N5 is the lowest level of the JLPT. To pass JLPT N5, you’ll need to know at least 800 vocabulary words and be able to read hiragana and katakana. Moreover, you need to know at least 80 basic kanji.
While N5 isn’t anywhere close to fluent in Japanese, it’s a good measure of your ability to understand basic conversational Japanese.
Studying and passing the test shows that you have some foundation in basic functional Japanese. You can greet people and make some sense of the talks, but you can’t express your opinion yet.
Passing the N5 level won’t bring job offers into your inbox. However, it does show your diligence in learning Japanese and your willingness to learn the language.
JLPT N5 is about testing Japanese reading and listening skills. There aren’t any speaking and writing tests, but I recommend practicing speaking and writing also.
Thereby improving your overall comprehension. JLPT N5 is in a multiple-choice format, with the test content related to everyday real-life situations. More exposure to the language will also help you become more familiar with trickier parts of the tests, such as how to use grammar particles and Japanese grammar accurately.
Like any standardized test, you’ll want to spend at least three months to prepare for the test. For test-takers who don’t know kanji, you can assume it will take around 450 to 500 hours of study to pass the JLPT N5 test.
Moreover, out of 450 to 500 hours, approximately 150 hours are for learning Kanji. And that translates into approximately 2.5 hours of studying daily for 6 months.
There is no one-size-fits-all method of studying for the JLPT. Some students do well with self-study, while others need an extra push from a teacher to really grasp the language. For the N5, there are a variety of textbooks to help prepare you for the test.
The Genki and Yokoso series provide a good foundation as an introduction to Japanese, while the JLPT textbooks serve as good practice for how to take the test.
I would also recommend that test takers prepare by reading Japanese without using Romaji. The test will use Kanji in some parts of the test to challenge your reading ability with some furigana available for help.
There will also be some short reading passages. There will be enough time during the test to read the questions and answers thoroughly, so there’s no need to rush through the test.
Some tests will specifically test for katakana comprehension, and some questions will challenge your knowledge of Japanese grammar. Small mistakes, such as reading ‘ソ’ and ‘ン’ can result in incorrect answers.
Hiragana is commonly used in Japanese text, but katakana is typically used for words from other languages. A good way of practicing katakana is to find lists of loan words and try guessing their meanings.
Be careful; although many of the loan words might sound similar to English, it may surprise you that their meanings are different in Japanese.
For the kanji portion, the test will challenge your ability to read within the context and choose the correct pronunciation. We recommend reviewing on-yomi and kun-yomi readings of the most common basic kanji for the best chance of success.
Neglecting your listening comprehension will hinder your ability to take the JLPT and hamper your ability to communicate in daily life. Japanese pronunciation is fairly simple, but there are some sounds and cadences that English speakers will have difficulty hearing.
While watching Japanese TV shows and movies is a good way to prepare for the test, it’s hard to pick up beginner-level vocabulary and grammar.
Using structured CDs with your course and JLPT textbooks is the best way to prepare for the listening portion of JLPT N5. Other useful listening practices include simple Japanese YouTube channels for N5 learners or podcasts.
The following table mentions various details and requirements for the JLPT N5 level:
Item | Details |
Number of Kanji | 80 Kanji |
Vocabulary | 800 Words |
Total Score | 180 Points |
Minimum Passing Score | 80 Points |
Time Allowed for JLPT-N5 | Vocabulary: 25 minutes |
Estimated Study Time for JLPT-N5 | 450 to 500 hours |
Estimated Study Time | 300 to 350 hours |
Passing the N5 likely won’t help you with any major transition, but it’s a good starting point to measure how much Japanese you’ve been able to learn within 6 months to 1 year.
It also reflects your interest in the Japanese language and your seriousness about learning. After all, you paid money to sit through 4 hours of testing on a Sunday.
Japanese is a difficult language for English speakers, so it’s important to take steps to ease your way into studying and slowly pass more advanced levels of Japanese learning.
Certifying for the N5 level would reflect that you have a good foundation in Japanese and that you’re on your way to the subsequent JLPT levels quicker than you think.