JLPT answer leak results in tests being invalidated

A suspected leak of answers for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test has culminated in a number of participants results being invalidated.

On the 28th of March 2025, it was revealed that a significant number of individuals who took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test, a crucial requirement for foreigners seeking residence status and employment in Japan, have had their test results deemed inconclusive, preventing a clear determination of passing or failing.

Some participants will likely need to retake their tests if their results were deemed “inconclusive”

This situation arose from a test administered in December of the previous year. An individual with knowledge of the matter, closely associated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, disclosed the information publicly.

The Japan Foundation, an independent administrative institution responsible for conducting the test overseas, explained that there was a “statistically extremely unnatural concentration of identical answers” observed in the results.

It is believed that this anomaly occurred because the test was administered in China prior to its administration in other countries, leading to the dissemination of answer information via social media.

The answers are suspected to have been leaked on social media in China

The problem was specifically identified in the “N2” test, a level that is often required for university entrance. The test is a multiple-choice examination, with over 230,000 applicants from both Japan and overseas.

The affected test was administered on December 1st 2024 and according to Japan Educational Exchanges and Services, a public interest incorporated foundation that administers the test domestically, they were unable to assess the results of participants both in Japan and other foreign countries.

Example questions are available online but the actual exam questions are supposed to be kept secret

In response to this issue, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an instruction to the foundation in late January of this year, mandating the implementation of measures to prevent any future occurrences of this nature.

The Japan Foundation has stated that it has not identified any instances of deliberate fraudulent activity, however, the foundation has not disclosed the precise number of test-takers whose results have been deemed inconclusive.

With the increasing trend of accepting foreign talent into Japan, the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is gaining heightened importance, as the number of test-takers continues to rise.

This incident is likely to result in increased scrutiny of the test’s administration and operational procedures going forward.

Source: Kyodo