Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)

Dept of Testing > Campus Test Info > JLPT

General Information

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test, created and edited by the Association of International Education, Japan and the Japan Foundation, is taken to assess the proficiency level of students and to place students at the most appropriate level in the curriculum of the Japanese Language Program at San Diego State University (SDSU). There are four levels to the test:

Level 4 is designed for students who have had 150 hours of instruction in elementary grammar, kanji (approximately 100 characters); have a vocabulary of approximately 800 words; can converse at a very elementary level; can read and write simple or short sentences and have finished the first half of Elementary Japanese course/text.

Level 3 is designed for students who have had 300 hours of instruction in basic grammar, kanji (approximately 300 characters); have a vocabulary of approximately 1500 words; can converse in practical everyday situations; can read and write unsophisticated paragraphs and have finished Elementary Japanese course/text.

Level 2 is designed for students who have had 600 hours of instruction in advanced grammar, kanji (approximately 1000 characters); have a vocabulary of approximately 6000 words; can converse, read and write on general topics; can read and write unsophisticated paragraphs and have finished Intermediate Japanese course/text.

Level 1 is designed for students who have had 900 hours of instruction in highly advanced grammar, kanji (approximately 2000 characters); have a vocabulary of approximately 10,000 words; can function in social situations and situations at universities/research institutions.

The number of questions on each test varies, as do the time limits, but all 4 levels contain three sections:

1) Characters and Vocabulary
2) Listening Comprehension and
3) Reading Comprehension and Grammar.

Who Needs to Take the "Japanese Language Proficiency Test?"

All Japanese Language Program transfer students as well as those San Diego State University students who participated in exchange programs are required to take this examination.

Registration Procedures

Level 4: Come to the SDSU Test Office during business hours (Monday-Friday 8 am - 4:30pm) and purchase a ticket of admission. The fee for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is $25.00 (per level). The Test Office is located in the Student Services Building, Room 2549. The ticket of admission will have the date, time and location of the test printed on it, as well as your name, social security number and ID requirements.

Levels 3, 2 and 1: Talk to a Japanese Language Program Advisor in the Department of Linguistics and Oriental Languages, located in Business Administration, Room 327. The advisor will give you a card. Take the card and then follow the registration procedures described above for Level 4. You cannot register for Levels 3, 2 and 1 without a card from the Japanese Language Program advisor.

For Further Information

Contact a Japanese Language Program Advisor in the Department of Linguistics and Oriental Languages, located in Business Administration, Room 327.

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