The Japanese Language NAT-TEST (日本語NAT-TEST) is a Japanese proficiency test built on the same structure as the JLPT, and in India it runs far more often: the 2026 calendar has a paper test in every month at one or more of five cities, plus a computer-based version in Bhopal. This guide covers what the NAT-TEST is, how it compares with the JLPT, where and when to take it in India, how to register, and who it is (and isn't) useful for.
Quick Facts: NAT-TEST at a Glance
Organised by
Senmon Kyouiku Publishing Co., Ltd. (Tokyo)
Levels
5Q (easiest) to 1Q, like JLPT N5 to N1
In India (2026)
Paper test every month + computer-based in Bhopal
Results
Score report within about 3 weeks
Accepted for
Student visa and TITP nursing care applications
Format
Multiple choice (no speaking or writing)
What is the NAT-TEST?
The NAT-TEST is created, organised and administered by Senmon Kyouiku Publishing Co., Ltd. (専門教育出版), a Tokyo publisher of Japanese-teaching materials, and has been held since 2007. Its question criteria and structure are almost the same as the JLPT's, so many Japanese language schools use it to check their students' progress and as a JLPT rehearsal.
Its score certificate can also be submitted to Japan's Immigration Services Agency as proof of Japanese ability: the NAT-TEST says it is accepted for student visa applications and for the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) in nursing care. It is not one of the tests for the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW / 特定技能) visa, which needs JFT-Basic or JLPT N4 or higher.
The JLPT is held in India twice a year, in July and December. The NAT-TEST runs at least six times a year worldwide, and India's 2026 schedule has a paper test in every month at one or more cities, so you can sit (or resit) it much sooner.
The levels run the same way as the JLPT's: 5Q (5級) is about N5, the easiest, and 1Q (1級) is about N1, the hardest.
NAT-TEST vs. JLPT — Key Differences
| Feature | NAT-TEST | JLPT |
|---|---|---|
| Organiser | Senmon Kyouiku Publishing Co., Ltd. (private publisher) | Japan Foundation (outside Japan) and JEES (in Japan) |
| Frequency in India | Paper test every month at one or more cities (2026), plus computer-based testing in Bhopal | Twice a year: July and December |
| Level naming | 5Q (beginner) → 1Q (advanced) | N5 (beginner) → N1 (advanced) |
| Main uses | Student visa and language-school applications, TITP nursing care, progress checks | University admission, jobs, Highly Skilled Professional points (N1/N2), SSW visa (N4) |
| Exam format | Multiple choice, same sections as the JLPT | Multiple choice |
| Tests speaking? | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Results | Score report (PDF) within about 3 weeks | Online about 7–8 weeks after the test; paper score report later |
| Registration | Through the local NAT-TEST office for your city | Through the host institution for your city |
| Fee in India (2026) | ₹2,360 incl. GST at the paper-test sites; ₹2,350 in Bhopal | Set by each host; ₹2,200 (N5/N4) to ₹2,500 (N3–N1) at MOSAI New Delhi for December 2026 |
NAT-TEST Levels and Content
The NAT-TEST publishes its own targets for each level (the JLPT doesn't publish word or kanji counts):
| NAT Level | JLPT Equivalent | Vocabulary | Kanji | Study Hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5Q (5級) | N5 | ~750 words | ~100 | ~200 hours |
| 4Q (4級) | N4 (CEFR A2) | ~1,700 words | ~300 | ~400 hours |
| 3Q (3級) | N3 | ~3,350 words | ~650 | ~600 hours |
| 2Q (2級) | N2 | ~5,900 words | ~1,100 | ~800 hours |
| 1Q (1級) | N1 | ~10,000 words | ~1,850 | ~1,000 hours |
NAT-TEST Exam Structure
The sections, times and pass marks are the same as the JLPT's. All sections are taken in half a day:
| Level | Sections and times | Pass mark |
|---|---|---|
| 5Q | Vocabulary 20 min · Grammar and reading 40 min · Listening 30 min | 80 / 180 |
| 4Q | Vocabulary 25 min · Grammar and reading 55 min · Listening 35 min | 90 / 180 |
| 3Q | Vocabulary 30 min · Grammar and reading 70 min · Listening 40 min | 95 / 180 |
| 2Q | Language knowledge and reading 105 min · Listening 50 min | 90 / 180 |
| 1Q | Language knowledge and reading 110 min · Listening 55 min | 100 / 180 |
As with the JLPT, you also need a minimum score in every scoring section, so a high total cannot make up for a very weak section. Listening times can vary slightly between levels and sessions.
