JLPT sectional pass marks and scaled scores
A JLPT sectional pass mark is the minimum scaled score required in an individual scoring section. Passing the exam also requires reaching the overall pass mark for the chosen level. The official results table identifies the sections that count separately, which can differ from the sections you remember taking on test day.
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A JLPT sectional pass mark is the minimum you must reach in a scoring section of the Japanese proficiency test. You need to reach the overall pass mark as well. Use the official results table for your level to work out which scores to compare. The scoring explanation describes how the exam adjusts for differences in difficulty between test sessions.
Suppose an American student clears the overall mark and earns a strong reading score, but falls just below the listening minimum. The result is a fail. For the next practice session, the student might replay a dialogue about an appointment and identify the phrase that changes which day the speakers agree on.
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Frequently asked questions
Is a strong total enough to pass?
Every scoring section must also reach its required minimum.
Are these raw counts of correct answers?
The JLPT reports scaled scores. The scale accounts for differences in difficulty across test sessions.
Where can I check which scores count separately?
Use the results table for the level you took. Some levels combine language knowledge and reading in a single scoring section.
Sources
- Scoring Sections, Pass or Fail, Score Report · Japan Foundation / Japan Educational Exchanges and Services
- Four Key Characteristics · Japan Foundation / Japan Educational Exchanges and Services
