Overview of the Examination Process

Here you will find an overview of all NAT-TEST related events, from applying for the exam, to exam day itself, all the way through to when you receive your results.

The flow of events

Application - Available until the application deadline has passed for that particular exam
Receiving your application ticket - 1-2 weeks before the day of the exam
Taking the Exam - On your specified exam day
Receiving your score report and certificate of proficiency - Approx. 3 weeks after the exam

1. Application

For China only:
The start of the application period and deadline are the same all throughout China for all testing locations.

Outside of China:
Please apply for the examination before the application deadline for your particular country. Your application will be complete once we have received the registration fee. Note that the registration fee and application deadlines differ for each country. Please see the following for information on your specific country:

Contact information (Test site & Local Office & Test Fee

2. Receiving your application ticket

For China only:
Starting on the Monday two weeks before the exam at 9 a.m., you will be able to download your application ticket from the application website. Please print this out on an A4-sized piece of paper and bring it with you to the exam.

Outside of China:
After you have completed your application, we will send you the application ticket to the specified mailing address and e-mail address. You will receive this as late as one week before exam day. If you have not received your application ticket, please contact us.

Your name, examinee number, date of birth, gender and photograph are all printed on the application ticket. Please check your application ticket to make sure that all the information is accurate and nothing is missing. You will also receive and information card along with your application ticket, which lists the testing location, times and other information that you will need to take the exam. Please check to confirm that you have received both items.。

3. Taking the exam

Before the exam starts

Please arrive at the testing location by the time that is specified on your application ticket. As a rule, levels 1, 3 and 5 of the exam will take place in the morning and levels 2 and 4 will take place in the afternoon. Once you have entered the testing location, please follow the directions of all proctors and staff members.

Identity confirmation

In order to uphold the integrity of the exam, we will confirm the identity of each examinee before the test begins. Please bring a valid photo ID with you to the exam.

During the exam

The exam will take place according to the following schedule:

Level 1	Language Knowledge (reading, vocabulary, grammar), Reading Comprehension: 110 min, Listening Comprehension: 60 min
Level 2	Language Knowledge (reading, vocabulary, grammar), Reading Comprehension: 105 min, Listening Comprehension: 50 min
Level 3	Language Knowledge (reading, vocabulary): 30 min Language Knowledge (grammar), Reading Comprehension: 70 min, Listening Comprehension: 40 minage
Level 4	Language Knowledge (reading, vocabulary): 30 min Language Knowledge (grammar), Reading Comprehension: 60 min, Listening Comprehension: 35 min
Level 5	Language Knowledge (reading, vocabulary): 25 min Language Knowledge (grammar), Reading Comprehension: 50 min, Listening Comprehension: 30 min * The exact time allotted for the listening section may differ slightly based on the length of the recordings.

Note: About marking the answer sheet

The NAT-TEST uses a mark sheet that you will record your answers onto. When you choose an answer, fill in a dark, solid, circle with your pencil (dark pencil types such as HB and B are acceptable) so that the designated area is completely filled in. If you fill in two or more circles, punch through the answer sheet, or lightly fill in an answer, the question will be marked as incorrect. If you are going to erase an answer, make sure you erase your mark completely. If we are unable to clearly determine your intended answer, the question will be marked as incorrect.

After the test

Good job! You have successfully taken the NAT-TEST. Make sure you haven't left anything behind and have a safe and pleasant journey home. And don’t forget that you may not take the question booklet with you.

4. Receiving your score report and certificate of proficiency

Within 3 weeks of the exam date, we will send a score report to all examinees. Your strengths and weaknesses on the test will all be visible at a glance. This will also be useful to help guide you along in your future Japanese studies.

For those who pass, a certificate of proficiency will be issued along with the score report. This is shows that you have passed the examination and can be used to as proof of your Japanese language ability.

Score Report	Certificate of Proficiency