JLPT N5 to N3 Prep
Complete Study Guide
JLPT N5 to N3 Prep
Complete Study Guide
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is the gold standard for measuring Japanese ability. Whether you need certification for a university application, a job in Japan, or simply a concrete milestone for your studies, the JLPT gives you a clear target to aim for.
This guide covers everything you need to know about preparing for JLPT N5, N4, and N3 — the three levels that take you from complete beginner to intermediate Japanese. We'll walk through exam structure, realistic timelines, the best resources for each level, and test-day strategies that actually work.
If you're just starting your Japanese journey, begin with our hiragana and katakana guide first. And for the complete roadmap from zero to fluency, see our complete guide to learning Japanese.
What Is the JLPT?
The JLPT (日本語能力試験, Nihongo Nōryoku Shiken) is the internationally recognized test for Japanese language proficiency. Administered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, it's offered twice per year — in July and December — at testing centers worldwide.
Five levels:
- N5 — Beginner. Understand basic Japanese.
- N4 — Elementary. Understand basic Japanese in slightly more complex situations.
- N3 — Intermediate. Understand everyday Japanese at near-natural speed.
- N2 — Upper-intermediate. Understand Japanese in a wide range of contexts.
- N1 — Advanced. Understand complex, abstract Japanese.
Who takes the JLPT? International students applying to Japanese universities (N2–N1 typically required). Professionals seeking jobs in Japan (N2 minimum for most companies). Scholarship applicants (MEXT requires JLPT scores). And language learners who want a concrete measure of their progress. Unlike the TOPIK for Korean or the HSK for Mandarin, the JLPT has no speaking or writing section — it tests vocabulary, grammar, reading, and listening only.
JLPT N5: The Starting Line
N5 is where most learners begin. It tests whether you can handle basic Japanese in everyday situations — greetings, shopping, asking directions, and simple conversations about daily life.
What N5 covers:
- Kanji: ~100 characters (hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji)
- Vocabulary: ~800 words
- Grammar: basic particles (は, が, を, に, で), verb conjugation (ます-form, て-form), adjective types (い/な), basic sentence patterns
- Listening: slow, clear speech about familiar topics
Exam structure. The N5 has three sections: Language Knowledge (vocabulary/grammar) — 60 minutes, Reading Comprehension — 40 minutes (combined time with Language Knowledge varies by year), and Listening — 30 minutes. Total test time is approximately 105 minutes.
Study timeline: 2–3 months of daily study (1 hour/day) is sufficient for most learners starting from hiragana/katakana mastery. If you're starting from zero, add 2–4 weeks for the writing systems.
Key N5 grammar patterns to master:
- 〜は〜です (wa...desu) — "A is B"
- 〜を〜ます (o...masu) — "do B to A" (polite verb form)
- 〜に〜があります (ni...ga arimasu) — "there is B at/in A"
- 〜てください (te kudasai) — "please do..."
- 〜たいです (tai desu) — "I want to..."
- 〜ないでください (naide kudasai) — "please don't..."
JLPT N4: Upper Beginner
N4 builds on N5 foundations with more complex grammar, additional kanji, and longer reading passages. At N4 level, you can handle most daily interactions in Japanese — making appointments, describing experiences, and expressing opinions on familiar topics.
What N4 adds:
- Kanji: ~300 characters total
- Vocabulary: ~1,500 words
- Grammar: te-form conjugations in depth, conditionals (〜たら, 〜ば), potential form (〜られる), passive (〜られる), causative (〜させる), volitional form (〜よう), and more complex sentence patterns
- Listening: natural-speed speech on familiar topics with some ability to catch key points
Study timeline: 3–6 months after N5. The jump from N5 to N4 is manageable — you're deepening existing knowledge rather than learning entirely new concepts. The te-form is the biggest grammar hurdle; once it clicks, many N4 patterns build on it naturally.
Common N4 grammar patterns:
- 〜ている (te iru) — ongoing action or state
- 〜てもいい (te mo ii) — "may I...?"
- 〜なければならない (nakereba naranai) — "must..."
- 〜たことがある (ta koto ga aru) — "have done... before"
- 〜そうだ (sō da) — "I heard that..." / "it looks like..."
- 〜ように (yō ni) — "so that..." / "in order to..."
JLPT N3: The Intermediate Threshold
N3 is where things get serious. It's the level most Japanese universities and companies use as a minimum requirement, and it represents genuine intermediate proficiency — you can understand everyday Japanese at near-natural speed and express yourself on a wide range of topics.
What N3 covers:
- Kanji: ~650 characters
- Vocabulary: ~3,700 words
- Grammar: complex sentence structures, formal/informal distinctions, nuanced expressions of cause/effect, concession, hypothesis, and more
- Listening: near-natural speed speech on a variety of topics, including news and abstract discussions
The big jump from N4 to N3. Many learners find N3 significantly harder than N4. The vocabulary nearly triples, the grammar becomes more abstract, and the listening section uses faster, more natural speech. Reading passages get longer and more nuanced. Plan for a longer study period and expect the progress to feel slower.
Study timeline: 6–12 months after N4. The N3 level requires genuine language maturity. You can't just memorize patterns — you need to internalize how Japanese works at a deeper level. Extensive reading and listening practice become essential at this stage.
Study Plan: N5 to N3 in 18 Months
Here's a realistic week-by-week plan for going from zero to N3 in 18 months. This assumes 1–2 hours of daily study.
Months 1–2: Foundation. Master hiragana and katakana (weeks 1–2). Build first 200-word vocabulary. Learn basic greetings and sentence patterns. Start kanji study. By the end of month 2, you should be able to read hiragana/katakana text aloud and understand basic sentence structure.
