud as you write it. |
| 2 | Learn katakana. Start lessons 1 to 3 of your coursebook. |
| 3 | Lessons 4 to 6. Play the audio of each lesson before you read it. |
| 4 | Lessons 7 to 9. |
| 5 | Lessons 10 to 12. Learn the kanji words as they appear. |
| 6 | Lessons 13 to 15. |
| 7 | Lessons 16 to 18. Try the free sample questions on jlpt.jp, one for each question type. December 2026 test vouchers are mailed by 20 November 2026, and you can see yours in MyJLPT from 17 November. |
| 8 | Do the Official Practice Workbook against the clock: 20 minutes for vocabulary, 40 for grammar and reading, 30 for listening. Check your test site on the voucher. If your test voucher does not arrive, print it from MyJLPT and use that at the test site. |
| 9 (test week) | Redo the questions you missed, and listen every day. You cannot enter the room once a section has started. |
The lesson counts assume coursebooks of 18 lessons, like the two Marugoto Starter books. With another course, split its lessons across weeks 2 to 7 the same way. A practice score tells you roughly where you stand, not what you will get. The weekly split is our own plan, not a JLPT or Japan Foundation schedule.
Sources: jlpt.jp: test sections and times, JEES: home page, jlpt.jp: sample questions, JEES: December 2026 test guide, Japan Foundation: Marugoto course details, jlpt.jp: FAQ
How many kanji and words for N5?
JLPT publishes no official vocabulary, kanji or grammar list, so word and kanji counts you see online are estimates. Since 2010 the "Test Content Specifications" with vocabulary, kanji and grammar lists are no longer published. These are the figures that circulate, with whose they are.
| What | Figure | Whose figure |
|---|---|---|
| Kanji | About 100 | The JLPT's old four-level criteria for old Level 4, whose pass line now matches N5. |
| Words | About 800 | The JLPT's old four-level criteria for old Level 4. |
| Words | 1,000 words in 25 lessons | 3A Corporation, about Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I (publisher says). |
| Kanji and kana | Read 65 words written in kanji by the end of the book, and read 80% and write 60% of the words written in hiragana and katakana | Japan Foundation, as the goal of its Marugoto Starter (A1) Rikai book, not a JLPT figure. |
We found no publisher kanji count for N5 itself. Each number describes one source's list, and the JLPT publishes none.
Sources: jlpt.jp: FAQ (1), jlpt.jp: old four-level test criteria (PDF), jlpt.jp: FAQ (2), 3A: Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I, Japan Foundation: Marugoto course details
JLPT N5 questions, reading practice and books
Exact past papers are not published; the workbooks use questions chosen from past tests. The free Official Practice Workbooks are the closest thing, so start there.
- Official Practice Workbook: Each workbook has roughly the number of questions in a real test, chosen from tests since the 2010 revision. jlpt.jp offers the N5 questions as PDFs, with answers, listening scripts and listening MP3s, as free downloads. There are two Official Practice Workbooks per level: one published in 2012 and Vol. 2 in 2018.
- Printed copy: N5 workbook (2012): 89 pages, ISBN 978-4-89358-821-0; Vol. 2: 86 pages, ISBN 978-4-89358-940-8. Each workbook costs 700 yen plus tax; every volume comes with a CD; publisher Bonjinsha.
- Sample questions: jlpt.jp has free sample questions for N5, one for each type of question. The sample questions page says the samples may differ from questions in the actual test booklet.
- Reading: N5 reading has short and mid-size passages and information retrieval. Start with the workbook's reading questions, then see reading practice for graded readers and other free material.
- Listening: the free workbook has audio for each listening question type.
- Books, as the publishers describe them (we have not tested them): Nihongo So-matome N5, one book for kanji, words, grammar, reading and listening (ASK Publishing, multilingual edition), costs 1,760 yen for the paper book including tax. That N5 book has audio. The English edition of TRY! N5 (ASK Publishing) says it includes a mock exam that matches the format and length of the real JLPT, and The paper edition of TRY! N5 costs 1,650 yen including tax (ASK Publishing). 3A Corporation equates Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I to N5, and Japan Times Publishing says Genki Vol. 1 reaches N5. Those two are course books to learn from.
