| Nihongo Kentei | |
| Acronym: | Goken |
| Language: | Japanese |
| Website: | https://www.nihongokentei.jp |
| Year Started: | 2007 |
| Type: | Language Proficiency Test |
The Nihongo Kentei (日本語検定, The Japanese Language Examination) is a standardized test of Japanese language proficiency for native Japanese language speakers. The test is held twice a year, in June and November; approximately 300,000 people sit the examination every year.
In 2011, the test was sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT).
The Nihongo Kentei was created to assess overall ability in the Japanese language. The questions focus on more obscure and difficult areas of the Japanese language, such as proficiency in Kanji, the use of honorifics, and extended vocabulary. Although intended for native speakers, the exam is open to all applicants.
It is not to be confused with the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), which is intended for non-native Japanese speakers.[1] [2]
Questions in the Nihongo Kentei fall into six categories.[3]
The test consists of practical Japanese questions, designed to evaluate the candidate's understanding of Japanese. These highlight areas of strength and weaknesses.
There are two types of certifications for each level, depending on the percentage scored.
Successful applicants must score more than 50% for all the six categories mentioned above (shown in the table below as "category threshold"). If results in any category fall below the category threshold, the candidate will not be certified (except for the lowest category, Level 7). Note that 1級 (Level 1) refers to the best possible grade, and 7級(Level 7) refers to the worst.
| 級 (Level) | Test time | Threshold Percentage | Category threshold | Certification |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1級 (Level 1) | 60min | 80% or more | 50% or more | 1級 (Level 1) |
| 70-80% | 準1級 (Semi Level 1) | |||
| 2級 (Level 2) | 60min | 75% or more | 2級 (Level 2) | |
| 65-75% | 準2級 (Semi Level 2) | |||
| 3級 (Level 3) | 60min | 70% or more | 3級 (Level 3) | |
| 60-70% | 準3級 (Semi Level 3) | |||
| 4級 (Level 4) | 50min | 70% or more | 4級 (Level 4) | |
| 60-70% | 準4級 (Semi Level 4) | |||
| 5級 (Level 5) | 50min | 70% or more | 5級 (Level 5) | |
| 60-70% | 準5級 (Semi Level 5) | |||
| 6級 (Level 6) | 50min | 70% or more | 6級 (Level 6) | |
| 60-70% | 準6級 (Semi Level 6) | |||
| 7級 (Level 7) | 50min | 70% or more | 7級 (Level 7) | |
| 60-70% | 準7級 (Semi Level 7) |
| Year | Level | Goken in Japan | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Applicants | Certified (%) | Semi Level Certified (%) | ||
| 2017-1 | 1級(Level 1) | 682 | 9.2% | 18.4% |
| 2級(Level 2) | 3,257 | 16.2% | 25.1% | |
| 3級(Level 3) | 17,741 | 33.7% | 35.3% | |
| 4級(Level 4) | 7,189 | 68.1% | 19.6% | |
| 5級(Level 5) | 3,262 | 76.5% | 14.7% | |
| 6級(Level 6) | 3,074 | 63.4% | 18.2% | |
| 7級(Level 7) | 927 | 91.2% | 3.3% | |
| 2017-2 | 1級(Level 1) | 727 | 19.1% | 24.5% |
| 2級(Level 2) | 3,897 | 8.8% | 9.9% | |
| 3級(Level 3) | 15,542 | 38.0% | 28.3% | |
| 4級(Level 4) | 8,816 | 73.9% | 16.9% | |
| 5級(Level 5) | 6,017 | 79.9% | 13.2% | |
| 6級(Level 6) | 4,152 | 71.1% | 13.9% | |
| 7級(Level 7) | 1,357 | 86.7% | 3.4% | |
| 2018-1 | 1級(Level 1) | 594 | 4.9% | 21.9% |
| 2級(Level 2) | 2,881 | 11.0% | 35.8% | |
| 3級(Level 3) | 18,787 | 44.2% | 20.4% | |
| 4級(Level 4) | 7,017 | 83.6% | 7.1% | |
| 5級(Level 5) | 2,082 | 78.9% | 6.4% | |
| 6級(Level 6) | 1,278 | 78.0% | 2.8% | |
| 7級(Level 7) | 3,436 | 89.6% | 3.3% | |
| 2018-2 | 1級(Level 1) | 682 | 9.2% | 18.4% |
| 2級(Level 2) | 3,257 | 16.2% | 25.1% | |
| 3級(Level 3) | 17,741 | 33.7% | 35.3% | |
| 4級(Level 4) | 7,189 | 68.1% | 19.6% | |
| 5級(Level 5) | 3,262 | 76.5% | 14.7% | |
| 6級(Level 6) | 3,074 | 63.4% | 18.2% | |
| 7級(Level 7) | 927 | 91.2% | 3.3% | |
| 2019-1 | 1級(Level 1) | 596 | 14.1% | 33.7% |
| 2級(Level 2) | 2,841 | 9.3% | 23.9% | |
| 3級(Level 3) | 19,519 | 41.9% | 22.9% | |
| 4級(Level 4) | 7,735 | 76.2% | 10.6% | |
| 5級(Level 5) | 3,264 | 78.9% | 9.1% | |
| 6級(Level 6) | 2,335 | 74.5% | 2.8% | |
| 7級(Level 7) | 2,158 | 91.4% | 2.4% | |
| 2019-2 | 1級(Level 1) | 618 | 7.2% | 26.3% |
| 2級(Level 2) | 3,599 | 7,9% | 23.4% | |
| 3級(Level 3) | 14,079 | 40.7.% | 25.3% | |
| 4級(Level 4) | 8,704 | 72.9% | 14.3% | |
| 5級(Level 5) | 4,501 | 76.2% | 8.8% | |
| 6級(Level 6) | 2,904 | 77.0% | 6.6% | |
| 7級(Level 7) | 1,531 | 86.1% | 7.5% | |