N5 proves you can handle everyday Japanese at a basic level: hiragana/katakana fluency, foundation grammar, around 1,000 common words, and roughly a hundred kanji. Here’s a practical way to get there without burning out.

What the test checks

Basic vocabulary and expressions
Beginner grammar and sentence patterns
Short reading passages
Everyday listening (announcements, simple dialogs)

You’ll sit three parts: Language Knowledge (vocab/grammar), Reading, and Listening. The goal at N5 is accuracy on familiar patterns and vocabulary you’ve actually seen before.

JLPT N5 at a glance (what actually shows up)

Language Knowledge: kana familiarity, common particles (は・が・を・に・へ・で・と), polite forms (ます／です), basic conjugations (past/negative/te‑form), counters, time expressions.
Reading: short notices, schedules, simple conversations, signs, and very short paragraphs. Questions test scanning for specific info and matching simple paraphrases.
Listening: short exchanges, announcements, and everyday questions. Audio is slower than natural speech but still rewards predicting the answer before you hear the final line.

8–10 week study plan (working adult pace)

Use five short study blocks on weekdays (25–40 minutes each), then one longer session on the weekend.

Kana fluency and pronunciation (week 1)
- Write and read all kana in isolation and in words.
- Shadow simple audio daily to build sound–spelling mapping.
Core grammar and patterns (weeks 1–6)
- Learn 2–3 grammar points per day with 2–3 example sentences each.
- Turn examples into your own mini‑sentences.
Vocabulary via SRS (weeks 1–10)
- Add 15–25 new words/day; review daily. Keep cards short and clear.
Kanji recognition + stroke order (weeks 2–10)
- Aim for 8–12 new kanji/day; write a few by hand for memory.
Listening little‑and‑often (weeks 1–10)
- 10–15 min/day of slow dialogs; shadow 2–3 lines you can understand.

Weekend: one mock section (Reading or Listening), fix weak spots, and pre‑learn the next week’s grammar list.

Optional week‑by‑week outline (sample)

Week 1: Kana mastery, polite forms, basic particles, numbers/counters.
Week 2: Te‑form usage (requests, sequences), location/existence (に／で／ある／いる), daily routines.
Week 3: Past/negative forms, adjectives (い／な), comparisons, likes/dislikes.
Week 4: Invitations/offers, purposes (～に行く／～ために), time/place questions.
Week 5: Descriptions with nouns/verbs (の, こと, とき), simple reasons (から／ので).
Week 6: Permissions/prohibitions (てもいい／てはいけない), plans (つもり／予定), requests.
Week 7: Review cycle + first full mock sections; tighten weak areas.
Week 8–10: Consolidation, more reading/listening, maintain vocab/kanji pace.

Daily mini‑routine (35–45 minutes)

10 min: SRS reviews (vocab + kanji)
10 min: New grammar (2 points) + 4 self‑made example sentences
10 min: Kanji practice (8–12 new or review), include stroke order
5–10 min: Listening + shadowing

Alternate version for busy days (20–25 minutes): 8 min reviews → 7 min grammar → 5 min kanji → 5 min listening.

Grammar milestones (examples you can produce)

Polite present/past/negative (食べます／食べました／食べません)
Te‑form chaining (朝ご飯を食べて、学校に行きます。)
Location and existence (机の上に本があります。猫がいます。)
Requests/invitations (いっしょに行きませんか。手伝ってください。)
Reasons (雨だから、家にいます。)

Write short, true sentences about your day. Speak them out loud. Keep a running note of patterns that feel slow.

Kanji that stick: components and stroke order

Group kanji by shared parts and drill stroke order briefly so shapes don’t blur:

日 → 明 → 晴 (sun component)
木 → 林 → 森 (tree → woods → forest)
口 → 右／左 (mouth component appears in many early kanji)

Write each 2–3 times while saying the reading and meaning. Recognition improves when your hand knows the form.

Reading that matches N5

Short notices, schedules, simple conversations, kana‑heavy texts.
Read out loud; circle particles and verb endings to reinforce grammar.
Summarize a tiny paragraph in one simple Japanese sentence.

Listening micro‑drills

Predict the last line from the question stem.
Shadow one sentence at a time; aim for rhythm more than speed.
Replay and write what you hear (dictation) for 2–3 lines.

Mock practice and pacing

Do one timed section per weekend from official sample questions.
Track: items wrong by reason (grammar gap, vocab unknown, speed).
Close gaps during the week; don’t just do more tests.
Build a tiny “error bank” deck from your mistakes (1–2 cards per error).

Common pitfalls to avoid

Overbuilding decks: bloated flashcards slow you down. Keep cards small.
Ignoring listening: 10 good minutes daily beats a long weekly binge.
No handwriting at all: a little stroke‑order practice improves recognition.

Resources

Official JLPT sample questions (Reading/Listening)
Graded readers at N5 level; beginner dialogs with transcripts
Core N5 vocab lists with audio; kanji lists with stroke order

Metrics to track

Review time/day (≤ 20–30m); accuracy trend
Unknown words per 1,000 in practice readings
First‑pass listening accuracy on short dialogs
Grammar points you can produce without notes (self‑check weekly)

How Kanji Koi helps at N5

Guided stroke‑order animations: see and copy the form to lock recognition.
Adaptive SRS decks: add 15–25/day and keep reviews manageable.
Component‑based kanji groups: learn families like 木 → 林 → 森 together.
Interactive practice: quick drawing exercises + audio for core vocabulary.
Offline access: keep your daily streak even without internet.

Use Kanji Koi to tie grammar examples to vocabulary you’re actually learning, and to log your daily practice time. Short, consistent sessions compound quickly.

FAQ

Q: How many new items/day?
- A: 15–25 words; 8–12 kanji; 2 grammar points with examples.
Q: Should I handwrite at N5?
- A: A little daily—helps lock in recognition and form.
Q: Do I need native‑speed listening now?
- A: No. Start with clear, slow dialogs; build accuracy first.

Low‑key tip: if kanji feels sticky, a few minutes of guided stroke order often unlocks recognition.