The Japanese Language Test (JLPT or Nihongo Noreku Shiken) has been offered by the local foundation, educational exchanges and services of this country (the former Association for International Education) since 1984. It is considered the most reliable means of assessing and certifying the level of knowledge for those who are not native speakers. Immediately after developing the test, Noreku Shiken used only about 7,000 people. In 2011, there were already 610,000 people who passed the exam, which makes JLPT the largest Japanese language test in different countries.
History of development
Over time, the number of candidates for testing has increased, the interpretation of JLPT results has expanded: from measuring language skills to the assessment required for career advancement. It is also used as a form of qualification determination. Suggestions for improving the conduct and preparation for the Norek Shiken were presented by interested people around the world.
To ensure continued relevance and accuracy of JLPT, organizations involved in its implementation, in 2010 submitted a revised version of the test. This new exam takes full advantage of the most advanced research in Japanese pedagogy and reflects the vast amount of data accumulated since it began more than 25 years ago.
Objectives and Organization
Nihongo noreku shiken is held all over the world to evaluate and certify Japanese language proficiency for those who are not native speakers of it.
Outside the country, the foundation conducts a test in collaboration with local institutions. In Japan, the exam is supervised by various educational organizations.
Certificates of Noreku Shiken provide many advantages, for example, they are a kind of academic loan, help with certification in schools, allow you to get a job in companies.
Japan test benefits
Points earned on testing provide benefits for those wishing to immigrate to this country.
Those who pass the JLPT N 1, get 15 points, N 2 - 10 in the framework of the state system of accrual of preferential immigration services for highly qualified foreign specialists. Persons with a rating of 70 and above receive appropriate benefits.
Key Features
The exam allows you to determine the level of communicative competence necessary to perform various tasks.
First of all, Nihongo Shore attaches great importance to not only key skills such as determining the level of vocabulary and grammar of the Japanese language, but also the ability to use all this in real communication. To perform various everyday tasks that require a certain qualification, both knowledge of the theory and the ability to actually use it are necessary. Thus, the JLPT measures overall communicative competency using three elements:
- determination of the level of language proficiency;
- reading;
- listening.
All these skills are part of the preparation for Nihongo Noreku Shiken.
Grading
Despite attempts to ensure a clear test sequence, it is inevitable that the degree of difficulty at the same levels is slightly different in each session. The use of “raw estimates” (based on the number of correct answers) can lead to different interpretations for people with the same abilities, depending on the complexity of the tests. Instead of raw points during the Noreku Shiken, the so-called scaled ones are used. The system is based on the alignment method and allows you to make the same measurements regardless of the time of the test.
Large-scale assessments enable JLPT to more accurately and fairly determine language proficiency during the test.
Successful or unsuccessful test results do not explain how students can use Japanese in real life. For this reason, Noreku Shiken offers the “JLPT Can-do Self-Assessment List” as a reference for interpreting exam results.
A survey was conducted that included clauses about what actions using the Japanese language for students are possible. About 65,000 people took part in this study, passing the Noreku shiken in 2010 and 2011. The results were analyzed and a list was prepared based on the responses received.
Subjects and anyone interested can use it as a reference to get an idea of what successful students are able to do, having knowledge of the Japanese language to take the test for levels of Noreku shiken.
Degree of difficulty
JLPT has five levels: N 1, N 2, N 3, N 4 and N 5. The simplest is N 5, and the most difficult is N 1. It is designed to measure your Japanese language proficiency as carefully as possible. There are test tasks of varying complexity, designed for each level.
Nihongo Noreku Shiken N 4 and N 5 measure the degree of understanding of basic Japanese in the classroom (at language courses). N 1 and N 2 determine the skill of understanding the language used in a wide range of different situations in everyday life. N 3 is the connecting level between N 1 / N 2 and N 4 / N 5.
The linguistic competency required for JLPT is expressed in language activities such as reading and listening. Knowledge, including vocabulary and grammar, is also necessary for the successful completion of these actions.
Level N 1
Language competencies at this stage are represented by the ability to understand the Japanese language used in various circumstances.
The reading level is determined by the ability to work with articles that differ in logical complexity and / or abstract works on various topics, for example, newspaper and critical materials, the ability to understand their structure and content. Written materials with deep meanings on various topics are also used. The ability to follow their narrative, as well as fully understand the intentions of the authors, is determined.
The level of development of such competence as listening is determined by the ability to understand verbally presented materials, such as consecutive conversations, news messages and lectures that are delivered at a natural speed in a variety of conditions, as well as the ability to follow ideas and fully understand their content. It also takes into account the skill of understanding the details of the materials presented, such as the relationships between the people involved, logical structures and other key points.
N 2
The level of language proficiency is determined by the ability to understand it in everyday situations and various circumstances, to a certain extent corresponding to this level of the test.
Reading skill is determined by the ability to work with materials written clearly and clearly on various topics, such as articles and comments in newspapers, magazines, simple criticisms, and the ability to understand their contents. It also considers the possibility of reading written materials on general topics and monitoring their narration, determining the intentions of the authors.
During listening, the ability to understand verbally presented materials, such as consecutive conversations and news messages, which are talked about with almost natural speed in everyday situations, is determined. The ability to understand their content is revealed. The ability to determine the relationship between the people involved in the conversation and the main points of the materials presented are also tested.
Level 3
Language competency is determined by the ability to understand Japanese, which is used in everyday situations.
The reading skill is revealed by exploring the possibility of understanding written materials with specific content relating to everyday topics. The ability to perceive summary information, such as newspaper headlines, is also assessed. In addition, it checks the ability to read not very complex texts related to everyday situations, and understand the main points of the content, if there are several alternative phrases that help to understand it.
Listening determines the person’s ability to listen and perceive consecutive conversations in everyday situations, to speak at an almost natural speed and the ability to follow the content of the conversation, as well as to capture relationships between the people involved.
Fourth step
Here you need the ability to understand basic Japanese.
The ability to read is checked by how much a person can perceive passages on familiar, everyday topics, written on the basis of a basic dictionary and kanji (hieroglyphs). Noreku Shiken checks the level of listening at this stage, determining the ability to listen and translate conversations that occur in everyday life, and understanding of their contents subject to slow speech.
Challenge for Beginners
When conducting N 5 assesses the ability to understand some basic Japanese phrases. The speed and quality of reading is tested by the ability to reproduce and understand typical expressions and sentences written in hiragana, katakana (syllabic alphabet) and basic kanji.
When testing listening, the ability to listen and understand conversations on topics that are regularly found in everyday life and in the classroom, as well as to collect the necessary information from short conversations during which they speak slowly, is determined.