Practice JLPTJLPT Guide
JLPT N4 vs N3: What's the Difference?
Choosing between N4 and N3? Here's what separates them — content, test format and difficulty — and how to pick the right one for you.
Quick answer
- N4 (elementary): You can understand basic Japanese: everyday topics written in familiar vocabulary, and daily conversations spoken slowly.
- N3 (intermediate): You can understand everyday Japanese to a good degree: newspaper headlines, everyday writing, and normal-speed conversation with some effort.
- Rule of thumb: the step up roughly doubles the kanji and vocabulary you need.
N4 vs N3 at a glance
| JLPT N4 | JLPT N3 | |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Elementary | Intermediate |
| Kanji (typical target) | ≈300 | ≈650 |
| Vocabulary (typical target) | ≈1,500 words | ≈3,700 words |
| Grammar points (our list) | 116 | 159 |
| Test length | 115 minutes | 140 minutes |
| Scores you receive | 2 sections | 3 sections |
| Pass mark | 90 / 180 | 95 / 180 |
| CEFR when you pass | A2 | A2–B1 |
Kanji/vocabulary targets are cumulative and unofficial — the JLPT hasn't published official lists since 2010. Grammar counts link to this site's free study lists.
What N3 adds over N4
N3 is the bridge from textbook Japanese to real Japanese. Reading becomes its own scored section — you can no longer let strong vocabulary carry weak reading — and passages shift from classroom sentences to real-world writing. It also opens the door to keigo (polite/humble language) and hundreds of grammar patterns for expressing nuance. The kanji load roughly doubles again.
Which one should you take?
Take N4 if daily conversations at natural speed still mostly escape you. Take N3 if you're comfortable with all N4 grammar and can read simple articles: it's the first level that noticeably helps with part-time work in Japan, and its three-section scoring mirrors N2/N1, which makes it good practice for the levels that matter most professionally.
There are no prerequisites — you can register for any level directly, and skipping levels is common. The best gauge: try a past-paper N4 practice test and a N3 one, and see which pass mark you're closer to.