If I take the JLPT in Dec, I’ll only take it if I’m ready for the N3 test, skipping N5 and N4. I figure a year of hard studying with a goal in mind should be enough for that.
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Planning to give N4 this July as my first JLPT in Delhi, India.
Not quite confident as of now but working towards it certainly f^_^;
Can probably fair well i think provided i get my reading/listening skills up to par till then.
Would love to hear some tips from you veterans out there 
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If I remember to register before September to take the December exam in time… I will try and take N2. I’ve never taken a language proficiency test, but I am currently at level N3 concerning grammar, vocab and general proficiency, so if I will work hard I believe I can do it!
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From what I heard from people who’ve taken the N1/2, was to immerse yourself in listening to 日本語 as much as possible, such as wearing headphones with 日本語 podcasts playing on subjects you’re interested in for multiple hours each day while you are doing other things, like cooking or walking.
They said the listening portion is always the hardest because of the speaker systems echoing in the exam rooms and having to listen over the noises the other exam takers make.
By listening to native speakers all the time and parsing their words while doing something else, you’ll have an easier time focusing on the test paper while the recording is playing over the speakers.
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I want to take N4 this summer. I haven’t taken any JLPT yet but I’m not someone who always needs to “win” and I’d rather take the N4 and base my future study goals off of any weak spots there than do great on the N5 and just go “well duh.”
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Good luck to those taking jlpt!
Is it possible to not take certain levels? I was planning to take N5, but if i could just take N3 (at a later time) and skip having to take 2 levels that’ll be pretty neat. Or is that a bad idea?
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I don’t think it’s a bad idea at all. You can take any level at any time, you don’t have to take them in order.
Since I would say the significance of having passed N5 / N4 is relatively low (apart of course from having something to study for as personal motivation and to measure your own progress, not trying to discourage anyone here! 
) in the sense that it’s not essential for any applications.
So if you are happy with your progress and don’t need an upcoming test as a study motivator, it’s perfectly fine to just wait and take N3 / N2 as your first JLPT.
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Just note that the listening comprehension portion is generally considered the hardest part and you really need to study for that by listening to native speakers.
I plan on skipping N5 and N4, taking the N3 as my first test. As Myria has stated, the N5/4 tests are novelties but don’t really mean much more than ‘you can understand on a young child’s level!’.
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Yes, I heard that and I’ve listened to some sample listening comprehension for N4, N3 and N2! It is indeed a little hard. Luckily, the vocab in the listening portions is the vocab that you know you have to learn for the test, so I think that it is quite possible.
(and of course, in the meantime I will go to Japan this March for a month to do some native listening practice, so I think I can work on it hard!)
They don’t offer the July test in my city, but I want to aim high… so I’m trying to study like I’m taking the N3 in July, and will take a full-length practice test that day like it’s the real thing. If I think I could have passed it, I’m going to aim for N2 in December 
If I don’t feel like I was anywhere ready for N3 come July, I’ll go for N3 in December.
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I’ve said this in years past…but I think I’m going to try for the N4 in December this year. I probably have enough residual knowledge from my previous college studies that N5 is probably a waste for me to do. I think I can cover N5 and N4 this year (my hope anyway!). I have study books for both levels so I’m going to go through those to be sure. But the aim is to be ready for N4. :3
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Just FYI, you won’t really hear people talking too much on the streets and whatnot. Even on the trains, people are mostly quiet. Yeah, you’ll hear street venders and advertisements but listening in on people would be kinda hard or creepy.
If you want to really listen to ‘live speech’ you might as well listen to the news stations or whatnot well before you head over and plan on attending guided events or something.
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Just so you know, you’ll be at around 95% of JLPT-4 Kanji and vocab at WK lvl-16.
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I really wish the US had a July test date as well, instead of only in the winter. I’m almost tempted to look into flying to Ireland/England to take a test there. I’ll be taking the N4 this year, after taking the N5 last year.
The N5 went really well for the most part (I’m pretty sure I 100% the Kanji/vocab part). Studying around work and life in general should get me to at least at N4 by the end of the year. Then, next year I can go for N3.
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Great! I might just do that then! Altho i would still study n5 and n4 syllabus since it has a structure as opposed to just randomly studying stuff
A bragging right I’ve yet to be able to claim 
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I will be a guest of my Japanese aunt and a Japanese friend and probably a guest of Japanese families as well. I don’t plan to speak with strangers on the streets of course (which is not necessarily impossible), but I will plan my trip in a way that will allow me to interact with natives as much as possible c:
But of course listening practice is possible even if you are not directly in Japan. Youtube is a gem.
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I’ve only ever done N5 but as general advice I’d say to do some practice tests before hand so you get used to the style of the questions. Also in general for all exams with a reading comprehension part I often find it useful to read the questions first and then read the material.
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yes, 7th July, at least in Germany. I’m thinking about trying the N5 then, but it might be a bit too soon considering my schedule at the moment. Still, I need to have a goal to motivate me and I would have the opportunity to see Hamburg for the first time, so why not.
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I’m pretty certain I’ve failed the December exam (took N3), but I decided ages ago that regardless of whether I pass or not I’ll take the N2 in December 2019. I’ll probably either go Cardiff or London, depending on whether I remember to sign up on time or not xD
For anyone taking the exam for the first time, I found that the listening in the actual exam was much harder than the trial ones they have on the website. It’s possible it’s the environment (like echos and other people in the room) that makes it harder, as mentioned, or maybe it’s just me or even nerves, but just so you don’t get lulled into a false sense of security.
What I also realised is that compared to when I took the N4, I really struggled with time much more on the N3. Especially on the reading part.
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