- Free courses: the Japan Foundation's IRODORI coursebook PDFs and audio are free, and its Starter level is A1. More free and low-cost classes are compared on our Japanese lessons page.
More on workbooks and sample questions: practice tests.
Sources: jlpt.jp: FAQ, jlpt.jp: Official Practice Workbook downloads, jlpt.jp: official books, jlpt.jp: sample questions, jlpt.jp: test sections and times, ASK Publishing: So-matome N5, ASK Publishing: So-matome series, ASK Publishing: TRY! N5, 3A: Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I, Japan Times: GENKI I, Japan Foundation: IRODORI notice
A teacher for the parts you get wrong
The workbook, sample questions and free courses above cost nothing. A teacher is the paid option.
italki
- One-to-one lessons by video with a teacher you choose
- Up to 3 trial lessons, one per teacher
- Pay per lesson, no subscription needed
- Fits you if you want a teacher to go through the N5 grammar and reading questions you get wrong, one to one.
- Not for you if you only want practice questions: the free workbook has them. italki charges in US dollars, so you cannot pay in yen. Lessons help you learn the language, and the JLPT has no speaking section to rehearse.
Find a Japanese teacher for JLPT N5 on italki
Opens italki's site (Japanese; English version too)
Sources: jlpt.jp: Official Practice Workbook downloads, italki: payment terms, jlpt.jp: FAQ
What JLPT N5 is enough for
N5 clears the language rule for a language school and, with the course alternative, for Employment for Skill Development. It falls short for most other routes and is not a pass line for permanent residence.
| What you want | Is N5 enough? | What the source says |
|---|---|---|
| Japanese language school (Student status) | Yes | ISA requires A1-equivalent Japanese, checked by a test or an interview. JLPT N5 or higher and JFT-Basic A1 or higher are the two tests it lists outright. ISA's notice says the old option of showing 150 or more hours of study history ends, so a test certificate or an interview is now mandatory. |
| Employment for Skill Development (from April 1, 2027) | Yes, or a course instead | Before starting work: an A1-or-higher Japanese test such as JFT-Basic or JLPT N5, or an equivalent Japanese course. Anyone who has not passed by the start must pass within one year, and field policies can set higher levels. |
| Specified Skilled Worker (i), most fields | No | ISA names JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher. See JLPT N4. |
| EPA nurse or caregiver candidate | The sources differ | jlpt.jp's merits page gives about N5 or higher for the Philippines. JICWELS's briefing for the 2027 intake gives about N4 or higher at entry for Indonesia and the Philippines, and marks the Philippines figure as under adjustment. Check the current guideline for your intake. |
| University or vocational college | No | ISA tells language-school applicants that going on to a university or vocational college needs B2 or above. ISA expects B2 or above from FY2027 university entrants. |
| Highly Skilled Professional points | No points | N1 earns 15 and N2 earns 10 points under Japan's points system for highly skilled professionals; 70 points qualifies for preferential immigration treatment. |
| Permanent residence | Not a pass line | B1 or higher Japanese becomes a consideration factor for applications from April 1, 2027. N5 shows A1 only. |
The JLPT certificate never expires, though employers and schools can set their own time limits. Every route with its sources: JLPT for visas and work.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency (1), Immigration Services Agency (2), Immigration Services Agency (PDF) (1), Immigration Services Agency (PDF) (2), jlpt.jp: what the JLPT is used for, JICWELS: 2027 EPA intake (PDF), Immigration Services Agency (3), Immigration Services Agency (4), jlpt.jp: CEFR level on score reports, jlpt.jp: FAQ
JLPT N5 or JFT-Basic A1?
