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JLPT N1
What N1 certifies
The ability to understand Japanese used in a variety of circumstances. The hardest level.
- Reading: read writings with logical complexity and/or abstract writings on a variety of topics — newspaper editorials and critiques — and comprehend both structure and content; read profound material on various topics, follow narratives, and understand writers' intent comprehensively.
- Listening: comprehend coherent conversations, news reports, and lectures spoken at natural speed in a broad variety of settings; understand details such as relationships among people, logical structure, and essential points.
Test structure
| Test section | Time |
|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)・Reading | 110 min |
| Listening | 55 min |
| Total | 165 min |
Listening was shortened from 60 min to 55 min from the December 2022 test.
Scoring and pass mark
- Scoring sections: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) (0–60) + Reading (0–60) + Listening (0–60) = 0–180 total.
- Pass: total ≥ 100 points (the highest overall pass mark) AND ≥ 19 points in each of the three scoring sections.
Item types at this level
- Vocabulary (4 types — fewest of any level): Kanji reading; Contextually-defined expressions; Paraphrases; Usage. No Orthography and no Word formation (kanji orthography is assumed mastered at N1).
- Grammar (3 types): Sentential grammar 1; Sentential grammar 2; Text grammar.
- Reading (6 types — the most of any level): Short passages (≈200 characters); Mid-size passages (≈500 characters, causal relations or reasons); Long passages (≈1,000 characters: commentary, essays, novels); Integrated comprehension (multiple texts, ≈600 total); Thematic comprehension (≈1,000 characters of abstract/logical text: editorials, reviews); Information retrieval (≈700 characters).
- Listening (5 types): Task-based comprehension; Comprehension of key points; Comprehension of general outline; Quick response; Integrated comprehension.
Question counts (approximate, official composition)
Counts are the official guideline per sitting (小問数); the actual number varies slightly between sittings. The 2018 Official Practice Workbook confirms Vocabulary = 25 and Grammar = 20.
- Vocabulary (25): Kanji reading 6; Contextually-defined expressions 7; Paraphrases 6; Usage 6.
- Grammar (20): Sentential grammar 1 — 10; Sentential grammar 2 — 5; Text grammar — 5.
- Reading (26): Short passages 4; Mid-size passages 9; Long passages 4; Integrated comprehension 3; Thematic comprehension 4; Information retrieval 2.
- Listening (37): Task-based comprehension 6; Comprehension of key points 7; Comprehension of general outline 6; Quick response 14; Integrated comprehension 4.
Practical notes
- N1 is used as a prerequisite for some professional licensing in Japan (e.g. foreign medical professionals) and as an EJU alternative for university admission.
- N1 reading includes the longest passages (≈1,000 characters) and the most abstract material.
- Prep: official sample questions and the Official Practice Workbook (Vol.1/Vol.2) cover this level.