JLPT N5 on 6 December 2026: a plan for the last five weeks

The second JLPT of 2026 is on Sunday, 6 December. If you are taking N5, you have about five weeks. Here is a simple plan to use them well.

Know the test

N5 has three test sections:

• Language Knowledge (Vocabulary): 20 minutes.
• Language Knowledge (Grammar) and Reading: 40 minutes.
• Listening: 30 minutes.

Every question is multiple choice. You need 80 of 180 overall, at least 38 of 120 in Language Knowledge and Reading, and at least 19 of 60 in Listening. Missing any section means you fail, whatever your total.

Week by week

1. Week 1 (2 to 8 November): take one full practice test against the clock with the official sample questions. Note which section cost you the most marks.
2. Week 2 (9 to 15 November): vocabulary and kanji readings. Fix the gaps the practice test showed.
3. Week 3 (16 to 22 November): grammar and reading. Particles, verb forms and short passages, a little every day.
4. Week 4 (23 to 29 November): listening every day, then a second full timed practice test.
5. Week 5 (30 November to 6 December): light review only, no new material. Check where your test centre is, when to arrive and what to bring.

Listening is where marks slip

N5 listening is slow, but it moves on whether you are ready or not. Listen to short conversations every day, even 15 minutes, and answer before the audio ends.

Not registered this time?

The JLPT is held in July and December. In India each city’s host sets its own application dates, and they close well before the test, so check yours early for July 2027. Our JLPT N5 guide lists the cities and hosts.

Starting from zero? Kihon Ippo takes beginners to N5 in 4 months of live classes, and Mirai covers N5 and N4 together.