JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test)

For those of you that didn't know, all that hard work and Kanji practice can go towards earning a qulaification in Japanese ability.  Every December (1st or 2nd Sunday), the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is taken buy thousands of people around the world.  urrently the exam can only be taken once a year but plans are underway to introduce a twice yearly exam schedule.  The test is divided into 4 levels 4 kyu (level) being the lowest going to 3, then 2 and finally the highest level of competency, 1 kyu.  To say that level4 is the lowest doesnt merely mean just showing up and writing your name in order to pass as you need an average of 100hrs study time to be able to pass the exam.  

The exam is split into 3 sections 1) Vocabulary and Kanji 2) Listening 3) Reading and Grammar.  All the questions are multiple choice and dpending on the level you are taking, a certain amount of time for each section. See below:-

Level	Vocabulary	Listening	Reading and Grammar	Total Time
4	25 mins	25 mins	50 mins	100 mins
3	35 mins	35 mins	70 mins	140 mins
2	35 mins	40 mins	70 mins	145 mins
1	45 mins	45 mins	90 mins	180 mins

The exams are held at various locations around Japan, usually at one of the Universities.  On the day, what seems like thousands of people board the trains and buses and head to the exam location, so be warned - give yourself of plenty of time to get there.