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How to study for the JLPT: hours, books, apps and lessons
The JLPT (日本語能力試験, Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) has no official syllabus. The organizers publish no word, kanji or grammar lists, and they recommend no study method or materials. This page puts the published hour estimates, textbooks, apps and lesson options side by side and names the source of each figure.
On this page
How many hours does each JLPT level take?
The only hour figures from the JLPT organizers come from their criteria for the old four-level test. The new levels line up with the old ones only by pass line. Textbook publishers give their own course estimates.
| Level | Organizers' old-test scale | Publisher estimates |
|---|---|---|
| N5 | Around 150 hours of study and the first half of an elementary course. | Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I: about 150 hours. GENKI I and II together, which the publisher puts at N5 and N4: about 200 hours. |
| N4 | Around 300 hours and an elementary course. | Minna no Nihongo Shokyu II: about 150 hours. |
| N3 | No figure. N3 was added in 2010 and sits between old Levels 2 and 3. By the old scale it would fall between 300 and 600 hours. That is our inference, not a published number. | None found. |
| N2 | Around 600 hours and an intermediate course. | None tied to N2 in the pages we read. |
| N1 | Around 900 hours. | None tied to N1 in the pages we read. |
Both columns are estimates from the sources named in them. The Japan Foundation and State Department figures below measure other things.
Sources: jlpt.jp: FAQ, jlpt.jp: old four-level test criteria (PDF), 3A: Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I, Japan Times: GENKI I, 3A: Minna no Nihongo Shokyu II
Japan Foundation Marugoto: estimated classroom hours by course
The Japan Foundation lists classroom hours for each Marugoto course book. It does not name a JLPT level for any of them, so these hours cannot be matched to N5 through N1.
| Course (Japan Foundation scale) | Estimated classroom hours |
|---|---|
| Starter (A1), Katsudoo | 30 to 40 |
| Starter (A1), Rikai, the companion book | 40 |
| Elementary 1 and Elementary 2 (A2) | 40 to 60 each |
| Pre-Intermediate (A2/B1) | 60 to 80 |
| Intermediate 1 and Intermediate 2 (B1) | 80 to 120 each |
| All six courses, using Katsudoo for Starter | About 330 to 480. This sum is ours. |
The Japan Foundation states no total.
The State Department figure and why it is higher
Readers often compare the JLPT scale with the US government's language program times. They measure different goals.
- The US State Department lists Japanese among its Category IV languages at 88 weeks (2200 class hours), languages it calls exceptionally difficult for native English speakers.
- The State Department timelines are the time usually expected to reach an integrated score of 3 (Speaking + Listening) on the Interagency Language Roundtable scale, and it says the actual time varies with natural ability, prior language-learning experience and time in the classroom.
- In the State Department program a typical week is 23 hours in class and 17 hours of self-study.
- The JLPT has no speaking test, so that goal is not the JLPT's. The old scale's 900 hours for N1 is far below 2,200 class hours, and hours outside class change any total, so treat each figure as a range for its own target.
Sources: US State Department: Foreign Service Institute language training, jlpt.jp: FAQ
JLPT textbooks by level: course books
We do not rank these. The level shown is what the publisher says, not something we or the JLPT organizers measured, and we have not used these books. Prices are for the paper edition, in yen, tax included, as read on October 5, 2026.
| Book | Publisher | Level the publisher states | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| GENKI I (third edition) | The Japan Times | N5 or CEFR A1 | 3,960 |
| Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I (third edition) | 3A Corporation | N5 | 2,750 |
| GENKI II (third edition) | The Japan Times | N4 or CEFR A2 | 3,960 |
| Minna no Nihongo Shokyu II (third edition) | 3A Corporation | N4 | 2,750 |
| QUARTET I | The Japan Times | Roughly N3 | 3,300 |
| QUARTET II | The Japan Times | N2 on the Volume I page, N2 and N1 on the Volume II page | 3,300 |
| Minna no Nihongo Chukyu I | 3A Corporation | No JLPT level. For learners who finished Shokyu II | 3,080 |
| Minna no Nihongo Chukyu II | 3A Corporation | No JLPT level. Upper intermediate | 3,080 |
| An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese | The Japan Times | No JLPT level. For learners who finished beginning-level study | 3,520 |
| TOBIRA I and II | Kuroshio Publishers | No JLPT level. Between beginner and advanced | 2,860 each |
| Marugoto (online coursebooks) | Japan Foundation | A1 to B1 on the Japan Foundation's own scale | The 2020 offer of free online viewing has ended |
| IRODORI (coursebooks) | Japan Foundation | A1 to A2/B1 on the Japan Foundation's own scale | Free PDFs and audio |
The two QUARTET pages disagree about Volume II, which is why both levels are shown. Vocabulary and kanji counts differ by publisher: GENKI says about 1,700 words and 317 kanji across its two volumes, and Minna says about 1,000 words per volume. No official count exists for the current test.
