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JLPT N3
What N3 certifies
The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to a certain degree. N3 is the bridging level between N1/N2 and N4/N5.
- Reading: read and understand written material with specific content on everyday topics; grasp summary information such as newspaper headlines; read slightly difficult everyday writings and understand the main points if some alternative phrases aid understanding.
- Listening: comprehend coherent conversations in everyday situations at near-natural speed; follow contents and grasp relationships among people.
Test structure
| Test section | Time |
|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) | 30 min |
| Language Knowledge (Grammar)・Reading | 70 min |
| Listening | 40 min |
| Total | 140 min |
Scoring and pass mark
- Scoring sections: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar) (0–60) + Reading (0–60) + Listening (0–60) = 0–180 total.
- Pass: total ≥ 95 points AND ≥ 19 points in each of the three scoring sections.
Item types at this level
- Vocabulary (5 types): Kanji reading; Orthography; Contextually-defined expressions; Paraphrases; Usage. (No Word formation — that is N2-only.)
- Grammar (3 types): Sentential grammar 1; Sentential grammar 2; Text grammar.
- Reading (4 types): Short passages (≈150–200 characters); Mid-size passages (≈350 characters, key words and causal relations in commentary/essays); Long passages (≈550 characters: commentary, essays, letters — long passages appear at N1, N3 only); Information retrieval (≈600 characters: advertisements, brochures).
- Listening (5 types): Task-based comprehension; Comprehension of key points; Comprehension of general outline (first appears at N3); Verbal expressions (with illustrations); Quick response. (No integrated comprehension at this level.)
Question counts (approximate, official composition)
Counts are the official guideline per sitting (小問数); the actual number varies slightly. The 2018 Official Practice Workbook confirms Vocabulary = 35.
- Vocabulary (35): Kanji reading 8; Orthography 6; Contextually-defined expressions 11; Paraphrases 5; Usage 5.
- Grammar (20): Sentential grammar 1 — 10; Sentential grammar 2 — 5; Text grammar — 5.
- Reading (16): Short passages 4; Mid-size passages 6; Long passages 4; Information retrieval 2.
- Listening (28): Task-based comprehension 6; Comprehension of key points 6; Comprehension of general outline 3; Verbal expressions 4; Quick response 9.
Practical notes
- N3 is the first level with three separate scoring sections and with general-outline listening.
- Prep: official sample questions and the Official Practice Workbook (Vol.1/Vol.2) cover this level.