Best JLPT books for each level (2026)
Most learners need two books per level: one that teaches (a course book or a grammar book) and one real test to rehearse with. Here is where we would start at each level. Each level page compares all our picks.
| Level | Start with | Other picks | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|
| N5 | Genki I (3rd ed.) ↗If you are starting from kana or close to it | Try! N5, Official Practice Workbook N5 Vol. 2 | N5 books → |
| N4 | Genki II (3rd ed.) ↗If you finished Genki I and are still learning N4 grammar | Try! N4, Shin Kanzen Master N4 Grammar, Official Practice Workbook N4 Vol. 2 | N4 books → |
| N3 | Shin Kanzen Master N3 Grammar ↗If you know N4 well and want the most exam-style drills | Try! N3, Nihongo So-matome N3 Grammar, Official Practice Workbook N3 Vol. 2 | N3 books → |
| N2 | Shin Kanzen Master N2 Grammar ↗If you passed N3 and want the most thorough grammar book | Shin Kanzen Master N2 Reading, Try! N2, Nihongo So-matome N2 Grammar | N2 books → |
| N1 | Shin Kanzen Master N1 Grammar ↗If you passed N2 and want the most thorough grammar book | Shin Kanzen Master N1 Reading, Try! N1, Official Practice Workbook N1 Vol. 2 | N1 books → |
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Shin Kanzen Master, Try! or So-matome?
- Shin Kanzen Master (3A): the most thorough, with drills in the exam's own formats. Explanations are mostly in Japanese.
- Try! (Ask): each grammar point taught in a short scene, with English explanations. Easiest to self-study.
- So-matome (Ask): short daily units arranged week by week, for learners with little time.
- Official practice workbooks: one full test made from real past questions, with audio. Best saved for a timed rehearsal near exam day.
How we pick
- Each pick has to fit the exam level it is listed under and be in print on amazon.com. We open every link and match the title and edition.
- We list who each book suits, not a ranking. The right book depends on how much English you want and how much time you have.
- Books do not replace practice in the exam's format. Pair them with our free practice tests and the timed mock.
- No publisher pays to be listed. We earn a small commission when you buy through these links, at no cost to you.
JLPT Practice Test is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the JLPT administering organizations or the publishers listed here.