The Kanji Kentei (Kanken) explained: 12 grades, the 70% and 80% pass marks, and what it costs in 2026
The Kanji Kentei (日本漢字能力検定, Kanken) tests how well you read, write and use kanji. It is not a test of Japanese as a foreign language like the JLPT: it is made for Japanese schoolchildren and adults, and learners of Japanese sit it as a stretch goal.
Everything below is from the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation's own pages (kanken.or.jp), read on 7 November 2026.
12 grades, from 80 kanji to about 6,000
There are 12 grades, from grade 10 (the 80 kanji of the first school year) up to grade 1 (about 6,000 kanji, including many outside the official jōyō list). There is no age limit, and you can start at any grade.
- Grade 10 / 9 / 880 / 240 / 440 kanji (end of school years 1, 2, 3)
- Grade 7 / 6 / 5642 / 835 / 1,026 kanji (end of school years 4, 5, 6)
- Grade 4 / 31,339 / 1,623 kanji (middle school; end of middle school)
- Pre-2 (準2級)1,951 kanji (high school)
- Grade 22,136 kanji: every jōyō kanji
- Pre-1 (準1級) / Grade 1about 3,000 / about 6,000 kanji
What is tested, and the pass marks
Most answers are written by hand. The foundation says the questions are mainly 記述式, written answers rather than multiple choice: readings, writing kanji, okurigana, radicals, stroke order (lower grades), antonyms and synonyms, homophones, correcting wrong kanji, and four-character compounds (yojijukugo). Grades 1 and pre-1 add proverbs and classical texts.
Pass marks (about, as the foundation states them):
Grades 1, pre-1 and 2: 80% of 200 points. Pre-2 to grade 7: 70% of 200. Grades 8, 9 and 10: 80% of 150.
Handwriting counts. The marking rules say only characters written with correct, clear strokes are marked; scrawled or broken-down characters are not. For grades 2 to 10, answers in old character forms (kyūjitai) are marked wrong.
Our reading: for a learner, grade 2 is the real milestone, because it means reading and writing every jōyō kanji. The jump from 70% at pre-2 to 80% at grade 2 makes that step harder than the kanji count alone suggests.
Paper or computer, and the 2026 fees
On paper at a public venue: three set dates a year, grades 1 to 10. The next is 14 February 2027, with registration from 4 December 2026 to 10 January 2027, first come, first served. Results go online about 30 days after the test.
Paper fees, tax included: 3,200 yen (grades 10–8), 3,700 yen (7–5), 4,200 yen (4, 3, pre-2), 5,200 yen (2), 6,200 yen (pre-1), 6,700 yen (grade 1).
By computer at a test centre (Kanken CBT): grades 2 to 7 only, on a day you choose at one of more than 200 centres in all 47 prefectures. Results arrive in about 10 days. Fees: 3,200 yen (7–5), 3,800 yen (4, 3, pre-2), 4,800 yen (2). Since the end of fiscal 2025, CBT results are issued as PDFs and a digital badge, not on paper.
The foundation says the CBT level is the same as on paper. Grades 1 and pre-1 are only held on paper at public venues. We did not check whether any venue is outside Japan.
Mistakes worth avoiding
Choosing the Kanken instead of the JLPT for a visa or a job application.
Sitting the JLPT when an employer or immigration asks for Japanese level.
The Kanken measures kanji, not overall Japanese, and is built for native speakers.
Writing quick, joined-up kanji in the answers.
Writing every stroke clearly.
The marking rules exclude scrawled or broken-down characters.
Booking a computer test for grade 1 or pre-1.
Registering for a paper session at a public venue.
Kanken CBT covers grades 2 to 7 only.
Questions
How many kanji do you need for Kanji Kentei grade 2?
All 2,136 jōyō kanji.
What is the pass mark of the Kanji Kentei?
About 80% of 200 for grades 1, pre-1 and 2; about 70% of 200 for pre-2 to grade 7; about 80% of 150 for grades 8 to 10.
How much does the Kanji Kentei cost?
On paper in 2026, from 3,200 yen (grades 10 to 8) to 6,700 yen (grade 1), tax included. By computer, 3,200 to 4,800 yen for grades 7 to 2.
When is the next Kanji Kentei on paper?
14 February 2027. Registration runs from 4 December 2026 to 10 January 2027.
Is the Kanji Kentei the same as the JLPT?
No. The JLPT tests Japanese as a foreign language; the Kanken tests kanji knowledge and is designed for native speakers.
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