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CompareFrom JLPT N3 to N2: online courses compared
The short answer
N2 is a common requirement for jobs in Japan. Applications for the December 2026 test have closed, so plan about eight months toward the July 2027 test.
Test dates
- The JLPT is held twice a year, around the first Sunday of July and December. In 2026 the dates were July 5 and December 6.
- Applications open around March–April for July, and August–September for December.
- From 2026, people taking the test in Japan need a residence card number. Tourists and short-term visitors can't take it in Japan.
Source: Coto Academy. The July 2027 application dates were not yet announced in November 2026. Check JEES and the official JLPT site from early 2027.
Ways to study
| Way | Good | For |
|---|---|---|
| Online school JLPT course | A set curriculum keeps you going | People who give up studying alone |
| Online private lessons | Practice only your weak parts | People with clear weak points (reading, listening) |
| Workbooks and apps | Cheap | People who keep to their own plan |
Before you pay for a course, check three things: the total price to the test date, whether grammar is explained in your language, and whether there is a free trial lesson.
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An eight-month plan
- Months 1–2: review N3 and learn a little N2 vocabulary and kanji every day.
- Months 3–5: grammar and reading. Get used to long passages.
- Months 6–7: listening. Time yourself on past-paper style questions.
- Month 8: two or three mock tests, then focus on weak parts.
Next step
From student to a job in Japan
To work in Japan after studying, you change from "Student" to a work status after you get an offer. Graduates of universities and...
Read the guide