What is GCSE？

General Certificate of Secondary Education, the qualifications that 15 and 16 year olds in the UK take at the end of Year 11. GCSE Japanese is roughly the same level as JLPT N5.

When is the exam？

Summer every year

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• Timetable for 2024 Summer​

• The speaking exam period: 15 April –17 May 2024. The date will be decided by the school.

GCSE Key information

• ​Listening, Speaking, Reading and Writing tests 

• The level and topics are the same as other MFLs taught in schools

• Foundation Tier (1-5) and Higher Tier (1-9)

• 120 guided lesson hours + Revision

• Speaking examiner will be required​

Administrative details

• GCSE Japanese Information and FAQ

How to communicate with your school about the exam, a rough timeline for the administrative procedures, how to find a speaking examiner so on.

Study plan example

• 2 hrs/week x 3 years - Foundation Tier

• 3 hrs/week x 3-4 years - Higher Tier

It includes lesson time for those taking private tuition. If you are taught at school, you have roughly 300 study hours including lessons, homework and revision time.​​​

Is it worth taking GCSE Japanese?

All that matters is whether you want to take the exam for your record. It is also a good idea to study without taking the exams so that you can concentrate on what you want to learn. Whatever path you take, your passion for learning Japanese will lead you to a great future.

GCSE vs JLPT

• ​JLPT does not require output skills such as speaking and writing.

• JLPT is useful if you want to work using Japanese language skills or study in Japan.

• JLPT N5 requires more grammar than GCSE.

• GCSE Foundation is the halfway point of JLPT N5 and those who reach GCSE Higher can progress immediately to JLPT N5 or N4. 

• GCSE listening test is easier than JLPT N5.

• Kanji for GCSE Higher is 200, Foundation is 76. Kanji for N5 is around 100 and N4 is 350.

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Normally I wouldn't recommend the JLPT to teenagers because the vocabulary is more for 18+. Learning general Japanese is more beneficial than preparing for the JLPT exam until then, in my opinion. JLPT is flexible in terms of the timing. You can try whenever you are fully ready in the future.