The JLPT is now revised. Please see here for details.

1. Objectives

The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (hereinafter referred to as "Test") will be held both in Japan and abroad to evaluate and certify the proficiency in Japanese of non-native speakers.

2. Administrative Organizations

Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (hereinafter referred to as "JEES") administers the Test in Japan. Overseas, the Japan Foundation (Interchange Association in Taiwan) will work with local host institutions to administer it.

3. Test Date and Test Hours

July 4 (Sun.), 2010

* For linguistic competence required for each level, please see section 7.
**Test hours include instruction time etc, in addition to the actual answer time.

4. Test Sites

We are planning to administer the Test in major cities throughout Japan.
In 2009, JLPT was held in 33 prefectures (reference only):

Hokkaido, Iwate, Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, Tochigi, Gunma, Saitama, Chiba, Tokyo, Kanagawa, Niigata, Toyama, Ishikawa, Yamanashi, Nagano, Gifu, Shizuoka, Aichi, Mie, Kyoto, Osaka, Hyogo, Okayama, Hiroshima, Kagawa, Ehime, Kochi, Fukuoka, Nagasaki, Oita, Kagoshima, Okinawa.

5. Application Procedure

6. Announcement of Test Results

(1)	Subjecting those who completed all test sections, pass or fail will be determined by the scores for both total as well as each scoring section and all examinees will receive their score reports of the Test. The requirements for passing have changed so that examinees must now exceed the minimum acceptable score for all test sections. Failure to exceed the minimum acceptable score (to be announced) in any scoring sections will result in a fail for the entire test, even if your total score is above the minimum acceptable score. Test sections and scoring sections correspond to each other as per below. The scoring sections for N1, N2, and N3 are divided into three: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar), Reading and Listening respectively.
(2)	Successful examinees will also receive the Certificate of Japanese Language Proficiency.
(3)	Official test results as well as the Certificate of Japanese Language Proficiency will be sent in early September, 2010.
(4)	For examinees wishing to study at universities, junior colleges and technical schools in Japan who took the Test abroad where the Japan Student Services Organization (JASSO) does not administer "Examination for Japanese University Admission for International Students", JEES would provide transcript of scores. For this, an official request should be made by examinees' prospective schools to JEES so that it will be sent directly to them via JEES after the notification of test results.

7. A Summary of Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level

This table outlines what is expected of examinees for each level of the new JLPT in terms of Reading and Listening. The linguistic knowledge needed to execute the behaviors described will be required by the examinees to pass their respective goals.

Level		A Summary of Linguistic Competence Required for Each Level
	N1	The ability to understand Japanese used in avariety of circumstances. [Reading] One is able to read writings with logical complexity and/or abstract writings on a variety of topics, such as newspaper editorials and critiques, and comprehend both their structures and contents. One is also able to read written materials with profound contents on various topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers comprehensively. [Listening] One is able to comprehend orally presented materials such as coherent conversations, news reports, and lectures, spoken at natural speed in a broad variety of settings, and is able to follow their ideas and comprehend their contents comprehensively. One is also able to understand the details of the presented materials such as the relationships among the people involved, the logical structures, and the essential points.
	N2	The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations, and in a variety of circumstances to a certain degree. [Reading] One is able to read materials written clearly on a variety of topics, such as articles and commentaries in newspapers and magazines as well as simple critiques, and comprehend their contents. One is also able to read written materials on general topics and follow their narratives as well as understand the intent of the writers. [Listening] One is able to comprehend orally presented materials such as coherent conversations and news reports, spoken at nearly natural speed in everyday situations as well as in a variety of settings, and is able to follow their ideas and comprehend their contents. One is also able to understand the relationships among the people involved and the essential points of the presented materials.
	N3	The ability to understand Japanese used in everyday situations to a certain degree. [Reading] One is able to read and understand written materials with specific contents concerning everyday topics. One is also able to grasp summary information such as newspaper headlines. In addition, one is also able to read slightly difficult writings encountered in everyday situations and understand the main points of the content if some alternative phrases are available to aid one' s understanding. [Listening] One is able to listen and comprehend coherent conversations in everyday situations, spoken at near-natural speed, and is generally able to follow their contents as well as grasp the relationships among the people involved.