Months 3–4: N5 preparation. Complete a beginner textbook (Genki I or equivalent). Study all N5 grammar patterns. Build vocabulary to 800 words. Take N5 practice exams under timed conditions. Register for the JLPT N5 in July or December.
Months 5–6: N5 exam & N4 transition. Take the N5 exam. Begin N4 grammar study. Start an intermediate textbook (Genki II or Tobira). Expand vocabulary to 1,500 words. Continue daily kanji study — target 300 characters by end of month 6.
Months 7–12: N4 mastery. Complete N4 grammar. Read graded readers (Level 2–3) and simple manga. Practice listening with Japanese podcasts and YouTube channels. Take N4 practice exams. Register for and take the JLPT N4. Begin introducing N3 grammar toward the end of month 12.
Months 13–18: N3 preparation. Study N3 grammar systematically using the Shin Kanzen Master or So-matome series. Read extensively — NHK News Web Easy, graded readers, and simple novels. Listen to Japanese daily — podcasts, dramas, news. Take full-length N3 practice exams monthly. Register for and take the JLPT N3.
Daily study breakdown (N3 preparation phase):
- 30 minutes — Grammar study (textbook or Bunpro)
- 20 minutes — Vocabulary/kanji review (Anki or Wani Kani)
- 20 minutes — Reading practice (graded readers, news, manga)
- 20 minutes — Listening practice (podcasts, YouTube, dramas)
Best Resources by Level
N5 resources:
- Genki I — the most popular beginner Japanese textbook worldwide. Clear grammar explanations, useful exercises, and a logical progression
- Tae Kim's Guide to Learning Japanese — free online grammar guide that covers all N5 grammar in detail
- Anki N5 deck — pre-built vocabulary flashcards for all ~800 N5 words
- JLPT N5 practice tests — available free from the official JLPT website
N4 resources:
- Genki II — continues from Genki I with all N4 grammar
- Bunpro — spaced repetition for grammar points, organized by JLPT level. The N4 grammar set is excellent
- Tobira: Gateway to Advanced Japanese — bridges the gap between beginner and intermediate
N3 resources:
- Shin Kanzen Master N3 series — the most thorough N3 prep books. Separate volumes for grammar, vocabulary, reading, and listening
- So-matome N3 series — more concise than Shin Kanzen Master, good for learners who want a structured 8-week study plan per section
- JLPT Sensei — free N3 grammar explanations with example sentences
- NHK News Web Easy — daily news in simplified Japanese, perfect for N3-level reading practice
Test-Day Strategies
Time management. The JLPT is a timed exam, and running out of time is one of the most common reasons learners underperform. Practice with timed mock exams before test day. For the reading section, scan the questions first, then read the passages — this prevents reading the entire text only to realize you needed specific details. For listening, read the answer choices before the audio plays so you know what to listen for.
Listening tips. In the weeks before the exam, immerse yourself in Japanese audio. Listen to Japanese podcasts during your commute, watch Japanese YouTube with Japanese subtitles, and practice with official JLPT listening samples. The listening section uses natural-speed Japanese — if you've only been studying with textbook audio, the speed will surprise you.
Registration and logistics. Register early — popular testing centers in major cities fill up months in advance. Bring your passport (required for identification) and a pencil with an eraser. The answer sheet uses a bubble format. Get a good night's sleep before the exam. Eat before the test — it's long, and your brain needs fuel.
During the exam. Don't spend too long on any single question. If you're stuck, mark your best guess and move on — you can return if time permits. In the vocabulary section, you either know the word or you don't — don't waste time agonizing. Save your time for reading comprehension where careful analysis pays off.
After N3: What's Next?
Passing N3 is a genuine achievement — you're now intermediate in Japanese. This level qualifies you for many Japanese university programs, entry-level positions at Japanese companies, and government scholarships like MEXT.
From N3, the path continues to N2 (upper-intermediate, the level most employers prefer) and eventually N1 (advanced, near-native reading comprehension). The jump from N3 to N2 is significant but manageable with consistent study — plan for another 12–18 months.
The best way to accelerate your Japanese beyond N3 is immersion. Consider a language program in Japan where every daily interaction reinforces what you've studied. Living in Japan pushes your listening and speaking skills forward faster than any textbook can.
For learners also exploring other Asian languages, our guides to Korean and Mandarin offer parallel study plans and exam preparation strategies.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times per year is the JLPT administered?
Twice per year: July and December. Registration opens approximately 3–4 months before each test date. Not all testing centers offer both sessions — N5 and N4 are available in both July and December, while N1–N3 are typically offered in December only (some locations offer N1–N3 in July as well). Check the official JLPT website for your country's specific schedule and registration deadlines.
Can I skip levels (e.g., go straight to N3)?
Yes. There's no requirement to take lower levels before attempting higher ones. You can register for N3 directly without having passed N5 or N4. However, building a strong N5/N4 foundation is strongly recommended. The grammar and vocabulary at N3 assume mastery of all N5/N4 patterns. Attempting N3 without this foundation is like attempting calculus without algebra — technically possible but extremely painful.
Is JLPT N3 enough to work in Japan?
N3 is the minimum for many Japanese companies, particularly in hospitality, retail, and entry-level positions. N2 is preferred for professional roles in business, engineering, and IT. N1 is ideal for competitive positions and is often required for teaching, translation, and senior roles. For university admission, most Japanese universities require N2 or N1. N3 opens doors, but N2 significantly expands your opportunities.
How long is JLPT certification valid?
JLPT scores don't officially expire — the Japan Foundation doesn't set an expiration date. However, most employers and universities prefer scores from the last 2–3 years. If you took the JLPT five years ago and haven't used Japanese since, a company may ask you to retake it or demonstrate current proficiency through an interview. Plan to keep your skills current rather than relying on an old certificate.
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