Japanese Language NavigationExams & Assessment
This is for guidance only. The Japan Foundation cannot take any responsibility for the changes to the information below. Please contact the exam board directly for the latest information.
GCSE Japanese - Pearson (Edexcel)
The Department for Education can provide a straightforward explanation of the GCSE system.
Private Candidates
If you are not registered at a school or college but wish to sit
GCSE Japanese, please check the link below for more information
or contact Pearson (Edexcel) directly on 020 7010 2187 (within the UK)
or +44 (0) 20 7010 2187 (outside the UK).
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/understanding-our-qualifications/where-can-i-take-edexcel-exams.html
Exam Specification
Please contact Pearson (Edexcel) directly for more information about the exam schedule, and follow the links below for official information from the Pearson (Edexcel) website:
Download current specification, examiners' reports, past papers and other relevant documents
Suitable for:
Secondary school pupils, adults
Recommended number of contact hours:
Not stipulated. Depends on the pupils and their starting point.
Resources:
Please click here to see
example
resources for teaching GCSE Japanese.
Dates: Check the dates of upcoming Pearson (Edexcel) exams
English Baccalaureate:
The English Baccalaureate was introduced 2010 as a performance measure
that recognises where pupils have secured a C grade or better across a
core of academic subjects: English, mathematics, history or geography,
the sciences and a language. GCSE Japanese can be taken as part of the
English Baccalaureate. For more information, please click here.
Exam board contact details:
Pearson (Edexcel)
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/contact-us.html
GCE (A Level) Japanese - Pearson (Edexcel)
Private Candidates
If you are not registered at a school or college but wish to sit
for A Level Japanese, please check the link below for more
information or contact Pearson (Edexcel) directly on 020 7010 2187
(within the UK) or +44 (0) 20 7010 2187 (outside the UK).
https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/support/support-topics/understanding-our-qualifications/where-can-i-take-edexcel-exams.html
Please note that the specification for both the A Level exams has changed. Please be sure to use the correct specification. Follow the links below for official information from the Pearson (Edexcel) website:
Download specification and sample materials
Suitable for:
post 16 students
Recommended number of contact hours:
Not stipulated. Depends on the pupils and their starting point.
Resources:
Please see page 55 of the current specification for resources suggested
as bibliographies to support study of the prescribed topic or text in
Unit 2. Click
here for other recommended resources for teaching A Level
Japanese. Please note that most resources are still based on the
old
exam specification.
Dates: Check the dates of upcoming Pearson (Edexcel) exams
Exam
board contact details:
Pearson
(Edexcel)
http://www.edexcel.com/Aboutus/contact-us/Pages/home.aspx
Data:
Number of candidates sititng the GCE (A Level) Japanese exam broken down by year:
- 2019: 216
- 2018: 249
- 2017: 226
- 2016: 236
- 2015: 222
- 2014: 260
- 2013: 261
- 2012: 280
I-GCSE Japanese - Cambridge
Exam Specification
Please contact Cambridge Assessment International Education directly for more information about the exam schedule, and follow the links below for official information:
Please note that the last examination for this subject will be November 2021.
International AS Level Japanese (AS Level only) - Cambridge
Exam Specification
Please contact Cambridge Assessment International Education directly for more information about the exam schedule, and follow the links below for official information:
IB – AB initio, Language B - International Baccalaureate
Features:
The AB initio course is for beginners and is designed to be taken
over two years by students who have no previous knowledge
of learning the target language.
IB exams are for registered schools only. Please contact the exam board for more information.
Exam Board
contact details:
IB Global Centre
The Hague, Churchillplein 6, 2517 JW, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Tel: +31 70 352 60 00
Fax: +31 70 352 60 03
Web: http://www.ibo.org/
E-mail: support@ibo.org
Practical Languages - ABC Awards
Features:
Entry 3 Award in Speaking and Listening in Japanese
Entry 3 Award in Reading and Writing in Japanese
Entry 3 Certificate* in Practical Japanese
Level 1 Award in Speaking and Listening in Japanese
Level 1 Award in Reading and Writing in Japanese
Level 1 Certificate* in Practical Japanese
* The certificate covers all four skills
Assessment:
Providers can choose the topics they want to cover and will be free to
develop assessment activities, which meet the qualification criteria, to
suit individual circumstances and learners. Assessments are internally
set and marked as well as internally and externally moderated.
Entry requirements:
Minimum entry age is 14. (This includes Year 9 pupils.)
Suitable for:
Any learner from age 14 to adult
Recommended number of contact hours:
|
Award in Speaking & Listening |
Award in Reading and Writing |
Certificate in Practical Japanese |
Entry 3 |
60 |
90 |
150 |
Level 1 |
90 |
90 |
180 |
NB: The GLH given above is an estimated time but could vary depending on the centre and learners (e.g. it could be less than that stated).
