I passed N3 at level 18 or something, you’ll be fine.
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Unfortunately, I missed the registration yesterday, it was open only for several hours 
So I’ll either go to Dusseldorf in December, or leave this year JLPT-free.
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While there aren’t official kanji or grammar lists anymore in my experience Wanikani and other sources are extremely accurate determining which contents will appear based on previous exams.
The test might mix in a couple more kanji and grammar points from the next higher level but I’d say 98% is exactly what jlpt sources tell you might appear.
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Is it just me that’s stupid and forgot that japanese registration would be closing about now? For some reason in my head from last year I thought it was later than this. Anyway it closes today at 5 for Japan so I’m trying to fight the website tooth and nail (it’s currently winning). Hopefully it’ll stop kicking me out of the website at some point so I can get it in.
Update: after literally an hour and a bit of fighting the website it let me apply. N2 here we come!
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Finally going to attempt to tackle the N1 this July =D
I’m a little afraid of the grammar but otherwise it should be fine, hopefully.
Don’t know exactly which test site I’ll be on, but if anyone else is in/around Fukuoka, let’s meet up =D
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I’m sitting the JLPT for the first time! N3 in July and N2 in December. And I’ll be taking both in Japan. I’m now studying Japanese at a language school in Tokyo. I might have overreached by applying for N3 as I’m currently in an N4-level class, which does not necessarily prepare us for the JLPT at this time.
So terrified and stressed, but 頑張りましょう, I guess.
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I’m thinking about taking the N4 in December (there’s no July option in the USA, or I might have tried the N5 then). I think once it gets close to registration time I’ll decide which one I can take in December, but I feel like N4 with 9 solid months of study should be a reasonable target. It’ll mean finally have to set foot in Miami, but I suppose this is a good reason to finally do that (though I figured the F1 race there would be the more likely cause).
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I am also planning to take JLPT N4 in December and I’m in a similar position. I started learning in October of last year so by the time the exams take place, I will have about 1 year and 2 months of studying. However, due to University exam periods, I have already lost an entire month and I am surely losing another one for the upcoming exams. I think you’ll do fine! Best of luck!
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Links to free practice tests!
Go to the post below and those are the official ones for all JLPT levels, not just N2:
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That’s a great resource!
It’s also scary that even looking at the N5 right now is still overwhelming, but that makes sense for two months in.
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Just curious, which school? I’ll be at KCP next month.
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Just read through the entire thread. I’m planning on taking N5 in Seattle this December. What I hadn’t considered until now is whether to skip N5 and take N4. Is that even realistic?
I’m studying more as a hobby/to be able to talk to family and not for a job, so the exam is more of a measure of progress.
Does anyone know when US registration opens up?
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I believe in the US there’s only the test in the winter, check the JLPT website but registration should open in August or September. I’d take a look at some sample questions, but keep in mind you only need about a 50-60 percent to pass, so N4 might be more feasible than you think!
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Think it says late July info should be out, on my phone so it’s harder to look up and paste links. I did see that GSU in Atlanta will have it this year so I may yet avoid setting foot in Miami - Atlanta is like 15 miles or so farther away but it’s not Miami.
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You can try sample questions here to judge your JLPT level. N5 is very basic but all the tests are entirely in Japanese (no romaji, no English instructions) so if you’re new, and cost, travel to the test and time till the next test are not issues, N5 can be good experience.
Here is another good reference: Coto Acedemy: study hours needed to pass the JLTP - comparison levels.
I see you’re planning to study at a Japanese language school - you can ask them for their advice too.
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Safe travels! I hope you have a fantastic time in Tokyo.
I’m at ISI Harajuku Campus. I chose the Business Japanese track as I want to find a job and stay in Japan if I can that is. Their career support is great.
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Oh, yeah, I forgot to come back to this.
Taking the JLPT in the United States - American Association of Teachers of Japanese
Looks like the registration info should be available in late July. I seem to recall reading that the registrations filled up pretty quickly in past years so we’ll need to all be on the ball.
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I wouldn’t go for N4. There’s just no reason to stress yourself too much. Doing N5 is already stressful enough if it’s not solely about passing but also understanding and not forgetting after the test ist done. I always feel people that recommend doing a higher level in the same amount of time just want everyone’s pad on the back at how fast they themselves are apparently capable of making progress.
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I’ve been thinking along the same lines. I don’t need the exam to qualify for a job. I’m mainly interested in the exam as a way for me to measure progress. No need to rush getting through the exam series. I’m not sure I’d take anything beyond N3.
Who knows, things change all the time. Learning Japanese wasn’t even a daydream until I ended marrying someone with Japanese family.
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I think that is going to be different for different people. I think for me, I think given that my timeline lines up with being ready for the N4 by November in theory gives me something to use as additional motivation. I could probably do N5 no sweat by then, whereas the N4 should be a challenge, but I also am usually a really good test taker and don’t get nervous about tests in general. And it’s really just something I can point to at the end of the year - similar to how my professional certifications don’t really amount to much either, but they remind me that I put that effort in.
But I do agree that the intrinsic value of the test is not great unless there’s a reason you have to have a certain documented level of proficiency, and also with the notion that the test itself shouldn’t be viewed as more than a milestone or benchmark.
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