The Japan Kanji Aptitude Test (日本漢字能力検定試験, Nihon Kanji Nōryoku Kentei Shiken?), also known as Kanji Kentei (漢字検定?), or Kanken (漢検?), is a test of kanji ability.
There are 12 levels (levels 10 through 3, pre-2, 2, pre-1 and 1) with level 10 being the easiest and level 1 the most difficult. The test examines ability to read and write kanji, to understand their meanings and use them correctly in sentences, and to identify correct stroke order. It was developed for native Japanese speakers.
Native speakers pass levels 10 through 7 at better than an 80% rate, whereas level 1 is so difficult that fewer than two thousand people take it each time it is offered, and fewer than 15% of those examinees pass. A college-educated native speaker of average ability could be expected to pass level pre-2 with a slight amount of studying.
For levels 10 through 8, the test is 40 minutes long. For levels 7 through 1, it is 60 minutes long. A 70% score is required to pass levels 7 through pre-2, and all other levels require an 80% score.
Levels 10 through 4, children from kindergarten to elementary school ages (up to 12 year olds) are the main examinees. From level 3, they are the levels where high schoolers and also grownups start to take tests.
Level 2 is the maximum point where many Japanese even with higher education bother to take. Therefore having level 2 is a plus and an advantage in such as hiring, pre-1 and 1 are something special.