JLPT exam pattern for N5 level

So you have now started learning Japanese and hopefully enjoying it. Most people who are learning Japanese also plan to give the basic Japanese proficiency exam conducted by JLPT. This basic level is known as N5. There are four other such levels from N4 to N1. As you may know the next JLPT exam date in on Sunday, December 1, 2019. It is August now and it would be a good idea to start preparing for JLPT N5 as per the exam pattern. Knowing the JLPT exam pattern for N5 level would help you prepare at maximum efficiency and keep you ready for the exam day. Let us now begin understanding the exam pattern

Sections in JLPT N5 exam

JLPT N5 is composed of following sections:

Vocabulary – 25 minutes

In this section you will be asked questions related to Kanji reading, orthography, contextually defines expressions and paraphrases.

1. Kanji reading – Test reading of words written in kanji
2. Orthography – Test kanji and katakana for words written in hiragana
3. Contextually-defined expressions – Test words whose meaning is defined by context
4. Paraphrases – Test words and expressions with similar meaning

Grammar and Reading – 50 minutes

Questions in this section ask you to select grammar forms, compose sentences and textual grammar.

When it comes to Reading, you will have questions related to Comprehension and Information Retrieval. Comprehension passages will only be short and mid-size passages.

1. Sentential grammar 1 (selecting grammar form) – Test judgment on grammar formats that suit sentences
2. Sentential grammar 2 (sentence composition) – Test sentence composition that is syntactically accurate and makes sense
3. Text grammar – Test judgment on suitability of sentences for text flow
4. Comprehension (short passages) – Test understanding of contents by reading easy original text of approximately 80 characters regarding topics and situations involving study, everyday life and work
5. Comprehension (mid-size passages) – Test understanding of contents by reading easy original text of approximately 250 characters regarding topics and situations in everyday life
6. Information retrieval – Test ability to retrieve necessary information from original materials such as notices (approximately 250 characters)

Listening – 30 minutes

Listening section will have task based comprehension, comprehension of key points, verbal expressions check, and quick response test.

1. Task Based Comprehension – Test understanding of contents by listening to coherent text (test ability to extract necessary information to resolve specific issues and understand appropriate action to take)
2. Comprehension of key points – Test understanding of contents by listening to coherent text (test ability to narrow down points based on necessary information presented in advance)
3. Verbal expressions – Test ability to select appropriate verbal expressions by listening to circumstances while looking at illustrations
4. Quick response – Test ability to select appropriate responses by listening to short utterances such as questions