Japanese Language Proficiency Test

[ParaParaJMo2]

Well, I am thinking of taking the level 2 in December. I know it is offered in Japan throughout the country many times a year. I have been meaning to take it, but I am always busy and I do move around a lot but I am hoping of taking it. My friend took the level 1 back in July and it was his second attempt and he passed by 1 point. Our Japanese is the same, but I want to take the level 2 first. If I pass that, then I will take level 1.

It tests reading comprehension, listening, kanji, and grammar and there are 5 levels. Level 3 is way too easy for me so I will take level 2.

Have any of you taken it? What level? How did you do?

I heard level 1 is a killer and is very hard, but my friend who passed really studied hard. Living near Tokyo, I can take classes in preparation for the test, but costs money 悲. But I do want to take those prep courses for level 1, but I am sure I can do level 2 on my own.

受けるどうかはまだ決めてないけど、もし受けたことがある人の経験を聞きたい

[Heedz]

Too much Kanji for me to take Level 1 :/ If I studied nonstop I could probably pass it but, to be honest you gotta be able to read newspapers for Level 1. How proficient are you? I mean I see you live in Saitama so. BTW I attended 2-6 in Akabane lol.

[AzureDark]

I'm taking N1 this year...

[ParaParaJMo2]

i read the newspaper at my work and read news sites all the time. so i guess i could take the level 1.

[Akio-sempai]

ive been self studying japanese for about a year but cant read very much kanji yet. only a few simple words. good luck tho. がんばてだよ!

[RyuTama]

I would fail miserably. :L I'd probably ace L5 and maybe L4 but I doubt any of the others. My kanji knowledge is terrible. Definitely gonna improve before I plan any sort of arrangements there though, and I'm currently helping my nephew along as he's studying on Rosetta Stone. So who knows? I may stand a chance with L1 in a year or two. きっとがんばろう！

[alisaallthat]

Hrm, I could probably do somewhat well as far as Kanji goes. I know a lot of Kanji, but I can't write it to save my life.

Being a lyrics person requires knowing lots of Kanji, lol. I'm thinking of getting Rosetta Stone soon (yay!), so my horrible sentence skills should probably get polished.

[ParaParaJMo]

Unfortunately, due to my heavy busy schedule with work and my personal life, I cannot pursue the time to intensively study for the test though I use Japanese in my daily life. But I would like the certification to get new translation jobs, but my current job kills me from doing so. What a friggin cycle.

まあ、社会で勉強していいだと思うけど、試験の条件で準備した方がいいな。

[AzureDark]

If you're sitting for JLPT, good luck for today guys! Remember, we have a 24-hour NDA after the test...

[animeyay]

I could study for a bit and give JLPT level 1 a try, but since I'm not planning on utilizing Japanese in my future career, I'm not going to waste the money lol.

---------- Post added at 06:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:02 PM ----------

If you're sitting for JLPT, good luck for today guys! Remember, we have a 24-hour NDA after the test...

試験に合格したかどうか、後でぜひお知らせくださいね^^

[ParaParaJMo]

受けたけど、一週間の前まで忘れてしまって、勉強しなかった　笑。わけは色々で忙しかったから だ　悲。

[Nephthys]

how much does it cost for the test anyway?

[abyisidro]

i plan on taking N5 this december. well, i dont have any choice cause we're required to take jlpt in my course. but it makes so nervous that i want to shift courses. :/oh, by the way, im not living in japan

[kenneth_ooi_kenneth]

how much does it cost for the test anyway?

It costs 5500 yen if you're taking it in Japan, but if you're taking the test overseas I think you have to check with your country's Japan Foundation website or something regarding the cost.

Anyway, I took Level 1 in 2010, the year that the JLPT changed to the new version, and it WAS a killer. But according to friends who have taken Level 1 more recently, it appears that N1 has gotten easier over the years, though I'm not sure about the reliability of that information.

If you're deciding on taking Level 1 though, I would strongly recommend the Nihongo So-matome series of books for studying, since they present the most common words/grammatical structures that appear in the test in a very systematic way.

[ParaParaJMo]

Well, my buddy passed level 1 by one point lol

[kenneth_ooi_kenneth]

Well, my buddy passed level 1 by one point lol

Hmm... Was that in 2010?

[ParaParaJMo]

no, just last year

[Wio]

@ParaParaJMo May I ask what your motive for taking the test is? Would it be helpful for career goals?

[ParaParaJMo]

pretty much and to test my japanese abilities though i do no call it a 100% fair assessment. it doesnt test your conversational skills and (thank god in my case) handwriting

[kenneth_ooi_kenneth]

JLPT also doesn't test essay writing skills, that's for sure. I can't really think of any exam that tests reading/speaking/writing/listening all at the same time though. AP Japanese comes close, but the standard of the test is way below the standard for Level 2/1 of the JLPT. And the EJU doesn't test speaking, though I felt that it was a way more grueling test than Level 1 of JLPT after sitting for it.

[ParaParaJMo]

We didn't have AP Japanese when I was younger. Wishing I did though.