An ISA notice posted on October 5, 2026 says the December 2026 JLPT closed for all levels. It says applicants for Specified Skilled Worker (i) or Employment for Skill Development who planned to use JLPT N4 or N5 can instead pass the JFT-Basic at A2.2 or A1, and that the JFT-Basic also counts as A1 proof for the Student status. The two tests differ in timing, price and who can sit them.
| Compare | JLPT N5 | JFT-Basic |
|---|---|---|
| How often | Twice a year, in July and December. | Held every month as a rule, in Japan and overseas. |
| Fee in Japan | Test fee in Japan: ¥7,500, tax included (2026 tests). | 10,000 yen. The booking page does not say whether tax is included. |
| Result | December 2026 results: in MyJLPT from late January 2027, by mail in late February 2027. | Total score and level show on screen when the test ends. |
| Format | Multiple choice on a paper answer sheet. | A computer-based test at a test center, about 50 questions in 60 minutes. |
| Who can sit it in Japan | In 2026, only people with a residence card. | You need a Japanese residence status, and a short stay is also allowed. |
| Outside Japan | Through a local host institution, and details differ by country. | Held in several countries, including the Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam and Nepal. |
| Level reported | A pass at 80 or more shows A1. | Scaled score 10 to 250. 145-174 = A1, 175-199 = A2.1, 200-250 = A2.2 (A2). Below 145 shows no level. No minimum per section. Until July 2026 the test reported only the A2.2 (A2) pass. Since August 2026 it also reports A1 and A2.1. Older certificates with 200+ still prove A2.2. |
| Retaking | You can apply for December after seeing July results, but the December fee is not refunded if you passed in July. | You can retake only if your total was 199 or lower, with a 45-day gap. Anyone at 200 or higher cannot retake. |
| Where ISA accepts it | Many statuses, from language school to Highly Skilled Professional points. | The JFT-Basic is not used for status-of-residence applications other than SSW (i), Employment for Skill Development and Student (language school). |
The owner compares itself with the JLPT but does not publish a score-for-score equivalence. It says the JLPT runs twice a year with paper answer sheets and results about two months later; the JFT-Basic runs monthly with results the same day. More on the JFT-Basic and other tests: other Japanese tests.
Sources: Immigration Services Agency (PDF), jlpt.jp: FAQ, Japan Foundation: JFT-Basic, JEES: December 2026 test guide, Prometric: JFT-Basic booking (1), Japan Foundation: about the JFT-Basic, JEES: applying in MyJLPT, Prometric: JFT-Basic booking (2), jlpt.jp: taking the test overseas, Japan Foundation, jlpt.jp: CEFR level on score reports, JEES FAQ: applying, Japan Foundation: JFT-Basic FAQ, Immigration Services Agency, jlpt.jp: what the JLPT is used for
JLPT N5 test date and how to apply
- The next test in Japan is Sunday 6 December 2026. Applications for it closed on 3 September 2026, four days before the 7 September deadline. As of 5 October 2026 no 2027 test date, application window, fee or eligibility rule for Japan is published on info.jees-jlpt.jp or jlpt.jp. The home page lists only the two 2026 tests.
- December 2026 N1 and N2 applications closed at 12:00 on 31 August, 7 days before the 7 September deadline, and will not reopen. JEES says early closing is because test sites are hard to secure, and it applies to every 2026 test. Apply on the first day the window opens.
- In Japan you apply online through MyJLPT on the JEES site and pay the fee there. Test fee in Japan: ¥7,500, tax included (2026 tests). 2026 tests in Japan are for non-native speakers who are mid- to long-term residents or special permanent residents. People without a residence card, such as tourists, cannot take the 2026 test in Japan.
- If you are not in Japan yet: Even if you plan to come to Japan, you cannot apply unless you hold a residence card at application time. Overseas: find your country and local host institution, confirm how to register, then register and pay the host; application periods differ by city.
- Results for the 6 December 2026 test: December 2026 test (Japan): results in MyJLPT from late January 2027, mailed late February 2027. JEES posts the exact dates in late January. Last December: December 2025 test (Japan): results in MyJLPT from Friday 30 January 2026; paper results planned and sent Thursday 26 February 2026; certificate applications opened 31 January. jlpt.jp says paper Score Reports go out in early September (July test) and early February (December test) in Japan, which does not match the actual 2025 and 2026 mailings. Use the JEES dates.
- If you need an A1 result for a language school or Employment for Skill Development before the next JLPT, the JFT-Basic is held every month.
Step by step: how to register and apply. After the test: results and scoring.
