If you're learning Japanese and want proof you're getting somewhere, N5 is where you start. It's the most basic level of the JLPT — the one that says you've got the foundations: the two kana alphabets, your first few hundred words, and the ability to follow simple everyday Japanese. This guide covers exactly what's tested, what score you need, and a free plan to get there.
Key takeaway: JLPT N5 tests about 100 kanji and 800 words across reading and listening. You need 80 out of 180 to pass — and at least the minimum in each section. Most people reach it in 350–500 hours of study, and you can start today with hiragana.
What JLPT N5 actually is
N5 certifies "the ability to understand some basic Japanese" — the kind taught in a beginner classroom (JLPT — level summary). Concretely, at N5 you can:
- read and understand set phrases and sentences written in hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji, and
- follow short, slow conversations on familiar everyday topics.
It does not test speaking or writing — like every JLPT level, it's multiple-choice reading and listening only.
What's on the test
N5 has two scored sections (JLPT — test sections):
- Language Knowledge (vocabulary / grammar) + Reading
- Listening
The scope you're expected to cover is roughly ~100 kanji and ~800 vocabulary words, plus basic grammar — all built on total fluency with hiragana and katakana (study scope overview). The test itself runs about 105 minutes in total.
Here's something beginners underestimate: kana is non-negotiable. A big chunk of N5 is written in hiragana and katakana, so if reading kana is still slow, that's your first job — not kanji, not grammar.
The pass mark (and the hidden second rule)
N5 is scored out of 180. You need 80 to pass (JLPT official scoring).
But — as with every JLPT level — there's a sectional minimum too. Score below the minimum in either section and you fail, even if your total is above 80. Translation for N5: don't neglect listening. Self-studiers often over-index on flashcards and walk in under-prepared for the audio.
How long does N5 take?
Common estimates put N5 at 350–500 study hours from zero (Coto Academy). What that looks like in practice:
- 1 hour a day → roughly 12–16 months
- 2 hours a day → roughly 6–8 months
Your real number depends on method and consistency far more than talent. Daily beats binge.
A free 5-step plan to pass N5
- Master kana first. Learn hiragana, then katakana, cold. Use our Hiragana chart and Katakana chart (free, printable) and drill until reading is automatic.
- Build the ~800 words in themed chunks. Cramming a giant list fails; small themed sets stick. Work through the free N5 vocabulary decks — numbers, time, family, food — a set at a time.
- Learn the ~100 kanji with their readings, grouped by shared components so they're easier to tell apart. Use the N5 kanji decks.
- Train listening from day one. Short, graded audio and simple readings — protect that section, because the test does.
- Do timed practice tests in the last month, so the clock and the format hold no surprises.
Take it in India
N5 is offered twice a year (July and December) across eight Indian cities, with a fee around ₹1,416 (JLPT India fees). Register early on the official India site — seats are first-come.
Your next step
You can take your first step in the next ten minutes: open the Hiragana chart and learn the first row (あい う え お), then add 10 words from the free N5 deck. When N5 feels close, read the JLPT N4 guide — because N4 is the level that unlocks working in Japan.
FAQ
Is JLPT N5 hard? It's the easiest level, but it's a real test. With steady study and solid kana, it's very achievable for a beginner.
How many kanji do I need for N5? About 100, plus roughly 800 vocabulary words — figures are approximate and vary by source.
What's the N5 pass mark? 80 out of 180, with a minimum required in each section.
Is N5 enough to work in Japan? No — the work (SSW) language bar is N4 or JFT-Basic. N5 is the foundation you build on to get there.
**Sources:** [JLPT — level summary](https://www.jlpt.jp/e/about/levelsummary.html), [JLPT — test sections](https://www.jlpt.jp/e/guideline/testsections.html), [JLPT — official scoring](https://www.jlpt.jp/sp/e/guideline/results.html), [Coto Academy — study hours](https://cotoacademy.com/study-hours-needed-pass-jlpt-comparison-levels/), [JLPT India fees](https://japaneselanguagecourses.com/blog/jlpt-exam-2025-registration-fees-in-india).