JLPT stands for Japanese Language Proficiency Test. It is a standardised test taken all over the world to evaluate your level of Japanese, apart from a degree in Japanese this is generally the only test recognised by Japanese employers, its government, and
universities. It is held twice a year, once in December and once in July, in a number of countries. It is split in 5 levels with level 5, called N5, representing a basic
understanding of the language and N1 an advanced
understanding.