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Testing and Results Notification

Scoring Sections, Pass or Fail, Score Report

1. Scoring sections and range of scores for each level

Test results are given according to scoring sections in the table below. N1, N2 and N3 have three scoring sections: Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar), "Reading" and "Listening." N4 and N5 have two scoring sections: "Language Knowledge (Vocabulary/Grammar)・Reading" and "Listening."

Level Scoring sections Range of scores
N1 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar)		 0〜60
Reading 0〜60
Listening 0〜60
Total score 0〜180
N2 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar)		 0〜60
Reading 0〜60
Listening 0〜60
Total score 0〜180
N3 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar)		 0〜60
Reading 0〜60
Listening 0〜60
Total score 0〜180
N4 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar) ・Reading		 0〜120
Listening 0〜60
Total score 0〜180
N5 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar) ・Reading		 0〜120
Listening 0〜60
Total score 0〜180

2. Correspondence between test sections and scoring sections

Test sections in the test and scoring sections in the test results correspond as given in the table below.

In test In test results
Level Test sections Scoring sections Range of scores
N1
N2		 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar)・Reading		 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar)		 0〜60
Reading 0〜60
Listening Listening 0〜60
N3 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary)		 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar)		 0〜60
Language Knowledge
(Grammar)・Reading		 Reading 0〜60
Listening Listening 0〜60
N4
N5		 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary)		 Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar)・Reading		 0〜120
Language Knowledge
(Grammar)・Reading
Listening Listening 0〜60

3. Determination of pass/fail

In order to pass, (1) total score needs to be at or above the point required for passing (overall pass mark) and (2) score in each scoring section needs to be at or above the minimum point required for passing (sectional pass mark). If there is even one scoring section where the score is below the sectional pass mark, examinees are determined to have failed, no matter how high the total score he/she might have.

Scoring sections of N1-N3 and N4-N5 are different. Overall pass marks and sectional pass marks for each level are shown in the table below.

N1〜N3
Level N1 N2 N3
Total score Range of scores 0〜180 0〜180 0〜180
Overall pass marks 100 90 95
Scores by Scoring Sections Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar)		 Range of scores 0〜60 0〜60 0〜60
Sectional pass marks 19 19 19
Reading Range of scores 0〜60 0〜60 0〜60
Sectional pass marks 19 19 19
Listening Range of scores 0〜60 0〜60 0〜60
Sectional pass marks 19 19 19
N4〜N5
Level N4 N5
Total score Range of scores 0〜180 0〜180
Overall pass marks 90 80
Scores by Scoring Sections Language Knowledge
(Vocabulary/
Grammar)・Reading		 Range of scores 0〜120 0〜120
Sectional pass marks 38 38
Listening Range of scores 0〜60 0〜60
Sectional pass marks 19 19

* The above standards were adopted beginning with July test in 2010 (December test in 2010 with N4 and N5).

Examinees will be judged to have failed if they miss a test section. Although they will receive a Score Report, it will not show scores for any test section, including those that have been taken.

4. Notification of test results

All examinees in each level will receive a Score Report.

Successful examinees will receive a Certificate of Proficiency.

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