Frequently Asked Questions
- Levels
- Format
- JLPT
- Fees
Getting started
Do I need any prior Japanese knowledge to start?
No. The JLPT N5 track is built for absolute beginners and starts at hiragana. If you already have some exposure, sensei Pradnya will place you at the right level after a short call.
Which level should I start at?
Complete beginners start at N5. If you have studied before, your placement depends on how solid your grammar and kanji are, not on how many months you spent studying — so a quick level check comes first.
How old do students have to be?
There is no upper age limit. Students range from school and college learners to working professionals and homemakers. What matters is consistency, not age.
Is Japanese hard for Indian learners?
Grammar is actually friendlier to Indian speakers than English is — sentence order and particles behave much like Hindi and Marathi. The real work is kanji, which is why we drill it daily in small doses rather than in bursts.
Classes and format
Are the classes online?
Yes — all classes are live online with cameras on, so you can join from anywhere in India or abroad. There are no recorded-only courses.
What is the batch size?
8 to 12 students, never more. Small batches mean every student speaks and gets corrected in every session.
How do one-on-one sessions work?
A private online session with only you and sensei Pradnya. The plan is built around your goal and pace, timings are arranged around your availability, and charges are hourly.
What are the class timings?
Classes run between 10am and 6pm IST, Monday to Sunday. Group batches use fixed weekly slots; private sessions are scheduled individually.
What if I miss a class?
Inform sensei in advance and she will share the material covered and set catch-up work. If clashes are frequent, hourly one-on-one sessions usually suit better.
Who teaches the classes?
Sensei Pradnya Saste teaches every batch herself. There are no assistant teachers and no rotating faculty.
Choosing a JLPT level
Which JLPT level should I take?
If you have never studied Japanese, N5. Otherwise the honest answer comes from a short level check: what decides your level is how solid your grammar, kanji and listening are, not how many months you have studied or which textbook you finished.
Can I take JLPT N4 without N5?
Yes. There is no prerequisite — you may register directly for any level. Whether you should is another matter: N4 grammar builds straight on N5 verb forms, so skipping the N5 syllabus rather than just the N5 exam is what causes failures.
Can you skip JLPT levels?
You can skip sitting a level, and many students go N5 then N3, or straight to N3. What you cannot skip is the content. Sitting every level is useful mainly for exam practice and for having a certificate to show while you climb.
Is JLPT N5 worth it?
As a job qualification on its own, rarely — most employers begin at N3. As a milestone it is worth a lot: it forces you to finish kana, the first 100 kanji and the core grammar, and it gives you a real deadline in the first few months, which is when most self-learners quit.
JLPT and results
What is your JLPT pass rate?
95% across N5–N3 on first attempt. Progress is benchmarked with monthly mock JLPT papers scored under real exam conditions, each followed by a personal review.
When is the JLPT exam held in India?
Twice a year, on a Sunday in early July and a Sunday in early December, at authorised centres including Pune. Registration opens roughly three to four months before each sitting; confirm exact dates on the official JLPT India site, and we guide students through the process.
How to apply for JLPT N5?
Apply online through the official Japan Foundation JLPT India portal during the session's application window: create an account, select N5 and your test city, upload a photograph in the required format, pay the fee online, then download the test voucher when it is issued.
How to check your JLPT result?
Results are published on the official JLPT online results portal using the application number and password printed on your test voucher. You see your total, your section-wise scores and the pass or fail outcome.
How long do JLPT results take?
Roughly two months after the exam for the online result, with certificates and score reports dispatched afterwards. July candidates usually see results around late August or September, December candidates around late January or February.
How long is the JLPT valid for?
The certificate never expires. Some employers and universities still prefer a result from the last couple of years, or simply test your Japanese themselves at interview.
How many times can you take the JLPT?
As often as you like — there is no attempt limit. With two sittings a year you can appear each July and December, including re-taking a level you have already cleared to improve your score.
How long does each JLPT level take?
N5 is 90+ class hours (about 4 months), N4 is 100+ hours and N3 is 110+ hours, assuming 3–4 sessions a week plus daily self-study.
How long does it take to pass JLPT N3?
From zero, most learners reach N3 in about 14 to 18 months of continuous study — roughly 300 hours of class time across the three levels plus daily self-study. From a solid N4, budget six to eight months.
How long should I study for JLPT N4?
About 100 class hours, typically four to five months at 3–4 sessions a week, provided your N5 grammar is genuinely secure. Students who rushed N5 usually need longer, because N4 spends its first month repairing the gaps.
Which JLPT level do employers want?
Most Japan-facing roles in Pune and India start interviewing at N3. N5 and N4 are stepping stones; N2 opens interpretation and client-facing work.
Studying and preparation
How should I prepare for JLPT N5?
Learn hiragana and katakana in the first two weeks, then work through the N5 grammar patterns in order while adding about 20 minutes of kanji and vocabulary every single day. From the third month, add timed mock papers and daily listening at natural speed — listening carries a sectional minimum and is where most N5 failures happen.
How to study kanji for the JLPT?
Small and daily beats weekend marathons. Write each character by hand with correct stroke order, learn it inside a word rather than alone so the reading sticks, and revisit older kanji on a spaced schedule. Ten new characters a week, reviewed properly, is faster over a year than fifty crammed and forgotten.
How many kanji are in JLPT N5?
Around 100 kanji — numbers, days, directions, people, nature and common verbs. N4 raises it to roughly 300 and N3 to about 650.
How much vocabulary do you need for JLPT N5?
Roughly 800 words, alongside about 80 grammar patterns. N4 expects around 1,500 words and N3 around 3,800.
How many questions are in the JLPT N5 paper?
Around 90 to 110 multiple-choice questions in total across vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening, with the exact count varying slightly by session. Everything is scored out of 180 regardless of question count.
Fees and admission
What are the fees?
Group batches are priced per JLPT level and one-on-one sessions are charged hourly. Sensei shares the current figure on enquiry, usually within 24 hours, since it depends on level and weekly hours.
Is study material included?
Yes — worksheets, kanji drill sheets, listening packs, the quiz library and monthly mock papers are all included. The JLPT exam registration fee is paid separately to the exam body.
How do I join a batch?
Send an enquiry with your level, goal and preferred timings. Sensei replies personally with available batches, timings and fees.