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JLPT · B2 on the CEFR

JLPT N2

The level most Japanese employers ask for. Newspapers, business email and broadcast Japanese.

Pass mark
90 / 180
Exam length
2 h 35 min
Kanji (est.)
~1,000
Vocabulary (est.)
~6,000
Study time (est.)
600–1,000 hours

Last reviewed

Take the free N2 practice testCompare all levels

What N2 means you can do

Paraphrased from the official JLPT level guidelines. If most of these already describe you, this is your level.

  • Read newspapers, magazines and clearly-written commentary on a wide range of topics.
  • Follow news, lectures and conversations at natural speed and grasp the speakers’ intent.
  • Work in a Japanese-language environment with reasonable independence.

The N2 exam, section by section

2 separate timed sittings with breaks between them.2 h 35 min of testing in total.

SectionJapaneseTimeWhat it contains
Language Knowledge (Vocabulary · Grammar) · Reading105 minVocabulary, grammar, text grammar, long passages, comparison and information retrieval.
Listening50 minTask, point, summary, immediate-response and integrated comprehension.
Timings follow the current JLPT structure. Confirm on your test voucher, which is authoritative for your sitting.

Preparation

How to prepare for N2

N2 is the level employers name, and the content shifts accordingly — newspapers, business communication, broadcast Japanese and formal written grammar. Reading material aimed at learners will no longer be enough on its own.

The grammar is largely about register and nuance: 〜だけに, 〜からには, 〜につれて, 〜をよそに. Many are near-synonyms distinguished by what follows them, so learn each one with the kind of clause it requires.

Time pressure is real. Language Knowledge and Reading run together for 105 minutes with long passages at the end, and candidates routinely arrive at the final passage with minutes left. Budget your time by marks, not by question count.

Free practice

JLPT N2 Practice Test 1

Twelve N2 questions focused on the patterns that separate a pass from a near-miss: formal written grammar, the near-synonyms that look interchangeable until you see them in context, and reading passages where the writer's position has to be inferred from structure rather than vocabulary.

Start the N2 testAll mock tests
Questions
12
Time limit
18 min
Explanations
Every one
Cost
Free

FAQ

JLPT N2 — frequently asked questions

What is the JLPT N2 pass mark?
You need 90 points out of 180 to pass N2. You must also meet the sectional minimum: 19 / 60 in each of the three scoring sections. Missing any one sectional minimum means failing the whole paper regardless of your total.
How many kanji do I need for JLPT N2?
Community estimates put N2 at around ~1,000 kanji and ~6,000 vocabulary items. These are not official figures — the JLPT has not published a content specification since the 2010 revision — so treat them as planning guides.
How long does JLPT N2 take?
2 h 35 min of testing time, split across 2 sittings. With registration, instructions and breaks, expect the day itself to run considerably longer.
How long should I study for N2?
Widely-cited estimates suggest 600–1,000 hours for a learner without prior kanji knowledge. Learners who already read Chinese characters typically progress faster, particularly through the reading sections.
Should I take N2 or N1?
If you are genuinely torn, take N2 — a pass is a credential and a fail is nothing. The exception is a hard external deadline that only N1 satisfies, in which case prepare harder rather than aiming lower. The reliable way to decide is a timed mock test at both levels, sat cold.

Neighbouring levels

One level easier

JLPT N3

The bridge level. Everyday Japanese at near-natural speed, and the hardest jump for most learners.

One level harder

JLPT N1

Academic and abstract Japanese, read and heard at full native speed.

Verify before you registerDates, fees and registration deadlines are set locally and change. Confirm atjlpt.jp. Kanji, vocabulary and study-hour figures on this page are community estimates, not official specifications.