Curiosity is the driving force behind the learning process. It’s true but What if it’s also backed up with self testing and examining? It’ll just do wonders. The Japanese language proficiency test is one such way to observe one’s learning path and efficiency in the language. These exams are divided into levels like N5, N4, N3, N2 and N1 just like their levels based on the difficulty. The JLPT Exam for N4 level and all other levels are administered by the Japan Foundation overseas and are held twice a year only. The first Sunday of July and December marks the exam day in Japan and many other countries including India.

JLPT Exam Preparation for N4 level includes understanding, how the exam is structured. Entire exam is on multiple choice questions. The total time required for the test is 115 minutes. Where the language knowledge and vocabulary amounts to 25 mins, Grammar to 55 mins and listening to 35 mins.

Japanese Level N4 – JLPT exam modules

1. Vocabulary (Goi) 

It consists of Kanji knowledge and word knowledge. There are around 10 multiple choice questions, where you need to mark the correct reading for kanji or via a versa. You may also need to find an appropriate work for the blanks. 

In short it’s a section about words. Around 300 kanjis and 1500 words are covered in the second level.

2. Grammar and reading – bumppo and dokkai 

This section consists of Grammar based questions and passage based questions. The focus lies on the upper basic grammar. The polite forms, the volitional form, honorific form of language, the conjunctions, verbs with specific context and particles and so on. One must pick the correct option from the four given options. Another important part is, Reading the comprehension, understanding it and solving the questions related to it. The texts are long and that’s why they require a higher speed of reading.

3. Listening –

In the JLPT N4 level exam, the listening levels up. You will listen to daily conversations but these are a little faster and more inclined towards the native Japanese or informal form. You need to identify the correct picture based option in one segment. There are 8 such questions. Based on a conversation you need to mark one correct answer. There are 7 such questions. You need to find out which greeting matches a particular picture. For exam you’re meeting someone after a long time, you say ohisashiburi おひさしぶり。

We can clearly see that there is no specific section for speaking. Hence it is neglected by the students. One must practice speaking on their own and in the class, whenever given a chance. This is a negative aspect about the Japanese level proficiency tests, but with the correct guidance and training, one can attain the ability to communicate in Japanese language. 

Here’s a link to a Practice paper for JLPT N4

https://www.jlpt.jp/e/samples/forlearners.html

The passing Criteriafor N4 level–

The vocabulary, grammar and reading sections sum up to 120 marks out of which one needs 38 marks to pass. Listening has 60 points out of which one needs 19 points to pass. It doesn’t stop there, the overall score has to be more than 90 points out of 180. This seems to be a difficult part for most of the students but it actually isn’t. If we try to compute this in figures, it is just 50% of the whole (180) 

Exam fear is real, but if you’re friends with consistency, studying, practicing and thorough with JLPT Exam Preparation for N4 level . In no way will the exam be an obstacle. You will like it and succeed. 
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