Purseglove - Academic Japanese

For business purposes most employers seeking proof of competence in Japanese language will seek certification via the 'Japanese Language Proficiency Test' (JLPT).

There are currently 5 levels of certification, as of 2010. Full details of the differences between the old and new tests can be found on the official JLPT site.

Differences are as follows;

N5 - Equivalent to lvl.4 of the old test (Beginner)
N4 - Equivalent to lvl.3 of the old test
N3 - New 'bridging' level
N2 - Equivalent to lvl.2 of the old test
N1 - Equivalent to lvl.1 of the old test (Advanced)

Even though the levels are equivalent there are differences. However as a rule, if you were able to pass the previous equivalent level you would be expected to pass the new test also.

N5

The ability to understand some basic Japanese.

Reading - Able to read and understand typical expressions and sentences written in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji.

Listening - Able to listen and comprehend conversations about topics regularly encountered in daily life and classroom situations, and to pick up necessary information from short conversations spoken slowly.

N4

The ability to understand basic Japanese.

Reading - Able to read and understand passages on familiar daily topics written in basic vocabulary and kanji.

Listening - Able to listen and comprehend conversations encountered in daily life and generally follow their contents, provided that they are spoken slowly.

N3

The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to a certain degree.

Reading - Able to read and understand written materials with specific contents concerning everyday topics. Grasp summary information such as newspaper headlines. Read slightly difficult writings encountered in everyday situations and understand the main points of the content if some alternative phrases are available to aid understanding.

Listening - Able to listen and comprehend coherent conversations in everyday situations, spoken at near-natural speed, and generally follow their contents as well as grasp the relationships among the people involved.

N2

The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations, and in a variety of circumstances to a certain degree.

Reading - 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. Read written materials on general topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers.

Listening - 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 follow their ideas and comprehend their contents. Understand the relationships among the people involved and the essential points of the presented materials.

N1

The ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of circumstances.

Reading - 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. Read written materials with profound contents on various topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers comprehensively.

Listening - 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 follow their ideas and comprehend their contents comprehensively. Understand the details of the presented materials such as the relationships among the people involved, the logical structures, and the essential points.