The New JLPT for 2010
Posted on 21. Sep, 2009 @ 10:12 am by harvey in Language
I got into a twitter discussion with some tweeps about the new 2010 JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Exam) exam details.
There is a PDF document linked from the JLPT page that explains the new exam. It is in Japanese only so far it seems.
From what I have understood from quickly skimming the document, there is one major change that will be of interest to us Japanese learners.
There Are Now 5 Levels Of Difficulty On The JLPT
The previous JLPT had JLPT level 1, 2, 3, and 4. JLPT1 was the most difficult level, and there was a significant jump between levels 2 and 3.
The new exam levels are organized as follows. N3 is the most “exciting” and new level.
N1: Will be able to measure the test takers ability at a level a bit higher than the current JLPT1, but the pass/fail cutoff will be about the same as the current JLPT1 exam.
N2: Will be about the same difficulty as the current JLPT2.
N3: Will be a level between the current JLPT2 and JLPT3 levels. (This is a newly created level.)
N4: Will be about the same difficulty as the current JLPT3.
N5: Will be about the same difficulty as the current JLPT4.
This is interesting. I’m curious to know how the new N1 scoring will reflect a “higher level” than the existing JLPT1. Will it be worth taking again for people who have already passed JLPT1? Probably not…
It’s good that they created N3. I heard a lot of complaints from people that the jump from JLPT3 to JLPT2 was too great. N3 should be a nice middle ground that people can shoot for!
Change! Gotta love it.
Harvey
16 Responses to “The New JLPT for 2010”
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Akira
Sep 21st, 2009
at 10:30
I like this change and it has been long in coming. The test has not been refreshed for a while now. The change in level from JLPT3-JLPT2 was a tough one and that’s why so many stopped at JLPT3 and never continued on. Now with the new, cleverly named levels N3 should be a nicer smoother transition than before and will maybe encourage language learners to continue on.
Thank you for the article and bringing us this scoop!
Fukuoka Dreaming
Sep 21st, 2009
at 12:30
Does this mean that I should hold off taking the JLPT this year and take it next year instead?
Fukuoka Dreaming
Sep 21st, 2009
at 12:32
Does this mean that I should hold off taking the JLPT this year and take it next year instead? Im in the JLPT 4 heading to JLPT 3 region. Wondering which will be more advantageous to me.
Tadashi
Sep 21st, 2009
at 15:51
There’s no need to wait for the JLPT N4. Just do it and next year you can continue with the N3.
harvey
Sep 21st, 2009
at 18:24
I agree with Tadashi – take the exam as soon as you can, and continue on from there!
darg
Sep 21st, 2009
at 20:49
Another change, which they implemented this year already for 1Q and maybe 2Q I think, is that they offer the test twice a year now, so you don’t have to wait as much! Take 3Q now in December, then aim for N3 in July if you want.
jon
Sep 22nd, 2009
at 05:57
@darg As far as I know the way it is now is the way it is going to stay. That is, that the JLPT 1 & 2 is offered twice a year and the rest is once a year.
yonasu
Sep 22nd, 2009
at 09:46
I think it’s good that they’ve added another level, although I haven’t taken any of the exams myself. But hopefully now people will stop whining about the great jump between 3 and 2^^
teax2
Sep 22nd, 2009
at 18:50
:( Kanji is so complicated. I’ve only started learning the common spoken expressions and romaji. Taking the JPLT seems to complicated and difficult from here–a test entirely in Japanese! But then I love Japan…
mayhtwekhine
Sep 28th, 2009
at 03:15
I want to know how I preparation for N3?
Which text book I have to learn?
Haf
Sep 28th, 2009
at 07:04
I don’t think that you’ll find any specific learning aids for the new tests yet. I just skipped over the information document quickly, but I think I saw a list of appropriate text books for the various levels somewhere in the middel of the info document. However, those text books will have a very broad view on the topics that are covered in the tests. If you want a learning aid that’s tailored specifically to the tests, then you’ll probably have to wait till next year. In the meantime, just focus on learning more and more. :)
YAha
Jul 17th, 2010
at 02:44
the change isnt a good one? WHY?
firstly, tougher grading system will be implemented. besides obtaining a total pass, you have to pass individual sections too. No matter how well you score for the whole paper, as long ONE section doesn’t meet the individual marks, it’s considered as not passed..It’s kinda more demanding
Daniel
Jul 20th, 2010
at 06:37
Hi! I was wondering if there a webpage to download a book with JLPT exercises with ANSWERS. I have downloaded using torrents, ALL the text from 1990 till 2009, some guy scanned them or something :-) but I’ll have to have a Japanese friend correct the exercises…
Sam The Newbie
Jul 21st, 2010
at 11:34
I believe this is the most significant change in JLPT, other than the change to five levels. This is taken from the official JLPT Guide:
“The requirements for passing have changed so that examinees must now exceed the minimum acceptable score for both the total as well as each scoring section. Failure to exceed the minimum acceptable score in any scoring sections will result in a fail for the entire test, even if your total score is above the minimum acceptable score. The purpose of setting a minimum acceptable score for each scoring section is to assess the comprehensive proficiency.”
So this means you need to get a certain percentage in each section (Reading, Listening, Language Knowledge) in order to pass. Before, just the aggregate score mattered. Now, you need to do well in each section. I believe this will make the test much more challenging, due to the difficulty of the listening section.
Any thoughts?
(I’ll still be going for N1-kyuu anyway in December. Ganbatte everyone!)
Harvey
Jul 21st, 2010
at 20:41
“I believe this will make the test much more challenging, due to the difficulty of the listening section.”
I agree that having to pass every section will make it harder.
In my case though, I bombed the Kanji section, but nearly aced the listening section! I wouldn’t say one section is harder than the other, it’s just what you’ve trained yourself up for!
Ivory
Jul 23rd, 2010
at 04:22
Sam The Newbie: See my reply to Harvey’s “Help a Newbie!” post