Your first steps in Japanese
How to study for JLPT N5
New to Japanese, or starting to prepare for JLPT N5? Build a routine that gives you time to learn, practise and revisit what you find difficult. Here’s a manageable way to begin.
By Geared Kids · We develop JLPT N5 Step by Step.
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What does JLPT N5 cover?
N5 is the easiest JLPT level. It covers basic reading in hiragana, katakana and kanji, plus understanding short, slowly spoken conversations.
The test has vocabulary, grammar and reading, and listening sections. Give listening a regular place in your study alongside written questions.
What should you study first?
Use this order as a starting point. Keep revisiting earlier skills as you add new ones.
- Learn hiragana and katakana in small groups. Cover the answer and try recalling each character, then read it in a word. Gradually rely less on romaji.
- Learn vocabulary and basic kanji together. Pair a word’s meaning with its reading and a short example, rather than memorising an isolated translation.
- Practise one grammar pattern at a time. Read an example, check its meaning, then change a word to make another simple sentence.
- Read short sentences early. Ask who is doing what, and underline anything you cannot explain. Revisit the sentence after checking it.
- Listen from the beginning. Use short beginner recordings or the official N5 sample audio. Listen once for the situation, then again for a specific detail.
A suggested 20-minute N5 study routine
This is one way to divide a short session. Adjust the time to your starting point and the material you are using.
| Time | Focus | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 3 minutes | Recall | Review a few kana or words from yesterday before checking the answers. |
| 5 minutes | Learn | Work through one small vocabulary or grammar lesson. |
| 5 minutes | Practise | Answer a few questions and read the explanations, including for guesses you got right. |
| 4 minutes | Listen | Listen to a short beginner conversation and identify one useful detail. |
| 3 minutes | Review | Write down one mistake, the correction and what you will revisit next time. |
Twenty minutes is a suggested session length, not a promise of exam readiness. Give harder topics more time and include longer reading or listening practice when you can.
Make your mistakes useful
Keep a small review list: the word or sentence, what confused you, and the corrected explanation. At your next session, try it again before looking at the answer. Remove items only when you can recall and use them comfortably.
As you progress, try official N5 sample questions to understand the formats and spot weak areas. A handful of familiar answers is not enough to judge readiness; practise across reading, language knowledge and listening. Official JLPT sample questions and listening examples →
Questions from beginners
How long does it take to prepare for N5?
It depends on what you already know, how regularly you study and how well you understand the material. Use practice across the tested skills to guide your progress rather than assuming a fixed number of weeks is enough.
Should I learn kana before grammar?
Start kana early, then combine it with simple words and sentences. You can practise beginner grammar while you continue improving your reading.
Can I prepare using only an app?
An app can give your sessions structure. Also practise listening, read short passages and try the official sample questions so you are working across the skills the test covers.
Official N5 resources
The links below are official JLPT resources. The study order and routine above are suggestions from Geared Kids.