Questions about J-STANDARD

J-STANDARD is a self-paced online platform for JLPT preparation, built by Coto Academy and Teratomo. Each JLPT level is a complete course that brings grammar, vocabulary, kanji, listening and reading practice together in one structured path, so you always know what to study next. It runs in your browser — with a mobile app on the way — at your own pace, wherever you are.

You pick the JLPT level you are preparing for and work through that course from start to finish. The material is broken into short units that combine explanation and practice — grammar, vocabulary, listening, reading and typing drills — with quizzes along the way so you can see what has stuck and what needs another pass. Your progress saves automatically, so you can stop whenever you like and pick up where you left off.

Most Japanese learning apps are built to keep you engaged. J-STANDARD is built to get you through an exam. It was made by a Japanese language school, so the material follows a real teaching sequence rather than a stream of disconnected exercises, and every level maps to what the JLPT actually tests. If you want a daily streak, there are better apps. If you want the certificate, this is the more direct route.

They solve different problems. Coto Academy classes are built around speaking, listening and using Japanese with a teacher and classmates in real time. J-STANDARD is built around passing the JLPT: self-paced, exam-focused, and on your own schedule. Plenty of learners use both — classes for the ability to speak, J-STANDARD for the certificate.

Yes, and the two work well together. Coto classes build the ability to speak and understand Japanese in real situations; J-STANDARD covers the exam material systematically at your own pace. Many students use classes during the week and J-STANDARD for exam preparation in the run-up to July and December.

J-STANDARD currently covers N5, N4 and N3, with N2 in development. Each level is its own course, so you study the level you are actually preparing for and move up when you are ready.

Yes. The N5 course is built for people at the very start of their Japanese studies and assumes no previous classroom experience. It moves in small steps and tells you exactly what to do next, which is where most self-taught beginners get stuck. If you are completely new to the writing system, start with our free beginner resources and the dedicated hiragana and katakana section.

No. If you are starting from zero, begin with the N5 course — it is a first step into Japanese, not a review. If you have studied before and are not sure where you fit, the JLPT level descriptions on the site are the quickest way to place yourself.

That is what it was built for. Each course follows the grammar, vocabulary and kanji actually tested at that level, and the listening and reading practice is written in the format you will meet on exam day. It was designed by a school that has been preparing students for the JLPT for over 20 years.

Yes. There is a dedicated section for hiragana and katakana if you are starting from scratch, and kanji is taught level by level, from N5 all the way up to N1.

J-STANDARD is a test-preparation platform, so it focuses on the four skills the JLPT measures: vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening. It does not include speaking practice. If you want to build conversation ability alongside your exam prep, Coto Academy offers online and in-person lessons that pair well with it.

Yes. Your completed units and quiz results are recorded as you go, so you can see how far through the level you are and where your weak points are before the exam.

That depends far more on your consistency than on the platform. As a realistic benchmark, learners who study steadily most days can work through N5 in around three months — roughly 800 words, basic grammar and about 100 kanji, enough to handle simple everyday exchanges. Higher levels take longer, because the volume grows at every step.

One JLPT level costs $180 for a year of access — $15 a month, billed annually. There is also a three-month option at $69 if you want a shorter commitment. Both give you the complete course for that level, with nothing held back behind extra purchases.

Complete access to one JLPT level: every lesson, drill and practice quiz for that level, plus progress tracking. Nothing is locked behind add-ons or extra purchases. If you are studying more than one level, you subscribe to each level separately.

Yes — 14 days, no credit card required. Explore the platform and start studying before you decide whether to subscribe.

There is no monthly plan. You choose either three months of access for $69 or a full year for $180. The annual price is shown as $15 a month to make it easier to compare, but it is billed once for the year.

You can pay by major credit or debit card. The full list of accepted payment methods is shown at checkout.

If you are learning as part of a group, a school or a company, we can look at special pricing. Email sales@jstandard.jp with the number of learners and the levels you need, and we will come back to you.

Go to jstandard.jp, choose the JLPT level you want to study, and create an account with your email address. You can start with the free trial and add payment details later, when you decide to continue.

You can cancel at any time from your account settings. Subscriptions renew automatically, so cancel at least 24 hours before your renewal date to avoid being charged for the next period. After cancelling, you keep access until the end of the period you have already paid for.

Annual subscriptions can be refunded in full within 7 days of purchase, provided you have accessed no more than 20% of the course content. If you were charged for a renewal without being notified, contact us within 7 days and we will review it. To request a refund, email support@jstandard.jp with your order details.

Your progress is kept. If you subscribe again later, you pick up exactly where you left off.

Subscriptions cannot be paused. You can cancel at any time and subscribe again later — your progress is kept in the meantime.

Yes. You can upgrade or change your plan at any time from your account.

Use the “Forgot my password” link on the login screen and follow the instructions from there.

J-STANDARD runs in a web browser, so it works on a laptop, desktop, tablet or phone with nothing to install. Longer study sessions are more comfortable on a larger screen, especially for reading practice and typing drills.

Not yet. J-STANDARD is a web platform today and works in your phone’s browser — a dedicated mobile app is on the way.

Not at the moment. J-STANDARD needs an internet connection, as lessons and progress load as you study.

The interface is currently available in English only.

You can reach our support team from inside the platform, or by email at support@jstandard.jp.

Yes. Companies use J-STANDARD to give their staff structured Japanese training that fits around work, with an admin dashboard for tracking how teams are progressing. It suits Japan-based teams and overseas offices working with Japanese colleagues, since everything is self-paced and remote.

Answer to rewrite before publishing — the text currently in the spreadsheet for this question is a copy-paste of “What is included in a subscription?” and does not describe the dashboard.

Progress is recorded automatically as your employees study, so the dashboard always reflects where they are — there is nothing for them to submit. For each learner you can see the percentage of the course completed, the unit they are on, time spent studying, practice averages and unit exam scores.

The dashboard also groups your team into progress bands so you can see at a glance how many are on track, and highlights learners who have fallen behind, so managers can step in early rather than at the end of the year.

Go to jstandard.jp and use the contact button at the bottom of the page. Tell us how many learners you have and which levels they need, and we will send you a quote.