JLPT N2: Upper Intermediate

What does JLPT N2 mean?

N2 is the second-highest JLPT level, certifying that you can read newspaper articles and commentary on general topics, and follow news broadcasts and conversations spoken at natural speed in both everyday and more varied circumstances.

What can you do at JLPT N2?

At JLPT N2 you can typically do the following:

• Read newspaper and magazine articles and commentaries on general topics
• Follow news broadcasts and conversations spoken at natural speed
• Understand a writer's intent in clearly written material
• Take part in workplace meetings on familiar subjects
• Work out the relationships between the people in a spoken exchange

How long does it take to reach JLPT N2?

Reaching JLPT N2 from a standing start typically takes 1,600-2,800 hours, or 1,150-1,800 with a kanji-using background.

A learner at this level generally has an active vocabulary of About 6,000 words and 1,000 kanji (pre-2010 bands; no official list is published today).

These are guides, not guarantees: prior languages, study intensity and how much you speak all move the number substantially.

How do you practise at JLPT N2?

NativePal generates its content at the level you select, so at JLPT N2 your reading lessons, vocabulary and speaking prompts are pitched here rather than at a generic average.

Reading lessons produce stories written for N2, with every word tappable for a translation and a comprehension quiz at the end. Vocabulary lessons and the spaced-repetition flashcards draw on words appropriate to the level, and Speaking Practice scores your pronunciation on individual sounds, stress and rhythm, fluency and connected speech.

What comes after JLPT N2?

JLPT N1 is the next level up. N1 is the highest JLPT level, certifying that you can read logically complex and abstract writing such as editorials and critiques, and follow lectures, news and natural-speed conversations on a wide range of topics, grasping both structure and detail.