Tomorrow, foreigners from all over the world, from China to Mars, will be sitting for the Japanese Proficiency Test.
I emphasize the word "sitting." Some will be actively marking answers to their tests, while others, mostly those from Mars, will be sitting staring at the "kanji" characters as they swirl into different patterns, mainly plaid and herringbone. These students may find themselves in a trance as previously familiar characters suddenly sprout extra strokes or a tiny glob that allows the kanji to take on an entirely new meaning, such as the difference between water and ice. If you are one of the ones from Mars, it is only then that you'll realize you should have boned up on your globs.
The Japanese Proficiency Test has four levels, the lowest level being Level 4 and the highest Level 1. Let's take a look at what these levels mean.