[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-408573-105":3,"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":81,"doc-detail-408573-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","old-test-new-test-japanese-language-proficiency-levels","Old test - New test - Japanese Language Proficiency Levels","","Comparison of Japanese language proficiency expectations across old and new testing frameworks. Defines linguistic competence by level, detailing required grammar command, vocabulary and kanji knowledge, and practical abilities for daily-life use. Covers time estimates for reaching each older level and describes reading and listening capabilities for N5 through N1, including comprehension of logical complexity, abstract writing, coherent conversations, and lectures, as well as understanding intent, structures, and relationships among people.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/exam/","Exam",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/old-test-new-test-japanese-language-proficiency-levels/408573/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/old-test-new-test-japanese-language-proficiency-levels/408573.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"acoobca","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-30","2026-09-28",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",8,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"How do the old test Levels 1–4 differ in required grammar and vocabulary from each other?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"Level 1 requires high grammar mastery, about 2,000 kanji and 10,000 words, while Level 2 needs relatively high grammar with about 1,000 kanji and 6,000 words. Level 3 requires limited grammar with around 300 kanji and 1,500 words, and Level 4 focuses on basic grammar with about 100 kanji and 800 words.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"What does N1 require for reading and listening under the new test?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"N1 requires understanding Japanese used in varied circumstances. For reading, it includes logically complex and abstract writings such as newspaper editorials and critiques, plus profound materials and their intent. For listening, it includes coherent conversations, news, and lectures at natural speed, with comprehension of logical structures and essential points.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What abilities does N5 target in daily-life communication?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"N5 targets understanding some basic Japanese. For reading, it includes typical expressions and sentences using hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji. For listening, it focuses on conversations in daily life and classroom situations spoken slowly, allowing the learner to pick up necessary information from short exchanges.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},408573,1790716998,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",[84,88,92,95,100,105,110,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":85,"show_sort_weight":86,"slug":87},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":89,"show_sort_weight":90,"slug":91},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":107,"show_sort_weight":108,"slug":109},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":55,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":131},{"doc_id":79,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":33,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":22,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":30,"preview_page_count":4},3985747870733,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_a8503ba1806abce46bf441b54a3ca4cd","Old test New test  \n\n| Level | Criteria |\n| --- | --- |\n| 1 | The examinee has mastered grammar to a high level, knows around 2,000 kanji and 10,000 words, and hasan integrated command of the language sufficient for life in Japanese society. This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for around 900 hours. |\n| 2 | The examinee 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. |\n\n| Level | A Summary of Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level |\n| --- | --- |\n| N1 | The ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of circumstances.\u003Cbr>Reading ・ One is able to read writings with logical complexity and/or abstract writings on a variety of topics, such as newspaper editorials and critiques, and comprehend both their structures and contents.\u003Cbr>・ One is also able to read written materials with profound contents on various topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers comprehensively.\u003Cbr>Listening ・ One is able to comprehend orally presented materials such as coherent conversations, news reports, and lectures, spoken at natural speed in a broad variety of settings, and is able to follow their ideas and comprehend their contents comprehensively. One is also able to understand the details of the presented materials such as the relationships among the people involved, the logical structures, and the essential points. |\n| N2 | The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations, and in a variety of circumstances to a certain degree.\u003Cbr>Reading ・ One is able to read materials written clearly on a variety of topics, such as articles and commentaries in newspapers and magazines as well as simple critiques, and comprehend their contents.\u003Cbr>・ One is also able to read written materials on general topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers.\u003Cbr>Listening ・ One is able to comprehend orally presented materials such as coherent conversations and news reports, spoken at nearly natural speed in everyday situations as well as in a variety of settings, and is able to follow their ideas and comprehend their contents. One is also able to understand the relationships among the people involved and the essential points of the presented materials. |\n\nN3 【Newly established】  \nThe ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to a certain degree.  \nReading ・ One is able to read and understand written materials with specific contents concerning everyday topics.  \n・ One is also able to grasp summary information such as newspaper headlines.  \n・ In addition, one is also able to read slightly difficult writings encountered in everyday situations and understand the main points of the content if some alternative phrases are available to aid one’s understanding.  \nListening ・ One is able to listen and comprehend coherent conversations in everyday situations, spoken at near-natural speed, and is generally able to follow their contents as well as grasp the relationships among the people involved.  \n\n| 3 | The examinee has mastered grammar to a limited level, knows around 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. |\n| --- | --- |\n| 4 | The examinee has mastered the basic elements of grammar, knows around 100 kanji and 800 words, has the ability to engage in simple conversation and 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. |\n\n| N4 | The ability to understand basic Japanese.\u003Cbr","cbCainRqH1zqQtF6","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCainRqH1zqQtF6","pdf",40003,"English","# Level Criteria Comparison\n## Old test Levels 1-4\n## New test Levels N1-N5","[{\"question\":\"How do the old test Levels 1–4 differ in required grammar and vocabulary from each other?\",\"answer\":\"Level 1 requires high grammar mastery, about 2,000 kanji and 10,000 words, while Level 2 needs relatively high grammar with about 1,000 kanji and 6,000 words. Level 3 requires limited grammar with around 300 kanji and 1,500 words, and Level 4 focuses on basic grammar with about 100 kanji and 800 words.\"},{\"question\":\"What does N1 require for reading and listening under the new test?\",\"answer\":\"N1 requires understanding Japanese used in varied circumstances. For reading, it includes logically complex and abstract writings such as newspaper editorials and critiques, plus profound materials and their intent. For listening, it includes coherent conversations, news, and lectures at natural speed, with comprehension of logical structures and essential points.\"},{\"question\":\"What abilities does N5 target in daily-life communication?\",\"answer\":\"N5 targets understanding some basic Japanese. For reading, it includes typical expressions and sentences using hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji. For listening, it focuses on conversations in daily life and classroom situations spoken slowly, allowing the learner to pick up necessary information from short exchanges.\"}]","Old test - New test - Japanese Language Proficiency Levels | PDF",1790579814]