N5 mock test: 30-question practice exam

You have finished the 27 lessons of the N5 course — time to check what you know. This practice test has 30 questions in three parts, in the style of the JLPT: vocabulary, grammar and reading. Take it in the practice quiz below, or print the worksheet and do it on paper with a timer. Every answer has an explanation.

This is a practice test written by TalkToJapan. It is not official JLPT material, it is not a past paper, and your score here does not predict your JLPT result. The real test has its own format, timing and a listening section.

How the real N5 is organised

The JLPT N5 has three sections: language knowledge (vocabulary); language knowledge (grammar) and reading; and listening. This practice test covers the first two only — there is no listening part, so practise listening separately. In Japan the JLPT is usually held twice a year, in July and December; abroad, dates depend on the country. The format, timing and pass marks are set by the test organisers and can change, so always check the official website, jlpt.jp, before you register.

How to take this test

• Give yourself 45 minutes for all 30 questions, without a dictionary or translation app.
• Answer every question — if you don’t know, choose the most likely answer and move on.
• Online: choose an answer and press “Check answer”. On paper: print the worksheet, write your answers on the answer sheet, then check them with the answer key on the last page.
• Write down the numbers of the questions you got wrong, then use the review table below.

Part 1: vocabulary (questions 1–12)

Questions 1–6 ask how a word written in kanji is read, as in the first part of the real test. Questions 7–12 ask for the kanji, word or meaning that fits. You need the kanji and vocabulary of lessons 6–27, including the special readings such as 二十日 (はつか), 空いて (あいて) and the sound changes in 三枚さんまい and 北口 (きたぐち).

Part 2: grammar (questions 13–22)

Choose the particle or verb form that fits the sentence. These questions test the particles (lesson 10), あまり + negative (lesson 12), 〜たい (lesson 17), the て-form (lesson 18), 〜ています (lesson 19), invitations with 〜ませんか (lesson 25), 〜てから and comparisons (lesson 26) and the plain forms (lesson 27).

Part 3: reading (questions 23–30)

Four short texts — a message, a shop notice, a workplace memo and an email — with two questions each. Find the date, time, place and verb first, as in lesson 24.

Scoring yourself

Score	What it means (our guideline)	Next step
24–30	You know the N5 course material well.	Practise listening and take a timed full-length practice test.
18–23	A good base with some gaps.	Review the lessons for the questions you missed, then take this test again in a week.
0–17	Several topics need more work.	Go back through lessons 7–27 one by one, do their quizzes and worksheets, then try again.

These bands are our own guide for this practice test, not the JLPT pass marks.

What to review

If you missed …	Review
1–6 (kanji readings)	Lessons 7–8 (numbers, dates), 20 (review), 21 (people and places), 25 (空)
7–12 (words and kanji)	Lessons 11–13 (verbs, adjectives), 21–24, 26 (目, 耳, 足)
13 and 17 (〜てから, のほうが)	Lesson 26
14 and 16 (particles)	Lessons 10 (particles) and 14 (position words)
15 (invitations)	Lesson 25
18 (あまり + negative)	Lesson 12
19–21 (verb forms)	Lessons 17 (〜たい), 18 (て-form), 19 (〜ています)
22 (plain forms)	Lesson 27
23–30 (reading)	Lesson 24 (short notices) and the model dialogues in lessons 22–23

After N5

When you score well here, keep going: practise listening every day (station announcements, shop conversations, short videos for learners), read simple texts, and start the N4 lessons, which build on everything in this course. Good luck — がんばってください!