- Q. What are the differences between the EJU Japanese as a Foreign Language test and the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test? Which test is more difficult?
- Q. Expressed by scores, what point levels for the EJU Japanese as a Foreign Language test are equivalent to the “N1” level of the JLPT?
- Q. Do I need to take the EJU even if I passed level N1 (or N2) of the JLPT?
- Q. If passing level N1 (or N2) of the JLPT, may applicants be exempted from taking the EJU Japanese as a Foreign Language test?
- Q. Pass/fail results will be given in case JLPT. Is it the same for the EJU?
Relation to the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
Q. What are the differences between the EJU Japanese as a Foreign Language test and the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test? Which test is more difficult?
A. Let’s examine the differences between the “Japanese as a Foreign Language test” section of the EJU and the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT).
The purpose of the EJU Japanese as a Foreign Language test is to evaluate the level of Japanese language skills needed to deal with the learning demands at Japanese universities and other schools (so-called “academic Japanese”).
In contrast, the JLPT is designed to measure general Japanese language skills. In terms of test problem categories, while the EJU contains “Writing” questions, the JLPT does not have any such sections. Although the JLPT contains questions used to measure language knowledge (characters, vocabulary and grammar), the EJU has no such questions. These two tests do share certain question formats in common, including reading comprehension and listening/listening-reading comprehension (“listening comprehension” in the JLPT). However, each test develops its own questions based on the specific purposes.
Simple comparisons of the difficulty levels of these tests are not possible. As explained above, this is because the two tests differ in the details being measured and the trends in the questions themselves.
Q. Expressed by scores, what point levels for the EJU Japanese as a Foreign Language test are equivalent to the “N1” level of the JLPT?
A. Because these two tests are structured to measure different knowledge, it is not possible to accurate compare score levels.
For further information on this, please refer to the answers to the top of the questions on this page.
Q. Do I need to take the EJU even if I passed level N1 (or N2) of the JLPT?
A. Even if you passed level N1 (or N2) of the JLPT, in cases when universities or other schools use EJU scores in their admissions processes, you will normally need to take the EJU as well.
For applicants who reside in countries or regions where the EJU is not offered, certain schools use JLPT scores in place of EJU scores. You are advised to confirm these details in advance with the school you wish to attend.
Q. If passing level N1 (or N2) of the JLPT, may applicants be exempted from taking the EJU Japanese as a Foreign Language test?
A. Even if passing level N1 (or N2) of the JLPT, you must also take the EJU Japanese as a Foreign Language test when it is required by the school you wish to attend.
Likewise, when applying to universities or other schools that use the scores of the EJU in their admissions processes, candidates must take the tests for all EJU subjects required by the schools in question.
Q. Pass/fail results will be given in case JLPT. Is it the same for the EJU?
A. No, EJU test results are expressed as scores (points). No pass/fail results will be given.
