New Japanese Proficiency Test 2010

Following is the partial information on the new Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) or the Nihongo noryouku shiken (日本語能力試験） which will be implemented in 2010.


1-1. Target and Purpose:

In principle the target of this test people whose mother tongue is not
Japanese. This test is to measure and certify the Japanese Language
proficiency of a wide range of people who are learning and using
Japanese language.

1-2. Revised points:

1.Measure the language communication ability in order to accomplish
tasks.

In the new test along with Japanese language knowledge, importance
will be given to Japanese language which can be applied practically.
Hence, language knowledge (script, vocabulary, and grammar) and the
ability to accomplish the tasks using this language knowledge will be
measured.

2.Level is increased from 4 to 5.

In the new test the number of grades will be increased from 4 to 5. In
the current test the 4 grades are ikkyu, nikyuu, sankyuu and yonkyuu
(L1, L2, L3, and L4 where ‘L’ stands for level). In the current test
there will be 5 grades N1, N2, N3, N4 and N5 where N stands for
Nihongo (Japanese) and New.

N1: It will measure a slightly higher level than the current L1 and
the passing marks will be same as the current test.
N2: Almost same as the current L2.
N3: This is the new grade in-between current L2 and L3.
N4: Almost same as the current L3.
N5: Almost same as the current L4.

N5 is the basic level and N1 is the most advanced level

3.Equalization of the scores will be done.

How much ever care is taken the difficulty of the questions vary every
year. Hence methods will be adopted to compare the scores of different
years using a linear measure. With this result it will be able to
compare the scores of different tests of the same level. This method
is widely followed for the main language tests around the globe.

4.Japanese proficiency test Can-do list (temporary name) will be
presented.

In the new test what person can do practically will be examined for
each grade and
“Japanese ability examination Can-do list” will be given. This list
will describe the possible usage in actual situations using Japanese
language for each level. It will aim at making the person who taken
the exam as well as others to understand the test results correctly.

1.3Meaning of “language communication ability in order to accomplish
tasks”

In our life we deal with different tasks. For example "going to a
place while referring to the map” or “using electrical products while
reading the manual”. There are some tasks for which language and some
tasks for which language is not required.

For tasks which language is required, script or pronunciation,
knowledge related to words, knowledge of grammar to join the words and
make sentences, knowledge to decide the order and way in which the
sentences are to be said, is necessary.
For example let us think about the following task “listen to weather
forecast and understand Tokyo’s weather tomorrow morning”. In order to
understand “Tomorrow morning’s weather of Tokyo”, knowledge of words
such as “晴れ （はれ、fine）, 曇り（くもり、 kumori）, 雨（あめ、ame）” and structure of
sentence “東京は明日は晴れでしょう”, also knowledge of the weather explanation is
required. In addition it is necessary to pick up only the Tokyo’s
weather from the information of many places.
In the new test using the language knowledge (script, vocabulary,
grammar etc) in order to accomplish tasks is called “language
communication ability in order to accomplish tasks”

In the new test “language communication ability in order to accomplish
tasks” is measured by dividing into “language knowledge, reading
comprehension, listening comprehension”.
Language knowledge
Knowledge of necessary Japanese language script, vocabulary or grammar
for accomplishment of task.
Reading comprehension
While using the language knowledge, understand the written text and
proficiency to accomplish the task.
Listening comprehension
While using the language knowledge, understand the conversation and
proficiency to accomplish the task.