The JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) is the benchmark to certify non-native Japanese’s level of proficiency in the language.

What is JLPT?

The information about JLPT below is from JLPT official site.

The JLPT has five levels: N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5. The easiest level is N5 and the most difficult level is N1.

N4 and N5 measure the level of understanding of basic Japanese mainly learned in class. N1and N2 measure the level of understanding of Japanese used in a broad range of scenes in actual everyday life. N3 is a bridging level between N1/N2 and N4/N5.

Linguistic competence required for the JLPT is expressed in terms of language activities, such as Reading and Listening, as shown in the table below. While not noted in the table, Language Knowledge, such as Vocabulary and Grammar, is also required for successful execution of these activities.

Courses cover:

Why you need JLPT?

If you wish to study at university/work at a company in Japan, you need to pass JLPT N2 at least. N2 reveals that you are able to communicate in Japanese in general conversation and understand some topics in specific fields. N1 requires you to comprehend Japanese language as well as Japanese society. They expect that you can communicate with Japanese people like native Japanese. Though more companies and communities have Enligh (and other language) speakers, Japanese is must item for your life in Japan like Japanese people are expected to communicate in English in Australian society.

On the other hand, N5, N4 and N3 are usually used for benchmarks and/or target of your Japanese study, and they assess you how much you can communicate in Japanese in general conversation. You can use JLPT as a reference of your Japanese.

How can you study for JLPT?

JLPT is, of course, one of the exams to assess your language proficiency in Japanese. So it would not be enough if you just go through the textbook you are using for General Japanese lesson. What is so different? You can build up your vocabulary and grammar structures with General Japanese textbook. But how they assess is different from questions and exercises in your textbook!

Your textbook ask you:

つぎの たんごの いみは なんですか。(What is the meaning of the following word?)

1. To work:

And the answer is 「はたらきます／しごとをします／つとめます」.

In JLPT, they would ask you:

つぎの ぶんと だいたい おなじいみの ぶんは １～４の どれですか。

マイクさんは　スーパーで　しごとをしています。

１．マイクさんは　スーパーで　あるいています。

２．マイクさんは　スーパーで　やすんでいます。

３．マイクさんは　スーパーで　はたらいています。

４．マイクさんは　スーパーで　かいものをしています。

And the answer is 3. They do not ask the meaning directly but do synonyms. If you have no idea about the style of exam, you do not know what to do during exam. Also, JLPT consist of Vocabulary, Grammar, Reading, and Listening part. You need to be familiar with the questions.
Let’s exercise with sample questions.

In JLPT Preparation course at BBICollege, students are expected to have finished learning grammar structures of each level. Of course, the teacher will explain them if you do not understand or have not studied before for some reasons. But we will focus on study tips to answer the questions rather than spend time to study grammar structures and vocabulary which you can study at General Japanese course or by yourself.
You can also try online sample questions. JLPT official association does not provide past papers of each year. Instead of that, they publishes official practice workbook which selected questions from the past three years as a past paper. They are available online as well as booklet.

JLPT in Australia

JLPT is held twice a year, July and December in more than 270 cities all over the world. In Australia, you have those opportunities to take the Test.
Please see the schedule as below

To apply for JLPT, visit JLPT Australia website to complete application form and payment.

N1, N2, N3: $90.00
N4, N5: $80.00

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test Administration, School of Humanities and Languages, The University of New South Wales is your test venue in Sydney.

Recommend!
Why don’t you try our Cultural Workshop before applying! We can offer suitable work shop for you.

JLPT course : Business manner series
Also you can get FREE LEVEL CHECK during the workshop, the trainer will assess your Japanese level if you want. Then you can have a short discussion with the trainer about your study plan of Japanese.
See more details on Workshop page.

The information about JLPT below is from JLPT official site