Man that’s brutal.
Do you have any idea why you didn’t pass? Did you just not have enough time to study or was there something else going on like not being able to focus for such a long time or something like that? Or maybe you get nervous and make mistakes because of that?
My Japanese is still so super lousy but I’m good at taking tests for whatever reason. That’s probably what I trained for during my entire time at school and university: how to get good grades without putting in any effort; not the best life skill to learn… so I enjoy the experience and having the JLPT as a goal nice. But if that was not the case I think it would be perfectly fine to just say “a, f*ck it” and decide that the JLPT is just not for you. As long as you enjoy your Japanese studies and keep making progress everything is fine. You’re not here to learn how to take tests after all even though it sometimes might feel like it when that is all people are aiming for.
The JCAT is more convenient anyway 
But I find the experience much more frustrating than the JLPT since it tests your limits. But you made me realized that I didn’t take that one in a while… I should give it another try soon.
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My goal for this year is actually N3 in December but I want to go for N4 first in July. So in case I fail N3, I (hopefully) at least passed N4 haha.
I had on on-off relationship with studying Japanese the past years - some weeks/months of studying, then doing nothing for several months and so on… Didn’t study anything for more than 2 years until I stumbled upon wanikani end of last summer, now my motivation is back!
Took N4 once 4 years ago and failed. But wanikani is amazing for kanji knowledge and I went through the N5 anki vocab deck already and started N4 vocab, so I’m confident I can tackle N4. Ultimate goal is still N3 for this year, though.
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And then you combine that fast pace with a comprehension that feels like this 
But well… it is a good motivation to do more immersion I guess 
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Time is an issue for sure. Working full time, having a family, etc. Days are spent either at work, or with my wife and daughter. Obviously rather spend time with them than studying. Night leaves a few hours after she goes to bed. But then of course I still have stuff around the house to take care of, and spend time with my wife. Not to mention squeezing in time here and there for a video game or a movie. (can’t spend every single free moment studying. You’d go out of your mind)
If I wanted to play the blame game, I’d mention the learning disability I was diagnosed with back in high school, but I won’t
My focus during studying isn’t the greatest I suppose. Was never one to sit down and study for hours straight. I’m more of a spread out in chunks type. After a while I catch myself not really reading, more just flowing my eyes over the words as I daydream, etc.
What really sucks is the fact I passed each part of the JLPT both times, but missed the overall mark.
Grammar is one area I’m trying to focus on more now. Listening is abysmal as well.
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If you have a commute for work you could use that to listen to a podcast or something. Or while doing chores. You don’t have to be actively listening to benefit. Just a suggestion.
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From what I’ve heard I think it’s pointless to take N5-N3 unless just for encouragement, they don’t exactly do anything in comparison to the jobs that N2-N1 do from what I’ve heard at least, any disagreements with this statement?
I don’t really need it for employment, I already have a good career, but that’s the reason I’d skip N4/5. I figure N3 would be a good setup for the N1/2 tests to make sure I have the process down correct.
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Started listening to Japanesepod101 to and from work. Though I can only listen to a couple before I start zoning it out.
I listen to podcasts at work, but English ones. I will put on J1 radio as well. Not sure music is the best practice, but it’s more entertaining.
Specifically it was an auditory processing disorder they told me I have. Whatever that means. So there’s that?
Doesn’t make sense though, as I always felt I learned better listening than I did reading.
ugh, that would annoy me too.
I felt well prepared both times I took the JLPT (except for the listening part) but that came at the cost of adding extra time to my studying. Taking mock tests, learning grammar in the right order, going through JLPT specific kanji lists to make sure you didn’t forget any, drilling JLPT vocabulary lists… I’m sure I learned some useful stuff that way but it took time and caused me additional stress (which is stupid since the test is meaningless but that’s just how I am). If I already had very little free time available I think it would not have been worth it.
One thing I’m doing at the moment to improve my listening skill is having an audio loop running pretty much all the time. It is 1-5 minutes long audio files, some are from shows that I have watched and liked but that I don’t understand yet. Others are easy content that I understand completely (Graded reader audio files, shows I’ve studied with subs2srs, etc.) . The thought behind it is that this mix tricks your brain into paying attention because it keeps hearing stuff that it can understand, it is not just random “I have no idea what is going on” background noise. But I haven’t been doing it long enough yet to know whether it will work. At least it won’t have cost me any time.
Inspiration for this is here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/17852793
Some beginner audio files that can be used as “seeds” (understandable audio files): https://www.patreon.com/posts/18645466
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Oh so completing the N1/2 is a goal this no concrete reason behind it
That’s something!
I think it’s fine if you zone out. You’ll still be hearing Japanese, even if you’re not actively listening. Sure, active listening might be better, but you’ll get used to spoken Japanese nonetheless with passive listening. It’s worked really well for me.
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More like a validation of my earned skills at the time. Who knows, I might use the certificate for something in the future but I’m not banking my future on it.
I’ve tried learning 日本語 for almost a decade now but I’ve had setbacks due to life that I don’t have for the foreseeable future, so I’m knuckling down and trying to get as much accomplished as I can.
With a trip coming up in March, I might get motivated enough to try for N3 in winter. We’ll see how far I can go
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This what I do on my daily 40 minute walk to work. I listen to the NHK 6am news bulletin (of which I probably understand less than 10%) and then I listen to News in Slow Japanese or one of the listening exercises from 中級で学ぶ日本語.
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I’m sure if you explain & provide a note from a doctor. Accommodations could be made to makr it easier for you.
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True. FAQ |JLPT Japanese-Language Proficiency Test
I have a physical disability. Can I take the JLPT?
Yes, you can. We make special testing accommodations for examinees with disabilities. Please inquire at the institution conducting the test in the country/area where you plan to take it. Those who would like to make special testing accommodations need to submit " Request Form for Special Testing Accommodations " along with their application form upon registration.
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This year I am going to take N2 in December in Melbourne. I should be about 3/4 of the way through WK by then.
I sat the N3 in December last year without only a couple of months to prepare and my weakest parts were Kanji and Grammar (not sure if I passed, but I guess I will know next week!) So this year I am studying the N2 Kanzen Master books (and WK of course!)
I have also been listening to Japanese podcasts and/or youtube daily and meeting with my language exchange parnter weekly. I just need to find time to read!
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I plan to do the JLPT as well this yearh and thanks for sharing the relevant information so I have until April to decide which level i’ll take.
But I guess it will be either N3 oder N2, considering my J-CAT Scores I should be able to N2 Level until July (Score being 194)
The reason for doing it, is that I’ll finally be able to assess my Japanese level in an official context and if I’m lucky it will be helpful for work purposes in Japan as well.
The HOW I’m going to prepare is the great question, until now I mainly do wanikani and conversation/reading but I should get into a grammar book again
P.S.: Now its German: Und vermutlich werde ich dann auch in Düsseldorf den Test ablegen liegt einfach näher. Es sei denn die Plätze sind tatsächlich schnell vergriffen. Hat dort jemand Erfahrungen und wurde schon abgelehnt, weil er/sie/es/Appache helicopter zu spät war?
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Just to be on the save side, I wouldn’t wait until the end of the sign up period.
(in Hamburg sind zb nur 250 Plätze verfügbar, weiß nicht wie viele es in Düsseldorf sind)