JLPT discussion thread

[alek_31]

Hi guys!

I've been thinking of taking the JLPT at the end of this year, level 2 (3kyu), but I can't find the tests anywhere. I tried the main site, but I think my registration failed or something..not quite sure what happened.

Does anyone know where I can get the tests 1991-2007 for 3kyu and 4kyu?

I also looked for some books, but no luck there. If you know a publication for these tests, it would be of great help.

Thanks

PS: Level 1 (4kyu) is fairly simple, once you've mastered the basic rules+ first 100 kanji+basic vocabulary. The listening part isnt that hard :D (looks like I'm trying to bait more people into taking the plunge with me :uhh:)

[hColleen]

http://www.japanprobe.com/?p=5410

http://www.jflalc.org/?act=tpt&id=25

http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/staff/M.Rowley/resources.html

These look like they should help some.

[hazyjazy]

And just to add some kanji help, for those who want to learn the kanji regardless of the levels... it also helps you review, check out this website: http://kanji.koohii.com/ I'm up to about the 80th kanji after a week and I've been taking it slowly.

It's all broken into 54 lessons and you make up your own stories- the Heisig way. Then in the review page you can decide how many you want to review. The unfortunate thing is that it doesn't come with the readings, but to expand on what I said, you can enter your own stories or information.

[avalon2193]

:Sesshomaru2:
hazyjazy thanks so much for the link to the kanji site.
after hearing about your sucess in learning kanji, I really want to try to learn kanji.
Thanks again.
:bow:

[Hikari]

Hey, although it`s like..a year ago, how did you go with the JLPT test? Did you take the test for 4級 too? O.O
If you`re planning to take the test again this year there are books for sale for previous tests and mock tests..actually there is quite a wide variety, but only at major bookstores...most probably at the bookstore where you bought the application form?

for example 日本語能力試験3・4(or 1・2)級試験問題と正解 is published by the company who is running the test. This is just past exams and answers (I think ><;
If you want explanations for grammar and the like there are books like 実力アップ!日本語能力試験3級 文法編...
There are other books like mock exam ones as well.
For online sites...I have no idea >< I`m sorry, well if you are planning to take it this year as well then I`ll go look for some though (as well as books if you wanted to buy them?)

But since you took 3級 last year you probably want 2級 ones aye? x]
Anyways hope it went well last year and good luck for this year if you`re planning to take it again : )

[alek_31]

LOL! I managed to find them eventually ^_^
I only took 4 last year bcs I was poorly prepared and I didn't want to mess things up; I'm taking 3 in December (bcs I didn't know you could take it in July as well starting this year)...yeah...it's been one of those years ::sobs

[Dante]

Whaaa I know roughly about 600 kanji and enough rules to make my head spin, and I still don't feel ready for such a feat! I wish you guys all the luck in the world, and do post how it went, and how hard/easy it was.

[alek_31]

Whaaa I know roughly about 600 kanji and enough rules to make my head spin, and I still don't feel ready for such a feat! I wish you guys all the luck in the world, and do post how it went, and how hard/easy it was.

The key in these tests is to do and re-do the test for the level you want to take and previous levels: ex - for 3kyu, first you do the 4kyu to make sure you understand the system, then you do and re-do the 3kyu; there are other books to work by, but all materials needed for this test are on jlpt.biz

[Hikari]

Hey, sorry, I havent been able to get on since there was a heap of exams that came up suddenly...well...not exactly suddenly, but forgot when they were so it was pretty sudden when i found out they were to start the following day...== *shudders x]

Anyways, sorry that was like fully off topic..><;
So I take it last year`s test went well since you`re taking it a level up?? Congrats : )
Good luck in 2 weeks time!..although I don`t think you`ll need it x] Can`t believe there`s only 2 weeks left...it`s going wayy too fast...not enough time to study!!>< lols
Oh, where are you taking the test at?? Ahh, what a shame. I didn`t know that they had on in July as well until my friend told me like...2 months after the test...==;

[alek_31]

Hey, sorry, I havent been able to get on since there was a heap of exams that came up suddenly...well...not exactly suddenly, but forgot when they were so it was pretty sudden when i found out they were to start the following day...== *shudders x]

Anyways, sorry that was like fully off topic..><;
So I take it last year`s test went well since you`re taking it a level up?? Congrats : )
Good luck in 2 weeks time!..although I don`t think you`ll need it x] Can`t believe there`s only 2 weeks left...it`s going wayy too fast...not enough time to study!!>< lols
Oh, where are you taking the test at?? Ahh, what a shame. I didn`t know that they had on in July as well until my friend told me like...2 months after the test...==;

Yup, last year went pretty well, I got 93%; I'm hoping for a good result this year as well - I already went through all the necessary material in July, all I need now is practice. I also didn't know that there was another in July (I studied for a scholarship exam and I needed 3kyu level knowledge for that)

Good luck!

