How to Pass JLPT N4: A Complete Study Plan (from N5)

What N4 asks of you

N4 is the second beginner level — still everyday Japanese, but noticeably broader than N5. Most learners aim for roughly:

• Kanji: ~300 cumulative (about 200 beyond N5)
• Vocabulary: ~1,500 cumulative words
• Grammar: ~150 points — see the N4 grammar list
• Listening: short, clear conversations, a little faster than N5

These are common community targets, not official quotas. They're a sensible "you're probably ready" benchmark rather than a guarantee.

The scoring rule to remember

Like N5, N4 reports two scores, not three:

You need 90 overall and both minimums. The usual stumble is listening: it's easy to pour everything into kanji and grammar and then miss the 19/60 floor. Keep your ears in training from day one. (More in our scoring guide.)

A 3-month plan (~1 hour a day)

This assumes you're comfortable with N5. Scale it to your available time.

Month 1 — Expand the base

• Vocab & kanji: daily SRS, ~15–20 new items a day. Prioritise the highest-frequency words.
• Grammar: work the first half of the N4 grammar list — the て-form family, plain form, casual speech, and the big ones like 〜たり, 〜ながら, 〜たことがある.
• Listening: 10 minutes a day of N4-level audio, even passively.

Month 2 — Build & connect

• Grammar: finish the list; start mixing old and new in short drills.
• Reading: begin short passages — practise reading for the gist instead of decoding every word.
• Checkpoint: take a grammar drill or two to find weak spots.

Month 3 — Apply & polish

• Mock: take your first full N4 mock test under time. Expect a dip — it shows you exactly what to fix.
• Targeted review: spend your remaining time on the weakest section, not on what's already strong.
• Taper: two more timed mocks, then light review for the final two days.

Section strategies

Vocabulary & grammar. This section is the bulk of your score (it's combined with reading into the 120-point band). Drill the ★ sentence-ordering questions specifically — they reward recognising set patterns. Don't linger; flag and move on.

Reading. N4 passages are short. Read the question first, then scan for the answer; you don't need every word. Building a little speed now pays off at N3.

Listening. You can't replay it. Train to predict from the setup and let go of anything you miss instead of freezing. Quick notes beat trying to hold it all in your head.

Mistakes that catch beginners

1. Neglecting listening until it's too late, then missing the 19/60 floor. Practise it weekly from the start.
2. Memorising grammar without using it. Recognition isn't recall under time — drill actively.
3. Skipping kana speed. If you still read hiragana/katakana slowly, fix that first; it silently costs you time everywhere.
4. Taking the first mock too late. Do one by Month 3 so weaknesses surface while you can still fix them.

Quick recap

• Targets: ~300 kanji, ~1,500 words, ~150 grammar points.
• Pass = 90/180 total, with 38/120 and 19/60 minimums.
• Three months: Expand → Build → Apply, first mock by Month 3.
• Guard your listening score and your kana speed.

Test your level now

Take a free JLPT N4 mock test →