If you have studied Japanese before, use Japanese Explorer’s published placement route to discuss which class fits your starting point. Prepare a short record of what you studied and what you want to practise. School placement helps choose a course; it is separate from an official JLPT qualification.
Table of contents
- The school’s published placement process
- Prepare a learner self-report
- Placement, JLPT results and can-do goals
- Questions before choosing a class
- Placement questions
- Sources
Japanese Explorer’s published placement process
The placement page provides six tests: Beginner 1, Beginner 2, and tests labelled JLPT N5, N4, N3 and N2 standard. Use the school’s instructions for the relevant test rather than treating an app’s level label as a guaranteed equivalent.
For the JLPT-standard school tests, the published threshold is a minimum of 70% to proceed to the next level test. For Beginner 1 and Beginner 2, the page describes a minimum of 70% for exemption from that school level. These are course-placement rules, not exemptions from the official JLPT examination.
The page says the school will contact you with course recommendations. Ask the school which assessment is appropriate if you are unsure where to begin.
Prepare a learner self-report before placement
Use this checklist to organise your enquiry. It is your own description of prior learning and goals, not a school diagnostic, scoring rubric or official proficiency result.
| Area | What to write down |
|---|---|
| Your goal | Conversation, travel, work or a particular exam level |
| Previous learning | Courses, textbooks, apps or self-study, and roughly when you used them |
| Reading | What you can read comfortably and what you still find difficult |
| Listening | Situations or recordings you can follow, and where you need help |
| Speaking and writing | Tasks you feel comfortable attempting and those you want to practise |
| Previous results | Any actual test result, its date and what examination it came from |
| Study arrangements | Times you can attend and your preferred group, private or online format |
You might write: “I completed an introductory course last year and can read some hiragana, but I want help speaking in everyday situations. I can attend a weekday evening.” This is an example of an enquiry, not a claim about a student’s results or an available class.
Placement, JLPT results and can-do goals are different
School placement is used to recommend a course at that school. A test labelled “N4 standard” does not itself award an official N4 certificate.
The official JLPT is a separate proficiency examination. Its official FAQ confirms that conversation and composition tests are not included. A result should not be treated as a direct measurement of every speaking or writing task.
The Japan Foundation’s JF Standard describes language ability through tasks a learner can perform, using can-do statements. The official overview explains its CEFR-based levels. Those task descriptions can help you explain a learning goal; they do not turn a school placement score into a speaking qualification.
Questions before choosing a class
- Which starting class does the school recommend from my result and prior study?
- What does that class cover in its actual syllabus?
- How can I explain a difference between my reading and speaking confidence?
- What are the current lesson dates, venue and format?
- What is included in the quoted package, and what fees or terms apply separately?
- If I want to experience a class first, what paid-trial options and terms are available?
Compare the recommendation with the published course structure. The group-course and private-course pages describe different arrangements. Placement does not guarantee an intake, a particular teacher or admission to a higher-level trial.
For the next step, use the existing placement page, or ask about the published paid trial. Confirm the current class and terms before paying; a school assessment is separate from any official examination registration.
Placement questions
Does passing a school placement test count as JLPT certification?
No. It helps the school recommend a class. Official JLPT certification requires the separate examination and result.
What does the 70% threshold mean?
The school’s JLPT-standard placement tests use a minimum of 70% to proceed to the next level test. Its Beginner 1 and Beginner 2 tests describe exemption from the corresponding school level. Neither is an exemption from the official JLPT.
How do I arrange the placement process?
Start with the published placement page and follow the instructions for the relevant test. Contact the school if you are unsure which test to take or need advice on the next step.
What if I am a complete beginner?
Read the beginner-course outline and ask the school which starting class and enrolment route apply. Do not assume a placement test is compulsory for every new learner.
What if I read more confidently than I speak?
Tell the school which tasks you find comfortable and which you want to practise. Include that information alongside any assessment result instead of treating one number as a complete description of your ability.
— Paul
