Aug 22, 2022 3 min read Japanese language

[Japanese Language] What is Kanji Kentei (漢検)?

When people start studying Japanese, they often consider JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) as a main goal to achieve. However, JLPT does not test the learners on their writing abilities.

Kanji Kentei ("Japan Kanji Aptitude Test" in English or Kantei for short), is an examination to test your writing skills and knowledge of kanji (漢字 or “Chinese characters”) as well as Japanese vocabulary based on them. Although the test is aimed at Native Japanese speakers to check how their kanji knowledge is progressing through out Elementary, Junior, and Senior high schools, Kanji Kentei is beneficial for Japanese learners alike for the aforementioned knowledge gap that the JLPT leaves out.

The test is subdivided into 12 levels from 1 to 10, including pre-2 and pre-1 that sits between level 3 and 2, and level 2 and 1, respectively.

Kanji Kentei explained by each level

LEVEL 10 (10 級) :

80 kanji
Consists of the kanji Japanese 1st graders learn

LEVEL 9 (9 級) :

240 kanji
Level for up to 1st through 2nd graders

LEVEL 8 (8 級) :

440 kanji
Level for up to 3rd graders

LEVEL 7 (7 級) :

640 kanji
Level for up to 4th graders

LEVEL 6 (6 級) :

825 kanji
Level for up to 5th graders

LEVEL 5 (5 級) :

440 kanji
Level for up to 6th graders

LEVEL 4 (4 級) :

1,322 kanji
Above includes additional 300 joyo kanji (常用漢字, or "Daily Use Kanji" consisting of 2,136 kanji in total), from Level 5
Level for Junior High School students while at school

LEVEL 3 (3 級) :

1,607 kanji
Tests "special" / "unusual" kanji readings
Level for Junior High School students around the time they graduate

LEVEL pre-2 (準2 級) :

1,940 kanji
Ability to read all of joyo kanji
Level for Senior High School students while at school

LEVEL 2 (2 級) :

2,136 kanji
Tests "special" compound kanji words
Level for Senior High School students / University students / people in general

LEVEL pre-1 (準1 級) :

3,000 kanji
Tests kanji unique to the Japanese language
Tests classical Japanese proverbs
Level for University students / people in general

LEVEL 1 (1級):

6,000 kanji
Tests place and country names
Tests "the ability to recognize relationship between modern and ancient or old character forms"
Level for University students / people in general

Test Dates for 2022

1st: Jun 19th, 2022 (Sun)