JLPT December 2026

Japanese
#101

I fully agree that learning Japanese in advance of moving to Japan is extremely valuable.

Is N3 something you need as a qualification, or just a measure of proficiency in the language? If the aim is to maximise quality of life I think you should consider putting some emphasis on speaking. Speaking and listening is what most of your interaction in daily life will entail, whether that’s at work, at the store, with neighbours and with friends.

In comparison, reading is helpful, but the immediate benefit on QoL is limited especially as the barrier to fluent reading (N2, but realistically N1) is so high. If you are planning on spending 6+ hours a day learning Japanese for a good QoL in Japan, then definitely have a strategy for outputting for speaking/listening. Reading will come eventually anyway over time.

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#102

I was really surprised as well when I found out last week. Only stumbled upon the registration date this early by accident when I was looking at test sites in Belgium and Germany. (Since we do not have a December test in The Netherlands unfortunately.)

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#103

N3 isn’t a requirement for me.
It’s basically just me trying to challenge myself to see what I’m capable of. I was looking to find ways to minimise the “pain” if possible, or be more efficient generally (which I have gotten. Thank you all).

I’m fully aware that I may not pass, just like @Minh_Nguyen
But hey, it’ll be fun to try.

There’s always next year of course.

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#104

@kaosi Above all make sure you have fun!

And also an extra tip if you’re doing a lot of SRS is plan for breaks/illness which might disrupt your plan. Having colds has put me on the back foot with SRS in the past and killing motivation for a while.

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#105

You mean the one with tests or switching activities? If the one with tests I’m really curiouse to see how that will go!

#106

Anyone know why Serbia site has been cancelled second year in a row? (before even applications)

#107

Just saw that they pushed back the sign up date for Japan - that’s the literal date for my flight, meaning I’ll get my zairyu card within that week to sign up with… does anyone have any experience with signing up for the Tokyo test? How screwed over am I by signing up at least 3 days after it opens?

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#108

@soradoll which level are you signing up for?
By the way, you get your zairyuu card at the airport

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#109

N3
I know I do, but knowing myself I will be out of commission until at least the day after, and I land on the 25th. I also am arriving with my cat so it’s going to be a whole lot of paperwork at landing.

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#110

looking at the thread for July, N4 and N3 applications closed within 10 days, so 3 days should be ok, but December tests tend to have more applicants so try to do it as soon as possible anyway I think

ETA: also worth noting sign ups may close even earlier this time because of the fact they closed early last time so people might be more onto it w the applications

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#111

Some countries already finished applications?

We won’t even get information on when we can sign up until august here lol

Thinking about taking the N1 this year. Never actually sat down for the JLPT, but fairly confident I would pass with a decent margin.

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#112

For what it is worth, I signed up on the final possible day once and it was fine. I am not sure if the applications have been closed prematurely more recently though, due to even more people taking the test.

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#113

The trouble is the new policy has them restricting seats, even in Japan. Going from memory, they stopped taking applications for this past exam after only about a week.

Three days should be fine, but we’re in uncharted territory here. They are limiting seats at the same time that the government is starting to require tests for more visas. So more demand, less supply. :frowning:

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#114

It was indeed quite a massacre in Germany.

The registration in Hamburg opened at exactly 9:00 on Monday (as announced earlier on the website). Even though I prepared everything beforehand, I was so nervous that I fumbled a bit and only managed to submit the form at around 9:05; then got the payment information immediately via e-mail. At 9:15, I checked the website again and the registration had already closed. After only 15 minutes — maybe even less!
Berlin was a bit more relaxed, but all slots were taken around one hour in. I think N1 and N2 were booked out about half an hour after registration started, which is understandable since there were only like 20 and 30 seats respectively.
Düsseldorf probably opened earlier, because I saw the registration links at around 8:00. Everything was booked out by noon though.

I’m still not sure whether I got a spot, because I haven’t received my payment confirmation yet :grimacing: Fingers crossed!

It’s too late now, but in case someone is considering registering for the July 2027 test in Germany, the website of the Japanisches Kulturinstitut offers a nice overview with links to the respective test sites:
https://co.jpf.go.jp/japanische-sprache/weitere-informationen/jlpt/

3 Likes
#115

Thankfully I don’t “need” it for my visa atp, but I do want to be able to find a normal job so taking the tests is a stepping stone towards the goal.
Hopefully I’ll be able to sign up once I’m settled and it’ll be fine, and if not… I’ll just skip N3 and go straight to N2 in the summer IG.

#116

Well, in Stuttgart everything is calm and peaceful. But that is because it is a test of luck and patience here. You can’t register online. So if you don’t live in Stuttgart or the surrounding area, you’ll have to rely on Deutsche Post. I was a bit shocked at first, but … it’s Stuttgart after all :crazy_face: I’m curious, when registration officially closes. Good luck everyone!

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#117

I wanted to register in Hamburg first, but unfortunately all the spots were already taken… In Düsseldorf, it looked like there were still some available, but after I registered, I got a message an hour later saying that I hadn’t gotten a spot after all… And I had already taken care of everything at 9:30 a.m.

I’ll probably just take the test in Japan in two years—I’d like to do a working holiday there anyway, and I figure I’ll have a better chance of getting a spot then.

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#118

I was just casually checking the Dusseldorf webpage this Monday at 06:30 before driving to work to see if they added any information on registration, only the find that registration was already possible…

Needles to say I reserved my spot immediately. :sweat_smile:

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#119

I’m in. At the very last possible moment. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Stuttgart testing facility didn’t accept me because I’m this late.
Honestly, I was going to skip this year because I failed my first N1 attempt in 2025 pretty badly with 56/180. But something inside me just kept nagging at me. So here I go again. :grimacing:

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#120

Why not come to our session in Lyon if you’re going as far as coming to France for JLPT, I promise it’s much nicer than Paris :innocent:

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