JLPT in July or December? How to Choose Your Test Session
The JLPT is held twice a year, usually on the first Sunday of July and the first Sunday of December, but not every test city offers both sessions. Choose July or December by working back from the date you need your result, such as a job application, a university deadline or a visa plan, and by how many months of study you realistically have. Results come out roughly two months after the test, so a December test gives you a result in late January and a July test gives you one by early September. Here’s how to decide, and how to plan your study around the date you pick.
First, check what your city offers
In Japan, every level is offered in both July and December. Abroad, the test is run by local host institutions, and some cities hold it only once a year, often in December, or offer only some levels. Check the official JLPT website and your local host institution before you plan anything else. Our guide to registering for the JLPT abroad explains how registration works outside Japan, and why the deadline is often three or four months before the test.
Work back from when you need the result
| Session | Registration (typical) | Results online (approximate) |
|---|---|---|
| July | Spring, around March to April | Late August to early September |
| December | Late summer, around August to September | Late January |
Exact dates vary by year and by country, so treat these as a guide. Certificates and score reports arrive later than the online results. If an employer or school needs proof by a fixed date, ask whether the online result is enough. Our guide to JLPT results and certificates covers what you receive and when.
Reasons to choose July
- You want a result before autumn applications, such as jobs or programmes that open in September or October.
- You study best over winter and spring, for example if summer is a busy season at work.
- You plan to take the next level in December, if you pass. This works best between the lower levels, where the gap is smaller.
Reasons to choose December
- You need more time. Registering in summer for a December test gives you up to six months of focused study. See passing the JLPT in six months.
- Your city only offers December.
- You want a result early in the new year, for example for spring job hunting in Japan or applications with early-year deadlines.
If you’re not sure, test the gap
Take a full practice test for your target level under timed conditions. If you’re close to the pass marks in every section, the nearer session is realistic. If one section, often listening or reading, is far behind, choose the later session and focus on that section first. Our guides to JLPT practice tests and JLPT levels can help you judge where you are.
Plan backwards from test day
- Mark the registration deadline in your calendar as soon as it’s announced. Missing it means waiting six months or a year.
- Leave the last month for practice tests and review, not new material.
- Plan for travel. Some test cities are far from home, and in December, winter weather can delay trains and flights.
- Read up on the day itself: see JLPT test day tips.
How a tutor helps
A native tutor can look at your practice test results, tell you honestly which session is realistic, and build a weekly plan up to test day, with grammar, reading and listening practice plus conversation so your Japanese works outside the exam too. Tell us your target level and the session you’re considering, and we’ll suggest a plan.