NAT-TEST Centres in India
Each test site in India has its own local office, which takes registrations, collects the fee and answers questions. These are the sites listed on the official website (October 2026):
| City | Test venue / local office | Format |
|---|---|---|
| New Delhi | UNICOSMOS School, Sector 55, Gurugram | Paper |
| Mumbai | Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Kharghar (Navi Mumbai) | Paper |
| Pune | Sinhgad Institutes (NBN SSOCS), Ambegaon | Paper |
| Chennai | Meenakshi Sundararajan Engineering College; office: ABK-AOTS DOSOKAI | Paper |
| Kolkata | Jadavpur University (Main Campus) | Paper |
| Bhopal | TIT College (Technocrats Group), new in 2026 | Computer-based (CBT) |
⚠️ Sites change from year to year. Check the official list of test sites and local offices before you apply, and register only through your city's local office: the NAT-TEST charges nothing on top of the test fee.
How to Apply for NAT-TEST in India — Step by Step
NAT-TEST India Registration Flowchart
Pick a date and a city
Check the schedule below (or the latest one on nat-test.jp). Not every city holds every session, and 1Q is held only three times a year.
Contact your city's local office
Use the link for your city on nat-test.jp. The local office sends you its application form and explains how to pay.
Apply and pay before the deadline
Deadlines are about four weeks before the test, and seats can run out earlier. Your application is complete once the fee (₹2,360 including GST at the paper-test sites in 2026) has been received.
Receive your admission ticket
It arrives by post and email no later than a week before the test, with your name, examinee number, date of birth and photo. Check every detail.
Sit the test
Bring the admission ticket, a valid photo ID and HB or B pencils for the mark sheet. As a rule, 5Q and 3Q are held in the morning and 1Q, 2Q and 4Q in the afternoon.
Get your results
Every candidate receives a score report as a PDF within about three weeks; candidates who pass also get a certificate by post. Schools and employers can request an official score report for immigration.
Official Links for NAT-TEST
Official NAT-TEST Website (nat-test.jp)
About the test in English: levels, sections and how it compares with the JLPT.
Test Schedule (by country)
The current year's test days, application deadlines and which cities hold each session.
Test Sites, Local Offices and Fees
Contact details and the test fee for each site in India; register through your city's office.
NAT-TEST Sample Questions
Official sample questions, so you know the format before test day.
Who Should Take NAT-TEST (vs. JLPT)?
✅ Take NAT-TEST if you...
- Need proof of Japanese for a Japanese language school or a student visa, and can't wait for the next JLPT
- Are applying for Technical Intern Training in nursing care
- Want a full JLPT-style rehearsal under exam conditions
- Want to resit within weeks instead of waiting six months
- Have a school or employer that asked for NAT-TEST results
✅ Take JLPT if you...
- Want the most widely recognised Japanese certificate
- Are applying to Japanese universities (N2 is the usual benchmark)
- Are applying for the SSW visa (JLPT N4 or JFT-Basic)
- Want Highly Skilled Professional points (N1 adds 15, N2 adds 10)
- Are applying for jobs in India or abroad that ask for a JLPT level
NAT-TEST Exam Calendar for India (2026)
The official 2026 schedule for India (updated 31 August 2026). Bhopal's computer-based test is booked on dates the centre offers.
| Test Day | Apply By | Cities |
|---|---|---|
| 18 January | 19 December 2025 | Chennai, Kolkata |
| 8 February | 9 January | All five paper-test cities |
| 15 March | 13 February | Chennai, Kolkata |
| 5 April | 6 March | All five paper-test cities |
| 17 May | 17 April | Chennai, Kolkata |
| 14 June | 15 May | Pune, Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata |
| 12 July | 12 June | New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata |
| 16 August | 17 July | All five paper-test cities |
| 27 September | 28 August | Chennai, Kolkata |
| 18 October | 18 September | New Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Mumbai |
| 15 November | 16 October | Chennai, Kolkata |
| 13 December | 13 November | All five paper-test cities |
The 2027 dates appear on the official schedule page during the year. Confirm your session, level and deadline with your city's local office before you pay.
How to Prepare for NAT-TEST
Because the NAT-TEST follows the JLPT's syllabus and format, any JLPT material works for it, and preparing for one prepares you for the other.
- Vocabulary: 5Q expects about 750 words. LenGaki's N5 vocabulary list has 726, each with its reading, an example sentence and audio.
- Kanji: Learn the 124 N5 kanji on LenGaki's kanji pages, with readings, example words and stroke order.
- Grammar: Work through the 82 N5 grammar points in LenGaki's grammar library and path, or use Bunpro.
- Listening: Practise with NHK News Web Easy audio, JLPT and NAT-TEST sample questions, and timed listening papers.
- Mock tests: Do the official NAT-TEST samples, then a full timed JLPT-format mock: LenGaki's N5 mock exams sets 1 and 2 are free.
📝 Prepare for NAT-TEST and JLPT Together
NAT-TEST 5Q and JLPT N5 test the same skills. LenGaki's 73-lesson roadmap takes you from hiragana to N5, and its timed N5 mock exams (sets 1 and 2 free) follow the JLPT format, so the same study gets you ready for either test.
