JLPT N5 study plan: from kana to exam day
The JLPT N5 is the first level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, and it is usually held only twice a year, so missing your date means a long wait. This prompt has your todo.is agent plan the months you have, starting with kana, then sending daily vocabulary and kanji, weekly grammar points and listening practice.
The prompt
- Make me a JLPT N5 study plan. My test is on [TEST DATE] and I am starting from [STARTING POINT]. I can study [DAILY MINUTES] minutes a day. I use [TEXTBOOK OR APP]. Plan it week by week: kana first if I need it, then about 800 N5 words and around 100 kanji spread across the weeks, with grammar points in a sensible order. Every day send me the day's new words and kanji on Telegram at [TIME], with readings and an example sentence. Make a CSV of all N5 words for Anki, add a listening task every day, and plan two full practice tests using the official sample questions (with links). Give me the plan as an Excel file.
What to change
- [TEST DATE]: The July or December date in your country. Check the local host institution for exact dates and registration.
- [STARTING POINT]: E.g. "complete beginner", "I know hiragana but not katakana" or "finished Genki I chapter 4".
- [DAILY MINUTES]: E.g. "30". Small daily sessions work well for kana and vocab.
- [TEXTBOOK OR APP]: E.g. "Genki I", "Minna no Nihongo" or "no textbook yet".
- [TIME]: E.g. "7:15" before work or school.
Example result
- JLPT N5 plan: 20 weeks
- Test: first Sunday of December · Complete beginner · 30 minutes a day · Using Genki I
- The test
- • Three parts: Vocabulary, Grammar and Reading, and Listening
- • Scored 0 to 180, pass mark 80, with a minimum score in each scoring section
- • N5 tests basic Japanese: everyday words, simple sentences written in hiragana, katakana and basic kanji, and slow, clear speech
- Weeks 1 to 3: kana
- • Hiragana in week 1 (about 7 characters a day), katakana in weeks 2 and 3
- • Write each character 5 times while saying it, then read real words: すし, テレビ, コーヒー
- • By week 3 you should read any kana word slowly but correctly
- Weeks 4 to 12: core grammar and vocabulary
- • 6 new words and 1 kanji a day, reviewed with spaced repetition
- • Grammar in order: です / じゃないです, の, は vs が, verbs (ます form), particles に, で, を, へ, い and な adjectives, past tense, て form, ～たい, ～ています
- • First kanji: 日, 月, 火, 水, 木, 金, 土, 人, 山, 川, 一 to 十, 大, 小, 上, 下
- • Listening: 10 minutes a day of slow Japanese (textbook audio, beginner podcasts)
- Weeks 13 to 17: building reading
- • Short texts: notices, messages, timetables
- • Counters (～つ, ～人, ～本, ～枚) and time words
- • Practice test 1 at the end of week 15
- Weeks 18 to 20: exam practice
- • Official sample questions, then practice test 2 in week 19
- • Review only weak words and grammar in the last week
- • Check your test voucher, venue and the items you may bring
- Today's words (sample)
- • 食べる (たべる) to eat · 毎朝パンを食べます。
- • 駅 (えき) station · 駅はどこですか。
- • 新しい (あたらしい) new · 新しいかばんです。
How to do it with todo.is
- Check the next JLPT date where you live, then fill in the prompt with your starting point.
- Paste it on the Today screen in todo.is, or send it to your agent on Telegram.
- You get an Excel plan, an Anki CSV and daily words and kanji every morning.
- Reply "too fast" or "add more listening" and your agent adjusts the rest of the plan.
Tips for a better result
- Learn kana properly before anything else. Romaji habits slow you down later.
- Learn words with their kana reading and an example sentence, not as isolated kanji.
- Listening is a separate score section. Play short Japanese audio daily, even while commuting.
- Register early. In many cities seats fill quickly and the registration window is short.
JLPT N5 study plan: FAQ
- How long does it take to prepare for JLPT N5? Many learners need about 3 to 6 months of steady daily study, roughly 150 to 300 hours, starting from zero.
- How many kanji and words do I need for N5? There is no official list, but common estimates are about 100 kanji and around 800 words.
- When is the JLPT held? In most countries it is held in early July and early December, but some places offer only one date. Check your local host institution.
- Can my agent quiz me in Japanese? Yes. Ask for a 10-question quiz each evening on Telegram with the answers sent after you reply.
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