Japanese Language Proficiency Test
The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) is broken into three sections. If you fail one section then you fail the whole test and receive no certification. You need to get 60% to pass level 4. The test is broken up in three sections and you have roughly an hour or so between each section. This gives you time to relax and let your brain have a well deserved break between each section.
The whole test is multiple choice. You will be given the test paper and a sepreate answer sheet. The answer sheet requires you to pencil in (color in) a circle for each of your answers. At the start of the test an explanation is given on how to answer the questions. It is very simple, but you do need to be careful when you pencil-in your answers on the sheet. It is quite easy to color in the wrong circle. If you accidentally skip a line you will be in trouble as all of your following answers will be to the wrong questions. Quite a few students fail because of this each year. Please be very careful.
The handing out of the test paper takes considerable time, especially in large test centers. You could find yourself with test paper in front of you with several minutes before the starting time. The temptation to take a peek will be there. Don't risk it. I have taken several levels of the JLPT and in every time I have seen students start the exam before they are told to, despite clear instruction not to do so. This is cheating. Most of the time the students get away with it. You might see a few students do this on test day and think about doing the same. DON'T DO IT. If you are caught you will fail. It is not worth it.
For level 4 the sections are broken up as described below
JLPT LEVEL 4
|
Sections |
Section |
Number of Questions |
Points |
Time |
|
もじ ＊ ごい |
Kanji and vocabulary |
40 Questions |
100 |
25 minutes |
|
ちょうかい |
Listening |
18 Questions |
100 |
25 minutes |
|
とっかい ＊ ぶんぽう |
Reading and Grammar |
47 Questions |
200 |
50 minutes |
ON THE BIG DAY
1 Relax on the day. Don't try to cram last minute study in the morning or between tests.
2 Take plenty of black medium soft (HB or No.2) pencils and a good quality eraser.
3 Remember your id card and examinee registration number.
4 Answer all questions even if you think you will fail.
5 Don't give up. Complete the test. Some students do quit and leave after th first section