Sources: Japan Times: GENKI I, 3A: Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I, Japan Times: GENKI II, 3A: Minna no Nihongo Shokyu II, Japan Times: QUARTET I, Japan Times: QUARTET prices, Japan Times: QUARTET II, 3A: Minna no Nihongo Chukyu I, 3A: Minna no Nihongo Chukyu II, Japan Times: An Integrated Approach to Intermediate Japanese, Japan Times: Integrated Approach price, Kuroshio: TOBIRA, Kuroshio: TOBIRA prices, Japan Foundation: Marugoto course details, Japan Foundation: Marugoto site, Japan Foundation: IRODORI levels, Japan Foundation: IRODORI notice, jlpt.jp: FAQ
JLPT exam-preparation book series
These series are built around the test, one book per level or skill. The levels are the publisher's, and we have not used them. Prices are for the paper edition, in yen, tax included.
| Series | Publisher | JLPT levels it names | What the publisher says | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TRY! (English editions) | ASK Publishing | N5, N4, N3, N2, N1, one book each | Grammar points for the level, with a mock exam in each book. At N3 there are 127 grammar points. | 1,650 for N5 to 1,980 for N1 |
| Shin Kanzen Master | 3A Corporation | Reading books at N1, N2, N3 and N4. We saw no N5 title. | One book per skill, such as grammar, reading and listening. The N1 listening book says it is aimed at people taking the N1 test. | 1,320 for N1 grammar to 1,760 for N1 listening, among the titles we read |
| Nihongo So-matome | ASK Publishing | Books at N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5. The N5 book covers every skill in one volume. | JLPT-style questions for exam preparation, in an 8-week plan of 2 pages a day. Revised N1 to N3 editions are out and the old ones are discontinued. | 1,430 for the N1 to N3 reading books, 1,760 for the N4 and N5 books |
Language matters for Shin Kanzen Master. The N3 grammar book says that, unlike the N1 and N2 books, it comes with a translation in English and Chinese. Check a sample page of the N1 and N2 books for the language they use. For reading books by level, see reading practice.
Sources: ASK Publishing: TRY! N5, ASK Publishing: TRY! N4, ASK Publishing: TRY! N3, ASK Publishing: TRY! N2, ASK Publishing: TRY! N1, 3A: Shin Kanzen Master N1 Reading, 3A: Shin Kanzen Master N2 Reading, 3A: Shin Kanzen Master N3 Reading, 3A: Shin Kanzen Master N4 Reading, 3A: Shin Kanzen Master N1 Listening, 3A: Shin Kanzen Master N1 Grammar, ASK Publishing: So-matome N1 Reading, ASK Publishing: So-matome N2 Reading, ASK Publishing: So-matome N3 Reading, ASK Publishing: So-matome N4, ASK Publishing: So-matome N5, ASK Publishing: So-matome N2 Kanji, ASK Publishing: So-matome series, 3A: Shin Kanzen Master N3 Grammar
JLPT study apps and what they cost
We read each app's own pricing and help pages on October 5, 2026 and have not used these apps. Prices are in US dollars and can change. The JLPT tags that apps use come from lists the organizers did not publish.
| App | What it is | Free option | Paid price | What its pages say about the JLPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WaniKani | Kanji and vocabulary. Its homepage claims 2,000 kanji and 6,000 words in just over a year. | Free until level 4. | 9 a month, 89 a year, or 299 once. | Its help page says the first three free levels cover around 55% of the N5 kanji. We found no claim for N4 to N1. |
| Bunpro | Grammar, with 900+ grammar items that have write-ups, plus vocabulary and reading passages. | A free tier with limited access, and a 30-day Premium trial with no card. | Premium is 5 a month or 50 a year. Lifetime is 150 once. | Premium shows progress by JLPT category, and its content also goes beyond the JLPT. We found no statement that it follows a JLPT level. |
| Anki | A flashcard app. We found no Japanese course on its site. | The computer version and AnkiDroid for Android are free. | The iPhone app is 24.99 in the US App Store. | We found no JLPT statement on its site. |
| Satori Reader | Graded stories with grammar explanations, word definitions and furigana options. | Selected episodes, with no expiry. | Pro is 9 a month or 89 a year. | Designed for intermediate learners. It names no JLPT level on its home page. |
Two more tools are left out of the table because we could not read a price. renshuu has a free sign-up and dictionaries you can filter by JLPT level. Jisho is a Japanese-English dictionary, and its JLPT tags come from a third-party list, not from the test organizers.
Sources: jlpt.jp: FAQ, WaniKani: official site, WaniKani: free levels, WaniKani: subscription plans, Bunpro: pricing, Anki: official site, AnkiMobile: App Store page, Satori Reader: official site, Satori Reader: pricing, renshuu: official site, Jisho: about
Free ways to study for the JLPT
You can study for the JLPT without paying. These are the free sources we read.
- The official questions: JLPT practice tests has the Official Practice Workbooks with answers and audio for every level.
