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Taking the test
Practical facts about registering for and sitting the JLPT.
Dates and frequency
- Held on the first Sunday of July and December in Japan and most overseas cities; some cities hold it once a year.
- 2026 dates (first Sundays): July 5 and December 6 (derived from the official first-Sunday rule; confirm with the host institution).
- The test is the same worldwide on the same day.
Ireland test site
There is an Irish test site — no need to travel abroad:
- Dublin — University College Dublin (UCD), UCD Centre for Japanese Studies (UCD Japan)
- Test months: July and December
- Contact: tel +353-1-7168472, email japan@ucd.ie
- Details: https://www.ucd.ie/japan/exams/ (listed on the official JLPT overseas test site list)
Registration
- Application periods are roughly: early March–late April for the July test, and early August–late September for the December test (Wikipedia, citing official process; exact dates per host institution — check the UCD Japan page).
- You register with the host institution for the country where you sit.
- You pick one level per sitting (N1–N5); you cannot take multiple levels on the same day.
Results
- All examinees receive a Score Report; passers also get a Certificate of Proficiency. Certificates do not expire.
- December-test results are announced around February (Japan) / March (overseas); July-test results around late August. Online results (for online registrants) come before mailed reports.
- Scores are scaled (IRT-based); see Scoring.
Study-time planning (self-reported data)
Hours of study reported by learners residing in Japan (Japanese Language Education Center data, 2010–2015, via Wikipedia). Ranges depend on whether you already know kanji (e.g. Chinese speakers):
| Level | With kanji knowledge | No prior kanji knowledge |
|---|---|---|
| N5 | 250–450 h | 325–600 h |
| N4 | 400–700 h | 575–1,000 h |
| N3 | 700–1,100 h | 950–1,700 h |
| N2 | 1,150–1,800 h | 1,600–2,800 h |
| N1 | 1,700–2,600 h | 3,000–4,800 h |
Treat these as rough planning figures, not requirements.
What to bring on the day
Check the instructions from your host institution (UCD for Ireland) for the exact list; standard requirements are the test voucher / exam card and photo ID, plus pencils and an eraser. No dictionaries, phones, or watches with communication functions are allowed in the test room (per official rules).
Sources
- https://www.jlpt.jp/e/application/overseas_list.html — test sites incl. Ireland (UCD Dublin)
- https://www.jlpt.jp/e/guideline/results.html — results process
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese-Language_Proficiency_Test — application periods, study-hour data