How long is the JLPT exam?

It depends on the level. N5 takes 90 minutes of test time, N4 115 minutes, N3 140 minutes, N2 155 minutes and N1 165 minutes. Allow more time on the day for registration, instructions and breaks between sections.

What is the passing score for the JLPT?

Every level is scored out of 180. The overall pass marks are 80 for N5, 90 for N4, 95 for N3, 90 for N2 and 100 for N1. You must also clear a minimum score in every section; a high total cannot rescue a failed section.

Is there a speaking or writing section in the JLPT?

No. All questions are multiple choice, answered on a mark sheet. The test covers vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening only, you never write kanji by hand or speak.

What happens if I fail one section but pass overall?

You fail the level. Passing requires both the overall pass mark and the minimum score in each section. Your result slip shows each sectional score, so you can see exactly which section held you back.

When is the next JLPT?

The test runs twice a year, on the first Sunday of July and the first Sunday of December in most countries. The next test is Sunday 6 December 2026.

JLPT Exam Pattern: Sections, Timing and Passing Scores

Short answer: the JLPT has three parts at every level: language knowledge (vocabulary and grammar), reading, and listening, all multiple choice, scored out of 180. To pass you must clear two hurdles at once: the overall pass mark for your level and a minimum score in every section. Test time runs from 90 minutes at N5 to 165 minutes at N1.

The pattern at a glance

Level	Sections and time	Total test time
N5	Vocabulary 20 min · Grammar & Reading 40 min · Listening 30 min	90 min
N4	Vocabulary 25 min · Grammar & Reading 55 min · Listening 35 min	115 min
N3	Vocabulary 30 min · Grammar & Reading 70 min · Listening 40 min	140 min
N2	Language Knowledge & Reading 105 min · Listening 50 min	155 min
N1	Language Knowledge & Reading 110 min · Listening 55 min	165 min

The day itself runs longer than the test time: add check-in, seating, instructions before each section, and breaks between sections.

How the structure changes by level

N5 and N4 split the paper side into two sittings: a short vocabulary test first, then grammar and reading together. Listening is a separate section at the end.

N3 keeps the same shape but stretches everything: vocabulary gets its own 30 minutes, and grammar and reading together get 70: reading passages get longer and the time pressure is real.

N2 and N1 merge vocabulary, grammar and reading into one long sitting (105 and 110 minutes). There is no natural pause inside it, so pacing is part of the test: many candidates fail N2 not on knowledge but on reaching the last reading passages with two minutes left. Listening at N1 and N2 is also faster and played at near-natural speed.

At every level, listening audio is played once. There are no replays, and answers are marked as you go.

Scoring: the two-hurdle rule

Every level is scored out of 180 using scaled scoring, which adjusts for difficulty differences between test sessions, so a raw percentage does not convert to the same score every time. What matters is the pass criteria:

Level	Overall pass mark (of 180)	Section minimums
N5	80	Language Knowledge & Reading 38 of 120 · Listening 19 of 60
N4	90	Language Knowledge & Reading 38 of 120 · Listening 19 of 60
N3	95	19 of 60 in each of the three sections
N2	90	19 of 60 in each of the three sections
N1	100	19 of 60 in each of the three sections

Two things surprise people here:

A failed section fails the whole test. Score 120 overall at N3 but 15 in listening, and you do not pass. The section floors are low, roughly a third, but they exist to stop candidates passing on one strength alone.
N3’s overall pass mark (95) is higher than N2’s (90). That is not a typo. The marks are set per level against each level’s own scale, so they are not a simple ladder.

What this means for the last month before the test

The next test is Sunday 6 December 2026. With about a month left, the pattern tells you where the remaining time pays off:

Protect your weakest section, not your favourite. Because of the section floors, an hour spent lifting a weak listening score is worth more than an hour polishing vocabulary you already know. Take one timed practice test and look at the sectional split, not just the total.
Practise at real speed. Listening plays once, and the N2/N1 merged paper section is a pacing test. Do at least two full, timed run-throughs before the day.
Use kanji lists as a checklist, not a textbook. Work through your level’s list, N5, N4, N3, N2, N1, and flag the ones you cannot read on sight; those flags are your revision list. If you want the counts behind each level first, see how many kanji are in each JLPT level.
Drill under test conditions. Short, timed quizzes beat open-ended review now, the N5 kanji quiz is built for exactly this kind of check.

Exam day basics

Rules are administered locally, so check your test site’s instructions, but in general: bring your test voucher and photo ID, pencils (HB or No. 2) and an eraser for the mark sheet, and arrive early, doors close on schedule and latecomers are not admitted to a section that has started. Phones must be off and put away; a phone going off can disqualify you. There is no negative marking, so never leave a bubble blank: a guess costs nothing.

The bottom line

The JLPT pattern is simple, vocabulary, grammar, reading, listening, all multiple choice, but passing is a balancing act: reach the overall mark and keep every section above its floor. Prepare for the structure, not just the content, and the test gets much more predictable.