JLPT scoring
How the JLPT actually scores you
Two thresholds decide every result — and one of them surprises almost everyone. Here is the honest, verified picture.
The dual pass rule
Passing the JLPT requires both: (a) a total score at or above your level's pass mark, and (b) every scoring section at or above its own minimum. Fail one section and the whole test fails, no matter how high your total. Missing a section entirely means no score report at all.
Pass marks by level (all out of 180)
| Level | Overall pass mark | Sections & minimums |
|---|---|---|
| N5 | 80/180 | Language Knowledge 38/120 · Listening 19/60 |
| N4 | 90/180 | Language Knowledge 38/120 · Listening 19/60 |
| N3 | 95/180 | Language Knowledge 19/60 · Reading 19/60 · Listening 19/60 |
| N2 | 90/180 | Language Knowledge 19/60 · Reading 19/60 · Listening 19/60 |
| N1 | 100/180 | Language Knowledge 19/60 · Reading 19/60 · Listening 19/60 |
The N3 > N2 quirk (official, not a mistake)
Read the table again: N3's pass mark is 95, higher than N2's 90.That is exactly how the JLPT sets it, and it catches people out constantly. We keep it as-is — we would never "correct" an official rule to make a chart look tidier.
Why we never show a predicted score
The JLPT converts raw answers into a scaled score using Item Response Theory (IRT) — a statistical model we cannot replicate. Two people with the same number correct can receive different official scores. So any tool that hands you an exact number is guessing. We show your raw performance and an honest CLEAR / BORDERLINE / BELOW readiness read-out against these real thresholds — an estimate to guide study, never a prediction.
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