Executive Summary by Jed C. Jones, Ph.D.

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test, or JLPT, is administered only once per year and is taken by about 380,000 (1995 figures) non-native speakers of Japanese each year worldwide. The test is divided into four levels (1-4), with Level 1 being the most difficult. After 4 years of university study of Japanese in my native country, I doubt I would have passed anything beyond Level 3 of the JLPT upon graduation.

Tip #1: Buy and use blank note cards religiously: I prefer the type that comes in packs of 100 cards and are bound by a single metal ring. When studying for the JLPT, I filled 35 packs of these cards, or the equivalent of 3,500 words and phrases. I recommend using these cards over electronic kanji or word dictionaries.

Tip #2: Read the hard stuff every day: Read newspapers, books, and other forms of the written word every day – even if you are studying for the Level 4 test and even if you must spend 30 minutes to get through each sentence

Tip #3: Read aloud: Language leverages different parts of our brain depending upon whether we are reading, writing, speaking, or listening.

Tip #4: Speak with as many types of people you can: If you have the opportunity to visit or live in Japan while studying for the test, take the opportunity to speak with every Japanese person you meet: old, young, men, women, teachers, businesspeople, artists, economists, the local fruit vendor: everyone. Once you have filled your pack of cards, attack the cards regularly, testing yourself along the way.

Tip #5: Look up in a dictionary every single word you do not recognize: Treat every word you come across that you do not know as a gold nugget: write it down on one of your blank, ringed note cards (see Tip #1).

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test

By Arief

As the number of people studying Japanese is rapidly increasing worldwide, so are the opportunies to put their skills to use in a wide variety of careers. This has led to the demand among the students of Japanese for the establishment of a venue by which their language proficiency can be certified.

The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, in responce to this growing demand, have devised the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test and administered it since 1984 both in Japan and abroad. Outside Japan, The Japan Foundation co-sponsors the administration of the test with local cultural exchange and/or educational institutions, or with administrative committees specially establish for this purpose.

The test has four different levels, the examine can choose the level that best matches his or her ability and training. Each level is made up of three section ; writing-vocabulary, listening and reading-grammar.

The criteria of the test are as follows :

Level 1

The examine has mastered grammar to a high level, knows around 2,000 Kanji and 10,000 words, and has an integrated command of the language sufficient for life in Japanese society.This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for around 900 hours.

Level 2

The examine has mastered grammar to a relatively high level, knows around 1,000 Kanji and 6,000 words, and has the ability to converse, read, and write about matters of a general nature.This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for around 600 hours and after completion of an intermediate course.

Level 3

The examine has mastered grammar to a limited level, knows aroud 300 Kanji and 1,500 words, has the ability to take part in everyday conversation and to read and write simple sentences.This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for around 300 hours and after completion of an elementary course.

Level 4

The examine has mastered the basic elements of grammar, knows around 100 Kanji and 800 words, has the ability to engage in simple conversation and to read and write short, simple sentences.This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for around 150 hours and after completion of the first half of an elementary course.