Assessment procedures for Japanese

Assessment guide

If you would like to join a Japanese course at any level above Beginners 1 and if you have not done a Japanese course at SOAS Language Centre before, please follow the following steps.

Please select the assessment based on your study hours or JLPT levels as outlined below.

Please do not use any dictionary or textbooks when taking the assessment test. It should not take more than 30 minutes to complete the assessment. If it is taking you much longer, please consider taking a lower level.

Once completed, please email the test to japanese@soas.ac.uk so we can arrange a meeting to discuss which level is suitable for you.

  1. Can you read and write in Kana? If no, please join Beginners 1. If yes, please go to 2.
  2. Have you passed JLPT N2? If yes, please join Proficiency 1, 2 or 3. If no, please go to 3.
  3. If you have studied for less than 60 hours, please take the assessment test for “Beginners”.
  4. If you have studied for less than 120 hours and know some Kanji, please take the assessment test for “Elementary”
  5. If you have studied for less than 180 hours or have passed JLPT N5, please take the assessment for “Pre-intermediate”. You should know about 200 kanji.
  6. If you have studied for less than 240 hours, or have passed JLPT N5 or N4, please take the assessment for “Intermediate”. You should know about 300 kanji.
  7. If you studied for less than 300 hours or have passed JLPT N4, please take the assessment for “Upper-Intermediate”. You should know about 450 kanji.
  8. If you have studied for less than 360 hours, or have passed JLPT N3, please take the assessment for “Pre-Advanced”. You should know about 600 kanji.
  9. If you have studied for less than 420 hours or have passed JLPT N3, Please take the assessment test for “Advanced”. You should know about 750 kanji.

Placement tests

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