Where JLPT learners lose points: 36,263 first answers by section
I run OK JLPT, a site with JLPT practice tests by year. When someone answers a question for the first time, we record whether they got it right. We now have 36,263 of those first answers across 6,091 questions.
Two limits: these are learners on one site, not everyone who sits the JLPT. And the numbers below are the share of first answers that were correct, not scores on the 180-point scale.
Correct first answers by section
| Level | Vocabulary | Grammar | Reading | Listening |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N1 | 64% | 53% | 47% | 57% |
| N2 | 63% | 45% | 43% | 42% |
| N3 | 66% | 46% | 53% | 53% |
| N4 | 63% | 46% | 40% | 49% |
| N5 | 73% | 57% | 51% | 58% |
Vocabulary is the strongest section at every level, at least 7 points ahead of the next one. The weakest section changes: reading at N1, N4 and N5, listening at N2, grammar at N3.
The hardest question types
| Level | Hardest type | Correct |
|---|---|---|
| N1 | Long passages | 38% |
| N2 | General outline (listening), Thematic comprehension (reading) | 35% |
| N3 | Text grammar, Sentence composition | 39% |
| N4 | Mid-size passages | 36% |
| N5 | Sentence composition | 43% |
What I'd do with this
- Don't spend all your time on word lists. Each scored section has a minimum, so a strong vocabulary result won't rescue a weak section.
- N1 and N4: practise full passages against the clock, not single sentences.
- N2: train General outline on its own. The question only comes after the audio, so listen for the speaker's main point rather than details.
- N3 to N5: in sentence composition, place all four pieces and read the whole sentence before you choose.
The same numbers for each level are on our JLPT practice tests page, and they update as more people answer. To see how a practice result compares with the pass marks and section minimums, try the JLPT score calculator. It's free and needs no sign-up.