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JLPT N4 Practice Test — Free & Online
The JLPT N4 is the second level of the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test. It checks whether you can understand Japanese used in everyday situations beyond the basics: about 1,500 words, around 300 kanji, and grammar for requests, plans, conditions, opinions and experiences.
This page is your N4 home base: the exam format, the passing score, three sample questions, and a direct start into the full free trainer — section practice with instant explanations, or a timed mock exam scored against the real passing line.
Start N4 practice — free Timed N4 mock exam
140 original questions for N4 on the home page trainer (vocabulary 45 · grammar 45 · reading 25 · listening 25). No sign-up; wrong answers are saved in your browser's Wrong Book.
JLPT N4 at a glance
| Section | Time | What it tests |
|---|---|---|
| Language Knowledge (Vocabulary) | 25 min | Word meanings, kanji readings, word formation and usage in context |
| Language Knowledge (Grammar) · Reading | 55 min | Sentence grammar, text grammar, and reading passages about daily life |
| Listening | 35 min | Longer conversations, requests and explanations at near-natural speed |
Passing score: 90 / 180, plus a minimum score in each section. The next N4 test date is Sunday, December 6, 2026 (the JLPT runs twice a year, in July and December). Confirm dates and registration on the official site, jlpt.jp.
Try 3 sample N4 questions
Written in the same style as the full practice bank. Pick your answer first, then open the explanation.
How do you read 「約束」?
- やくそく
- やくぞく
- ようそく
- やそく
Show answer
Answer: 1. やくそく. 約束 (やくそく) means a promise or appointment. Watch the long vowel: it is そく, not ぞく.
あした 山へ 行きます。あたたかい 服を ＿＿ ほうが いいです。
- 着た
- 着る
- 着ます
- 着たい
Show answer
Answer: 1. 着た. Advice uses the pattern verb-た + ほうがいい (“you'd better wear warm clothes”), even when talking about the future. The dictionary form 着る does not fit this pattern.
田中さんは 来月から 新しい 会社で 働きます。今の 会社は 家から 遠いですが、新しい 会社は 駅の 近くに あります。
Question: Where is Tanaka's new company?
- Near the station
- Far from his house
- Next to his house
- In another country
Show answer
Answer: 1. Near the station. 新しい会社は駅の近くにあります says the new company is near the station. It is his current company that is far from home.
How to prepare for JLPT N4
- Shift from words to chunks. N4 grammar questions test whole patterns (〜たほうがいい、〜なければなりません、〜ことがあります). Learn each pattern with two example sentences.
- Train reading speed deliberately. The N4 reading section is where time runs out. Practise short passages against a timer, and answer from the text, not from memory of the topic.
- Listen for the task, not every word. N4 listening often asks what someone will do next or what they must bring — catch the request and the key detail.
- Keep the Wrong Book loop. Missed questions are saved automatically here. Patterns you miss twice are your real syllabus for the week.
- Check section scores, not just totals. N4 has sectional minimums — a strong total with a weak listening score still fails. Mock exams here break your score down by section.
Ready for the next step up? See the JLPT N5 practice test page. New to the exam overall? Our About page explains how TestNihongo works and how the questions are written.
JLPT N4 — frequently asked questions
How much harder is JLPT N4 than N5?
N4 builds directly on N5. The vocabulary roughly doubles to about 1,500 words and the kanji to around 300, and the grammar adds everyday forms such as conditionals, volitional and potential forms, and giving-and-receiving expressions. Reading passages get longer, and listening conversations move at a more natural speed. Most learners take N4 after passing N5 or finishing a full beginner course.
What is the passing score for JLPT N4?
You need 90 points or more out of 180 overall. Each scoring section also has its own minimum: 38 out of 120 for the combined language knowledge (vocabulary and grammar) and reading section, and 19 out of 60 for listening. Falling below a sectional minimum means failing even if your total is high enough. Always confirm the current rules on the official site, jlpt.jp.
How many kanji and words do I need for JLPT N4?
About 300 kanji and roughly 1,500 words are the usual working estimates for N4 (the JLPT does not publish an official list). Focus on the words and kanji that appear in daily-life topics — work, school, health, weather, travel and family — since N4 texts and conversations stay close to everyday situations.
How should I study for JLPT N4 after passing N5?
Keep the same daily habit, but shift the balance: more reading speed work and more listening, because N4 punishes slow reading. Practise one section a day, clear your Wrong Book weekly, and take a timed mock exam every week or two to check that your section scores — not just your total — are above the minimums.