JLPT Pass Checker
Check JLPT pass/fail for N1–N5 using official overall pass marks and sectional minimums.
성적표의 척도점수(scaled score)를 입력하세요. JLPT는 맞은 문항 수가 아니라 문항반응이론 기반 척도점수로 채점됩니다. 각 섹션 0~60점입니다.
종합 105점 ≥ 합격점 90점, 모든 섹션 기준점 충족 — 합격입니다.
종합 득점 판정
섹션별 기준점(과락) 판정
JLPT 합격 기준 안내
JLPT는 종합 득점(180점 만점)이 레벨별 합격점 이상이고, 동시에 모든 득점 구분(섹션)이 기준점 이상이어야 합격입니다. 종합점이 아무리 높아도 한 섹션이라도 기준점(N1~N3 각 19/60점, N4~N5 언어지식·독해 38/120점·청해 19/60점)에 미달하면 불합격 처리됩니다. 합격점과 기준점은 일본국제교류기금·일본국제교육지원협회가 공표한 공식 기준입니다.
결과 공유
Overview
Enter your JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) section scores for N1–N5 and this tool checks both official pass conditions at once: the overall pass mark and the per-section minimums. JLPT uses a dual criterion — even if your total clears the pass mark, failing any single section minimum means an overall fail — so a simple total is not enough. The calculator applies the official pass marks published by the Japan Foundation and JEES (N1 100, N2 90, N3 95, N4 90, N5 80 out of 180) and the sectional minimums, and shows exactly where you fall short.
Formula
Pass = (total ≥ level pass mark) AND (every section ≥ its minimum). Total out of 180 — pass marks: N1 100 / N2 90 / N3 95 / N4 90 / N5 80. Sectional minimums: N1–N3 require 19/60 in each of Language Knowledge, Reading, and Listening; N4–N5 require 38/120 in combined Language Knowledge·Reading and 19/60 in Listening.
How to Use
- 1Select your test level (N1–N5).
- 2Enter the scaled scores from your score report — three sections for N1–N3 (Language Knowledge, Reading, Listening) or two for N4–N5 (combined Language Knowledge·Reading, Listening).
- 3The tool compares your total against the pass mark and checks every sectional minimum automatically.
- 4If you fail, it shows the points missing and which section caused the sectional fail, so you can set a target for the next sitting.
Examples
N2 pass with a total of 105
An N2 examinee scores 40 in Language Knowledge, 30 in Reading, and 35 in Listening.
N1 sectional fail at 102 total
An N1 examinee scores 45 in Language Knowledge, 18 in Reading, and 39 in Listening — 102 in total.
N4 total shortfall
An N4 examinee scores 55 in combined Language Knowledge·Reading and 30 in Listening.
Background
Since the 2010 revision, JLPT has reported scaled scores based on item response theory (IRT), which normalizes difficulty differences between test sittings — the same ability level yields the same scaled score regardless of the paper. Scores are therefore not a simple count of correct answers. The pass marks and sectional minimums are fixed criteria published by the Japan Foundation and the Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES), applied identically at every sitting. The sectional minimums exist to require balanced ability: an examinee cannot pass on the strength of one skill alone.
Tips
- ✔A section below 19 points (or 38 for the N4–N5 combined section) is an automatic fail no matter how high your total is — fix your weakest section first.
- ✔The N2 pass mark (90) is actually lower than N3's (95), but the tests differ in difficulty, so scores are not comparable across levels.
- ✔A comfortable margin above the pass mark (e.g. 120+ on N2) is a good signal you are ready to attempt the next level.
- ✔Japanese universities and employers typically ask for N2 or above, and some screen by total score (e.g. N1 with 120+), so aim well above the bare pass mark.
FAQ
Q. My total is above the pass mark — why did I fail?
JLPT requires both criteria at once: the overall pass mark and every sectional minimum. For N1–N3 each of the three sections must be at least 19 out of 60; for N4–N5 the combined Language Knowledge·Reading section needs 38 out of 120 and Listening needs 19 out of 60. Missing any one of these means an overall fail regardless of your total.
Q. What is a scaled score, and how is it different from raw correct answers?
JLPT converts responses into scaled scores using item response theory, which corrects for difficulty differences between sittings. The scaled score is not proportional to the number of correct answers, so enter the scores printed on your official score report for an accurate check.
Q. Why are Language Knowledge and Reading combined for N4 and N5?
N4 and N5 have fewer items, so Language Knowledge (vocabulary and grammar) and Reading are scored as one 120-point section with a single 38-point minimum. Only Listening (60 points, 19-point minimum) is scored separately at these levels.
Q. Why do the pass marks differ between levels?
The Japan Foundation and JEES set each level's pass mark to match its required proficiency: N1 100, N2 90, N3 95, N4 90, and N5 80 out of 180. N3's mark is higher than N2's, but because test difficulty differs, scores cannot be compared directly across levels.
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