- IRODORI offers free coursebook PDFs and audio. Marugoto's 2020 offer of free online viewing has ended, so it is not on this list.
- Minato is the Japan Foundation's e-learning platform with self-study and tutor-support courses, and you can filter its courses by fee.
- NHK WORLD Easy Japanese has 48 conversation lessons with audio, video and text, and the MP3s and PDF textbook can be downloaded free for personal use.
- Free reading: Japanese reading practice.
- Classes in Japan: Japanese lessons lists free online lessons and city classes.
Sources: Japan Foundation: IRODORI notice, Japan Foundation: Marugoto site, Japan Foundation: Minato, NHK World: Easy Japanese lessons
A JLPT study plan
This plan is our suggestion. It uses published facts where it can and gives no hours of its own.
- Choose the level and check who asks for itTake the level you can pass soon, or the one a visa or school asks for. See JLPT for visas and work and the five levels.
- Work back from the application dateThe JLPT is held in July and December in Japan. Some levels closed before the deadline in both 2026 rounds, and 2027 dates were not published when we checked. See how to register.
- Learn the language with a courseUse a course book or a free course from the tables above. Compare its publisher's hours with the hours you have each week.
- Add test practice for the levelUse the official questions in JLPT practice tests. The test is all multiple choice, with no speaking or writing test, so practice reading and listening and vocabulary and grammar.
- Time full sections before test daySet a timer to the real section times and read what to bring in JLPT test day.
Sources: jlpt.jp: FAQ, JEES: home page (1), JEES: notice (1), JEES: notice (2), JEES: home page (2)
Japanese lessons for JLPT study
A teacher helps you learn the language and fix your mistakes. The JLPT has no speaking section, so lessons are for learning, not for rehearsing a speaking test.
Free and low-cost classes are on our Japanese lessons page. italki is an online option and the one affiliate link on this page.
Sources: jlpt.jp: FAQ
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 one-to-one lessons at times you choose. italki lists over 1,200 Japanese tutors. italki community tutors are native or fluent speakers without formal teaching credentials who focus on conversational practice, so read each profile for credentials.
- Not for you if you want to pay in yen. italki charges in US dollars, so you cannot pay in yen. Credits you buy on italki are not refunded, and italki does not allow a lesson to be canceled or rescheduled within 24 hours of its start time, except in true emergencies.
Find a Japanese teacher for JLPT study on italki
Opens italki's site (Japanese; English version too)
Sources: italki: Japanese teachers, italki: payment terms, italki: instructor terms
More JLPT preparation
Practice tests
Past papers are not published. What is free instead: official workbooks, sample questions and mock tests.
Reading practice
Free official reading questions N5 to N1, graded readers, and what each source says about its level.
Registration
How to register in Japan or abroad, the fee, the residence card rule and what to do now that December has closed.
Results and pass marks
When results arrive, how to check them, the pass mark at each level, certificates and what to do if you fail.
JLPT questions
How many hours does it take to study for JLPT N5?
The old test's Level 4, which matches N5 by pass line, is described as around 150 hours of study. Minna no Nihongo Shokyu I estimates about 150 hours, and GENKI I and II together about 200 hours for N5 and N4. These are estimates for a course, not a forecast for you.
How long does it take to study for JLPT N1?
The organizers' old-test scale says around 900 hours. The US State Department lists about 2,200 class hours for English speakers to reach an integrated score of 3 in speaking and listening, which is a different goal.
How many hours does JLPT N3 take?
No source gives a figure. N3 was added in 2010 and sits between old Levels 2 and 3, which by the old scale would be between 300 and 600 hours. That range is our inference.
What is the best textbook for the JLPT?
We have not ranked them. Publishers say GENKI I and Minna Shokyu I reach N5, and GENKI II and Minna Shokyu II reach N4. For exam practice, TRY!, Shin Kanzen Master and Nihongo So-matome name JLPT levels. See the tables on this page.
Is GENKI enough to pass JLPT N5?
The publisher says Volume 1 puts you at N5 level. That is a publisher claim, and the organizers publish no word or kanji list to check it against. Try the official N5 questions to see where you stand.
Is WaniKani free?
Partly. It is free until level 4. Paid plans are 9 US dollars a month, 89 a year or 299 once.
Is there an official JLPT vocabulary or kanji list?
The test organizers say they chose not to publish the word, kanji and grammar lists after 2010. Counts you see online are estimates.
Can I study for the JLPT for free?
Yes. The official practice questions are free, and so are IRODORI and the NHK WORLD lessons. Marugoto's 2020 offer of free online viewing has ended. See the free list on this page.
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 Japan Foundation, the State Department, the book publishers' pages and each app's own pricing page on October 5, 2026. We have not used or reviewed any book or app here beyond reading its official page. Only the italki link is an affiliate link, and we may earn a commission if you sign up through it. We do not run the JLPT and are not affiliated with it.
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