JLPT Guide · N1 Advanced
JLPT N1 Requirements: How Many Kanji, Words & Grammar Points?
What N1 actually covers: the kanji, vocabulary and grammar you're expected to know, how long the test runs, and the score you need.
Quick answer
- Typical targets for N1: ≈2,000 kanji and ≈10,000 words (cumulative, including everything below N1).
- Our free N1 lists: 1,205 kanji, 3,309 words and 145 grammar points new at this level.
- Test length: 165 minutes · pass mark: 100 / 180.
What N1 certifies
You can understand Japanese in virtually any situation: editorials and abstract writing, natural-speed lectures and news, and complex discussions.
How much you need to know
First, an honest note: the JLPT stopped publishing official content lists in 2010. The "typical target" column shows the widely-used estimates based on past tests; the other columns are this site's own free study lists, which you can start on right now.
| New at N1 | Cumulative (N5→N1) | Typical target | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kanji | 1,205 | 2,230 | ≈2,000 |
| Vocabulary | 3,309 | 8,168 | ≈10,000 |
| Grammar points | 145 | 665 | – |
JLPT levels are cumulative: the N1 test freely uses everything from the levels below it. So "cumulative" is the real requirement: study the earlier levels' material too if it isn't solid.
The test on the day
N1 runs 165 minutes of testing (plus breaks between papers), in 2 papers:
| Paper | Time |
|---|---|
| Vocabulary, Grammar & Reading | 110 minutes |
| Listening | 55 minutes |
Everything is multiple choice, marked on an answer sheet. There is no speaking or writing at any level. To pass you need 100 out of 180 plus a minimum in every scored section; the details are on the N1 pass mark page.
To sit the whole thing on the same clock, take an N1 mock test: a full exam from past papers, section by section.
How long will it take?
From zero, reaching N1 typically takes around 3,000–4,800 study hours for learners with no prior kanji background. See the study-hours guide for what that means per week, and for the step from your current level.