Sources: jlpt.jp: test sections and times, JEES: home page (1), JEES: notice (1), JEES: notice (2), jlpt.jp: taking the test in Japan, JEES: December 2026 test guide, JEES: applying in MyJLPT, JEES: notice (3), jlpt.jp: taking the test overseas, JEES: home page (2), jlpt.jp: results online, Japan Foundation: JFT-Basic
N5 next to the other levels
Each level is its own paper, and you apply for one level per test.
| Level | What it means (jlpt.jp) | CEFR on the score report | Pass mark | Answer time | Passed, Dec 2025 (Japan) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | The ability to understand some basic Japanese | A1 | 80 / 180 | 90 min | 53.5% |
| N4 | Basic Japanese | A2 | 90 / 180 | 115 min | 33.6% |
| N3 | Everyday Japanese to a certain degree | A2 (B1 from 104) | 95 / 180 | 140 min | 26.2% |
| N2 | Everyday Japanese plus a variety of circumstances to a certain degree | B1 (B2 from 112) | 90 / 180 | 155 min | 25.4% |
| N1 | Understanding Japanese used in a variety of circumstances | B2 (C1 from 142) | 100 / 180 | 165 min | 24.0% |
N5's pass mark (80) is lower than N4's (90). N4 and N5 both have two scoring sections. Each level has its own paper, so compare levels by their descriptions. N5 is the lowest level, and the level above is JLPT N4.
Sources: jlpt.jp: FAQ, JEES FAQ: applying, jlpt.jp: scoring and pass marks, jlpt.jp: test sections and times, jlpt.jp: summary of each level, jlpt.jp: CEFR level on score reports, jlpt.jp: test data by test
JLPT questions
What is the JLPT N5 passing score?
You need 80 or more out of 180 in total, at least 38 out of 120 in vocabulary, grammar and reading, and at least 19 out of 60 in listening. A score below the minimum in either section is a fail, however high your total.
How long does it take to study for JLPT N5?
The JLPT's old test put its Level 4, whose pass line now matches N5, at about 150 hours of study and the first half of an elementary course. 3A Corporation says about 150 hours for Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I, and the Japan Foundation lists 70 to 80 classroom hours for its two Starter (A1) books together. These count different things, so none is a forecast for you.
Can I pass JLPT N5 in two months?
Two months is about nine weeks. That is about 8 to 9 hours a week at the Japan Foundation's 70 to 80 classroom hours, or about 17 at 150 hours (our arithmetic). It is a pace to plan around, not a promise of a pass, and the December 2026 applications have closed.
Are JLPT N5 past papers and questions available?
Exact past papers are not published; the workbooks use questions chosen from past tests. But the free Official Practice Workbooks have N5 questions as PDFs, with answers, listening scripts and listening MP3s. See JLPT practice tests.
Is JLPT N5 enough for a Japanese language school?
Yes. ISA lists JLPT N5 or higher and JFT-Basic A1 or higher as proof of A1 Japanese for a language school. A test certificate or an interview is now mandatory.
How many kanji and words do I need for JLPT N5?
JLPT publishes no official vocabulary, kanji or grammar list, so word and kanji counts you see online are estimates. The JLPT's old criteria for Level 4, whose pass line now matches N5, say about 100 kanji and 800 words. 3A Corporation records 1,000 words for Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I. Those are not N5 lists.
When is the next JLPT N5 test and what does it cost?
The next test in Japan is Sunday 6 December 2026, and applications for it have closed. As of 5 October 2026 no 2027 test date, application window, fee or eligibility rule for Japan is published on info.jees-jlpt.jp or jlpt.jp. The home page lists only the two 2026 tests. Test fee in Japan: ¥7,500, tax included (2026 tests). See JLPT registration.
Does JLPT N5 have a speaking test?
There is no speaking or writing test. Every question is multiple choice, on a computer-scored answer sheet.
How we checked
Every fact on this page links to the page it was read from, and our data keeps the quote. We read jlpt.jp (the official JLPT site), the JEES site (the organization that runs the test in Japan), Immigration Services Agency pages, the Japan Foundation's JFT-Basic and Marugoto pages and the publishers' own book pages on October 5, 2026. Book descriptions are the publishers' claims, and we have not tested the books. The week-by-week plan and the hours-per-week arithmetic are ours. We do not run the test and are not affiliated with it.
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