Recommended coursebook:
No specific resources are recommended, however, exemplar materials and
further supporting information are available from the awarding body on
request.
Grades awarded:
Pass / Fail. Achievement is based on sufficient evidence meeting the
qualification assessment criteria.
Exam Board contact details:
Daniel Moult
Centre Support Officer
ABC Awards
Robins Wood House
Robins Wood Road
Aspley
Nottingham
NG8 3NH
Tel: 0115 8541326
Email: danielm@skillsedugroup.co.uk
Website: www.abcawards.co.uk
Entry Level Japanese Vocational (QCF) - WJEC
Since September 2012, WJEC has offered a suite of QCF qualifications in six languages including Japanese.
The qualifications are available at Entry Level (3), Level 1 and Level 2.
Contact:
For further information, please see here, find specific information about entry
level Japanese or contact:
Claire Parry - Subject Officer (Vocational Qualifications)
Telephone: 029 2026 5402
Email: claire.parry@wjec.co.uk
Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) - Japan Foundation
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has been offered by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services since 1984 as a reliable means of evaluating and certifying the Japanese proficiency of non-native speakers.
The test is held twice a year worldwide, once in December and once in July. Please note that not all test centres hold the test twice a year, and if in doubt please contact the test centres for more information. Click here to check our What's On page for upcoming JLPT dates.
More information about the JLPT is available at the JLPT website here.
For further information about the test in your region contact the JLPT office at SOAS, the University of Edinburgh, Cardiff University, or the University of Leicester:
Click here to visit the JLPT section of the SOAS website.
Click here to visit the JLPT section of the University of Edinburgh website.
Click here to visit the JLPT section of the Cardiff website.
Click here to visit the JLPT section of the University of Leicester website.
For further information about the test in the Republic of Ireland, please contact the JLPT office at Dublin City University. Click here to visit the website.
Test Format
Features:
In 2010 the old 4-level JLPT changed into a new 5-level JLPT: N1, N2,
N3, N4 and N5. A middle level (N3) has been added to bridge the gap
between the former Level 3 and Level 2. More information about the
content of the test can be found at the JLPT website here.
A comparison of the pre-2009 and post-2009 exams is available from the
JLPT website here.
JLPT Sample Questions – These questions can help you decide which level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) to take.
Aims:
Carried out both in Japan and abroad for the measurement and
certification
of Japanese proficiency for non-native speakers.
Suitable for:
Non-native speakers of Japanese.
Content:
Linguistic competence required for the JLPT is expressed in terms of
language activities, such as Reading and Listening. Language Knowledge,
such as Vocabulary and Grammar, is also required for successful
execution of these activities. More details about these requirements can
be found here.
Recommended coursebook:
A list of books and references for studying the JLPT can be found here. Selected questions taken from past
tests are now available at the JLPT website here.
Grades awarded:
Pass/Fail. All examinees are informed of their scores.
Documents to
request from the Board:
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test Guide (including Application
Forms and sample questions).
Application Period:
The application period for the July test usually runs from March-mid
April, although it may vary.
The application period for December is usually from early August to early October each year.
Please note that the registration at each test centre may close early when the test centre has reached its maximum capacity.
Exam Board contact details:
Applications will be accepted online from the websites shown below :
SOAS University of London (Japan Research Centre)
Thornhaugh Street
Russell Square
London
WC1H 0XG
Tel: 020 7898 4555
E-mail: jlpt@soas.ac.uk
Web: https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/institutes-and-regional-centres/japan-research-centre/japanese-language-proficiency-test
The University of Edinburgh (Centre for Open Learning)
Paterson’s Land - Holyrood Road
Edinburgh
EH8 8AQ
Tel: 0131 650 4400
E-mail: jlpt@ed.ac.uk
Web: https://www.soas.ac.uk/about/institutes-and-regional-centres/japan-research-centre/japanese-language-proficiency-test
Cardiff University (School of Modern Languages) Only December
66a Park Place
Cardiff
CF10 3AS
UK
Tel: 029 2087 4183
E-mail: jlpt@cardiff.ac.uk
Web: http://www.cardiff.ac.uk/modern-languages/about-us/international-language-qualifications/japanese-language-proficiency-test
The University of Leicester (Languages at Leicester)
University Road
Leicester
LE1 7RH
Tel: 0116 252 2662
E-mail: jlpt@leicester.ac.uk
Web: https://le.ac.uk/languages-at-leicester/exams/jlpt-at-leicester
For applications in the Republic of Ireland, please contact the JLPT office at Dublin City University. Click here to visit the website.
Kanji Aptitude Test - Nihon Kanji Noryoku Kentei Kyokai
Please click here for more information about this test.
The Japan Foundation, London