Everything a beginner needs to know about the N5 exam: the parts, the level and a study plan.
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has five levels, from N5 (easiest) to N1. N5 shows that you understand basic Japanese.
What is in the exam?
- Vocabulary: reading kanji words and choosing the right word
- Grammar and reading: basic sentence patterns and short texts
- Listening: short, slow conversations from daily life
What you need to know
- Hiragana and katakana
- About 100 kanji
- Around 800 words
- Basic grammar: です, ます, て-form, adjectives, particles
A simple plan
- Month 1: hiragana, katakana and greetings.
- Months 2–4: grammar, 10 new words a day, kanji with words.
- Months 5–6: listening practice and mock tests.
See our N5 study page for vocabulary, kanji and grammar, or join our N5 course.