According to
http://www.jlpt.jp/e/index.html, JLPT will be revised from 2009.
(Japanese version :
http://www.jees.or.jp/jlpt/pdf/20080525 ... 1_0718.pdf)
Summary
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) has become a large scale event, attracted some 524,000 examinees in 2007. During this time, there have beenmany requests for revision and a variety of issues were pointed out.
The work of revising the test began in 2004.
A new and revised test pattern, originally scheduled to be implemented from December 2009, has been postponed until 2010.
The tests will be offered twice a year in Japan, China, Korea, and Taiwan: July and December becasue these regions have strong demand to do it. This will be effected in 2009. The July test will be offered for levels 1 and 2 only (or N1 and N2 from December 2010).
The revised test will consist of five levels: N1, N2, N3, N4, and N5, with N1 being the highest level and N5 the easiest.
N1: generally the same as the original level 1; however, slightly more advanced
N2: the same as the original level 2
N3: in between the original level 2 and level 3
N4: the same as the original level 3
N5: the same as the original level 4
The revised test shall continue to test the same categories as the original. It shall not test oral or writing skills.