[Hikari]

I`m sorryyyy, once again, my reply is as slow as ever..xp
Anywayss,
Woah! Niceeee! @@ You went great last year! congratss!! O.O
Dont worry~ You have my full confidence that you`ll pass with flying colors like last year n_n)o haha, seriously.
me on the other hand should be hoping...although it will get me nowhere..*sighs
...I`m always way too under prepared...
started to study like...last week ><;
I need to start learning how to study...
it`s not that I don`t like it...I just dont know how to...ToT
please teach mee!! *cries...T-T
besides from that dont really have that much time x]
my school is open EVERY day of the week, seriously, it`s like never closed haha
and i leave school after 8 everyday so i get home at 9.30 at the earliest...==

O.O! ooohhh, what kind of scholarship??
...sorry stupid question, `needed 3kyu level knowledge`..japanese of course...
what for? exchange? job?...school?? anyways good luck for that~ : )

where did you take the test at? and where is that thanks button? o.o i cant seem to find it...gahhh...seriously blind mannn...need...glassessss....@@!!
sorry for all the questionsss ><

thanks in advance...until i can find the button...==

[alek_31]

I took the exam 3rd level on Sunday and I think I did OK.
The scholarship is for Study&Research - Management 2 years.

As for study tips, for me the best way to study for this exam is to actually do the tests given in previous years; they're on the official site
jlpt.biz
Also, you have there grammar, vocab, kanji needed for every level (99% complete info - changes take place every year, so it's hard to have a full database).
First, you start with the kanji (writing them down on post-its and dinding them together, so you can read them on the bus, subway, whenever you have time - it's better fot eh format to be smaller, that way it's more comfortable to use); if you have an mp3 player, list all the choukai (listening part) on it and listen to them when you have time (class breaks, even before you go to sleep); the grammar part is a bit difficult, but if you have a good Japanese teacher, then ask him/her about the details for the grammar parts.
Then, practice practice PRACTICE, Re-do the tests until you can't stand them anymore and you know each and every question (it's an exaggeration, but you should re-do them at least 3-4 times).
This method worked for me, but that doesn't mean it will work for everyone. The best thing is to combine ideas and develop your particular way of studying Japanese. If you love the language (and I think it goes for any language) then it comes naturally ^_^

[Hikari]

Ahh, thanks for the tips~(n_n)v
They`re really helpful~ : )
How long have you been studying Japanese for anyway? O.O
I take it you`ll be taking the test next year as well?

Yeh, I did some of the past papers and also bought a book with practice tests..
but didn`t go too well at that...epic fail. *cries
Oh and I heard that after this time`s one it`s going to change?
Like they`re adding in a new one in between 2 and 3 and some changes to the actual test are going to occur too?? I don`t really remember but it was something along those lines? x]

Ah, btw I took the test at Okayama University, what about you?

[alek_31]

I've been studying Japanese for 2 years now (it'll be 2 years in February). I'm hoping for Hokkaido - nothing is certain yet.
The test is changing in 2010: there will be 5 levels
1. There will be five levels on a new scale, but most of them will correspond roughly to the current levels.
2. Level 1 will increase in difficulty and they will insert a level in between the current Level 2 and 3.
3. The current format will be available in Dec. 2008, July 2009 (Level 1 and 2 only), and Dec. 2009. The new format will begin in July 2010 (N1 and N2 only).
4. They will stop publishing past tests and official test questions.
It also appears that starting with 2010 the test may include a new type of exercise: Kanji writing - testing the ability of the examinee to accurately reproduce kanji. Also, they may have a new part included in the exam - speaking.

[cynsny]

Oh No! That's not good. I can't write English legibly. Kanji writing, though I can recreate some, is a frightening thing. I guess I will not be sitting for any exams while I am here. I briefly thought about sitting for #4.