JLPT December 6, 2026 — 25 days left
Updated: 2026-11-09
The December 2026 JLPT takes place on Sunday, December 6. That is 25 days from today (calculated live on this page, Japan time). To cover N3 vocabulary (1,652 words in the Shikken list) starting today, you need about 67 new words a day. Starting from zero — all of N5 to N3, 2,961 words — it is about 119 a day.
As of November 11, 2026: 25 days left
New words per day, by level
The table counts only the words of that level — assuming you already know the levels below.
| Start date | Days left | N5 | N4 | N3 | N2 | N1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 677 words | 632 words | 1,652 words | 1,739 words | 3,043 words | ||
| November 11 | 25 days | 28/day | 26/day | 67/day | 70/day | 122/day |
| November 1 | 35 days | 20/day | 19/day | 48/day | 50/day | 87/day |
| November 15 | 21 days | 33/day | 31/day | 79/day | 83/day | 145/day |
From zero (N5 upward): N4 1,309 · N3 2,961 · N2 4,700 · N1 7,743 words. Starting today, that is 119 words a day for N3 and 188 for N2.
Why new words are not the whole load
Words you learn come back for review, and reviews take time. In Shikken’s simulation (a model, not yet measured on real users), the rule of thumb is about one new word per minute of daily study: 30 words a day ≈ 30 minutes a day.
Can vocabulary alone pass the JLPT?
No. Each section has a minimum score (19/60 for N1–N3); fail one and you fail the exam regardless of your total. But you cannot read or hear words you don’t know — vocabulary underpins every section.
Word counts per level, and why lists disagree: How many words do you need for JLPT N3?
FAQ
When is the December 2026 JLPT?
Sunday, December 6, 2026.
Can I learn N3 vocabulary in two months?
If you already know N5–N4, N3 adds 1,652 new words. Over two months (about 60 days), that is about 28 a day — roughly 30 minutes a day including reviews (model estimate).
What if I won't make it?
Focus on the most frequent words, add minutes per day, or aim for the July 2027 exam.
Also on this site: How many words for N3 · Pass score calculator · Word lists N5–N1 (CSV)