The N2 Thread

I seem to be a bit late

Are you guys ready ?? Im not …one night to go whats everyone doing ?~

So… how did everyone manage? I had a couple of colleagues taking N3 and 1 taking N1 and he said it was pretty tough :sweat_smile: .

If you didn’t see not good ~ hbu ?

I was smart enough not to take the test this December :joy: :joy: :joy: . The last time I took the N2 a year ago in June I failed miserably so I decided to give myself a little more time and aim for June next year.

While I am getting more comfortable with reading in general, I’m still just above N3 level in terms of comfortably following longer texts within a time limit.

:robot: The list of resources at the top of the thread has been updated - if you have recommendations regarding further resources to add, please suggest them.

The 2024 JLPT exam dates are:

  • :sunny: July 7, 2024
  • :snowflake: December 1, 2024

Please locate your home test center for more registration information.

Gonna take this one for July. Pretty confident I can pass after failing the N1 (passed each section but didn’t get 50%).

wow yeah, seems like you probably have it in the bag. what made you decide to take N1 without N2? i don’t think I’ve ever seen (or, at least, noticed) anyone pursue N1 as the first of the two tests, it’s very impressive regardless of outcome

It had been 2 years since I took the N2 the last time and thought it would be a nice way to push me to an N1ish level.

I wasnt super confident I would pass N1 or anything. Just wanted to see how id fair. I think ultimately if I just keep doing what I’m doing now I’ll get there.

OH okay i see, i misunderstood. based on your N1, then, you should have your july N2 for sure!

Please don’t threaten me with a good time :joy:

A high percentage of Japanese speedrunners do in fact. Some people aim for the top straight away :wink: .

I think I’ll settle for N2 this year, but maybe December instead of July. Haven’t decided yet. At this point it might be more of a formality if me reviewing the study material shows good results. I also have N1 mock tests to practice in case I would like to aim a little higher this time.

:fearful: I’m afraid of them!

I’m planning on a tentative December N2, though I may push back to July 2025 since the middle of this year is scheduled to be very crazy for me. Do any of you still use textbooks, like Tobira or Quartet, or do you stick to specific prep materials?

Hahaha as one should probably! They’re usually people with a lot of time on their hands or ones who neglect other things (studies, work, etc.) in favor of Japanese. Grinding 6-8 of Japanese a day is no joke.

I used to use Tobira (the old ones from 2009), but afaik that’s more for reading comprehension and geared towards roughly N3. For N2 I bought a couple of prep books for the various parts of the exam. I think arguably the most helpful was the SKM N2 Listening book, since it delves into intonation, pronunciation and starts from a fairly low bar which to me back then was crucial.

I want to take it in December but am scared for my kanji proficiency, how does everyone finish levels in 6-7 days, it takes me at least 8 when I put a lot of effort into it.

:pray: I need this so bad, thank you

doing hundreds of reviews every single day :nauseated_face: i can’t handle more than 50 at once before i start looking at the exit

If you get to level 30+, you should be fine with kanji for N2. The main issues in my experience are general proficiency and vocabulary.

Doing all reviews 2 times a day - morning and evening. It does accumulate over time, though :confused:

I want to take N2 in July. I took N3 in Dec 2022, because I suffered from the Dunning–Kruger effect, meaning I overestimated my level when I applied (thought to myself: How hard can it really be?), but I crammed Japanese for 3 month straight and actually passed :sweat_smile:. While this experience catapulted my abilities to the next level, it was also exhausting and I felt a lack of motivation after. Now, 1.5 years later, I want to tackle N2.
This time, I’m actually on track to have at least reviewed all N2 grammar items before the test (I completely skipped grammar for N3, bc I never learned it before, it just kinda guessed grammar while reading from context) and I am also on track to knowing all N2 kanji before the test (last time I was around 90% according to WK stats) and I feel that my listening is also ok. On the hand all of this puts my mind at ease, but also I feel like I should be in the same panic mode as I was for N3, if I want to pass :melting_face: .

If I never again experience the panic I did before taking the N3 I will die peacefully :sob: I’m sure it’s an eerie feeling to be on track so far in advance, I’m crossing my fingers for a great passing score for you!!

Just applied for the July N2. Will my first attempt.
What is everyone’s study strategy for the listening section? I feel somewhat confident on the reading section (I probably shouldn’t) but anxious on 聴解

The SKM N2 聴解 book.