Blog

Is the July JLPT easier than the December examination? In Part 2 of our investigation, we compare twelve years of Japanese-Language Proficiency Test results and uncover surprising differences in certification rates. From N1 and N3 to the infamous “Weeaboo Killer” N5, the statistics challenge assumptions about examination difficulty, student preparation, and Japanese-language proficiency.

Is the JLPT getting harder, or are test takers simply not preparing well enough? Using 13 years of official Japanese-Language Proficiency Test statistics from 2013 to 2025, we investigate declining certification rates, surprising differences between Japan and overseas examinees, and the extraordinary results recorded during the COVID-19 pandemic. The numbers reveal a much more complicated story than you might expect.