How does NativShark correlate to JLPT levels?

Below, you'll see around what Milestones in NativShark correlate to success with the JLPT.

Note that the JLPT is not a measurement of proficiency or functionality in Japanese. A learner who uses NativShark is likely to feel more comfortable using and producing Japanese when compared to a learner at a similar JLPT level who might use traditional resources like textbooks.

We have a 3-part guide that you may find useful to reference for your studies (and explains what the JLPT is).

Good luck!

NativShark teaches Japanese in an order designed to make you functional as efficiently as possible, so you can start enjoying native materials early, which helps further boost your learning progress.

In other words, NativShark is designed to make you highly proficient in Japanese as efficiently as possible. Passing the JLPT is a byproduct of this.

Due to this, we might teach "more advanced" language early on.

For example, we teach almost all of the common conjugations in the language by Milestone 10, while some of these are often reserved for "intermediate-level" learners in other resources or textbooks.

We also use kanji how they are used in real life, unlike how many learning resources will not show you kanji that are "above" your level.

NativShark also makes use of audio from native speakers spoken at natural speeds to prepare your ears for the real world. Things like textbooks and the JLPT slow their audio down significantly, which causes problems for us learners in the real world if it's the only type of audio we get our ears used to.

This teaching method allows learners to understand and use Japanese in the everyday world quickly... but causes it to be difficult to make a 1-to-1 comparison between NativShark and JLPT levels.

This isn't to say that learning with NativShark means that it takes more time to be able to pass the JLPT, however.

Additionally, NativShark learners often find that they are more comfortable using and understanding Japanese when compared to students at similar JLPT levels who may use more traditional methods, like textbooks or online resources.

Here's where the JLPT levels roughly correlate to in NativShark.

This is not a guarantee of being able to pass at this exact level. There are too many factors to guarantee how anyone will perform on a standardized test. (See here for more info.)

However, most learners will find that they are able to pass these levels roughly around these Milestones and total amount of time studied.*

Of course, if you take it at a Milestone further than the estimate, your chances of passing only increase

*Practicing your Japanese outside of learning resources is a vital part of cementing concepts you've seen up to a given point, which is why we include time studied in the equation. In this time studied, we recommend using native materials and practicing your Japanese in the wild (after Milestone 6 or so).

JLPT N5

Around Milestones 6-7. This is 3~4 months of study with NativShark at the recommended JLPT pace.

The JLPT N5 has some interesting quirks in regards to kanji especially. It doesn't include kanji as they are used in everyday life in Japan, so while you will likely find yourself far beyond the N5, it might be slightly... weird to parse because the language on the test is not representative of real-life.*

*This applies to all levels of the JLPT but is particularly pronounced at the lower levels.

JLPT N4

Around Milestone 10. This is 6~7 months of study with NativShark at the recommended JLPT pace.

The N4 is similar in that it doesn't show you some kanji, but is a big improvement from the N5.

JLPT N3

Milestones 17~19. This is 14~16 months of study with NativShark at the recommended JLPT pace.

Around this level and up is where you need to make sure you've been using native materials alongside your NativShark studies, as NativShark is designed to be used alongside these.

JLPT N2

Milestones 26~32. This is ~2 years of study with NativShark at the recommended JLPT pace.

Don't forget your healthy handful of native materials as discussed in the guides!

JLPT N1

Milestones 41~49. This is ~3 years of study with NativShark at the recommended JLPT pace.

Don't forget your healthy handful of native materials as discussed in the guides

If you've taken the JLPT and used NativShark as your core study resource, we would love to hear your experience!

Please feel welcome to share them with us via an email to [email protected] or by joining the community and sharing in the #learning-progress channel!