The woman who runs the website makes lots of articles about how she studied for the JLPT and now works for a Japanese company, so I guess I assumed too heavily that her anecdotes were okay 
3 Likes
On paper it probably makes some sense, but no one I know who has studied for the JLPT would make wild claims about N3 being on the level of Japanese middle schoolers.
EDIT: maybe she’s currently in touch with a lot of people who are exposed to Japanese daily and have good speaking skills?
3 Likes
I used SKM grammar for N4 and it saved my life tbh. I think once you are going to take the test that they are the most useful resource in my opinion (I’ve watched tons of youtube videos as well), especially the grammar and reading.
4 Likes
I’m currently in a grammar/vocab limbo somewhere between N4 and N3. Kanji knowledge is alright (almost “finishing WK”), but I have to admit that I don’t really feel close to “understanding Japanese used in everyday situations” yet 
Reading Japanese, probably fine enough, but my listening skills are almost non-existent. I should consider taking real Japanese lessons to improve that aspect, but right now it’s not really doable… Maybe one day.
N3を対象している皆さん、頑張って！
3 Likes
I definitely didn’t feel that way until I began working harder on my listening skill. It was crazy how many things I realized I actually already knew once I started getting used to listening to natural speech. I’ve also been trying really hard to pick apart the nuances of casual speech (pure chaos) and polite speech (highly organized) in Tobira.
7 Likes
hey everyone
i got rid of the nonsense from the supposed “jlpt expert” website - completely my fault for taking her at her word and not actually paying close attention to what she wrote. i apologize for the confusion and for my carelessness.
i added some of the official N-level objectives from the official jlpt website, some sample grammar/vocab lists from jlptsensei.com, and - just for fun - the estimated study hours required as reported by the japan education foundation
if there is anything else you think might be important for first-time studiers to know right off the bat, i can definitely add it. otherwise, thank you for keeping things real and i can’t wait to see your celebratory replies when you pass the N3 ( ˙▿˙ )
12 Likes
Coto Academy has some good blog posts including the following where it does an hours of study comparison on how long it takes to pass the JLPT.
It’s hard to say how valid it is but each level up, is nearly double the previous level,
and the hours are fewer for people already familiar with Kanji.
I think it’s insightful.
5 Likes
I guess that’s about right for being able to speak semi-coherently, but I feel like people look at these numbers and think they can do it without understanding what rate of fluency they’re operating at. I have a friend who claimed she was N3, which speaking level wise, she definitely is. It’s enough to get by but it’s far from mastery.
2 Likes
But there is no speaking in N3 
I’ve been stuck at N3 level for a while.
For me, N3 level listening is okay; I’ve done a fair bit of grammar study, though it hasn’t all stuck. Then Kanji and vocabulary are a real challenge so I’m happy to have found Wanikani. With a better level of Kanji and vocab, (N3) reading should also be less hit and miss.
I don’t know if I will get time to include writing in my studies - writing Kanji certainly helps them stick, but I also recognise the limitations of JLPT, especially towards speaking so I’m working on that separately.
皆さん：頑張ってね
2 Likes
Yeah in terms of people “being N3 level” that varies lol.
4 Likes
Registration for taking the N3 exam in the US is now open!! https://www.aatj.org/jlpt-us/
1 Like
Registration for JLPT at SOAS in London (UK) opens on 25th August according to their site.
I’m going for N3 this year. Passed N4 in Dec 2022, but not by a huge margin, and have not been consistently studying since because of various life and job circumstances. There’s definitely a sense that this is going to take seriously buckling down and committing a solid amount of daily time.
My textbooks for this are Try! N3- I used the N4 one but didn’t finish it, so should probably fish that out and finish it 
; and Jitsuryoku Up! Japanese Language Proficiency Test N3 Reading Workbook. I have not opened them yet 
In 2019 when I was living in Japan, I felt by 9 months in I was at N3 level, and the JCAT placed me there as well. But I’ve lost and forgotten so much.
Can you tell I’m not feeling so confident on this one? 
3 Likes
Hey, haven’t seen you around for a while.
I’m sure you can do it. 
3 Likes
I fell into a bit of a pit of despair when I had to leave Japan, but now I’m getting back on the study wagon <3
JLPT isn’t actually that important to me, because when I go back to Japan I’ll be on a spouse visa so can apply for less skilled jobs, but it’s always nice to have it as proof of comprehension and dedication to studying. Last exam I was mainly just happy that I didn’t suffer with exam anxiety, because it used to be a huge problem for me.
6 Likes
drops this off 
i love 日本語の森 and i also love these types of compilations, i wish ゲーム言語 had his N3 compilation completed as well
6 Likes
I signed up for the n3 this december even though I was trying to sign up for the n4 but it was full.
Listening practice is super freaking hard. Any other podcasts aside from the Miku one mentioned?
4 Likes
Let’s Talk in Japanese
Despite the name, it’s not a conversation style podcast, it’s a monologue. Tomo picks a theme and a level each time. They range in length from about 8 minutes to just over 20, and each one is labelled with the approximate JLPT level.
I find his voice very easy to listen to, but the music can get a little grating.
11 Likes
I sat the test last December and failed by two marks, so I’m retaking it this December! But trying to motivate myself to go through SKM again has been a bit of a challenge
For anyone else resitting, how do you force yourself to go back through the same material? I’m trying to read a lot of native content rn, and I’ve really been nejoying the 日本語の森 videos, but I’m worried it won’t be enough without the textbook drills too
5 Likes
for me, at least, I get very lazy when I reread/rewatch something I’ve already seen and I start to ignore the context because I’m already familiar with the general storyline or content. If you’re rereading a text or rewatching an explanation video, I would maybe suggest looking for different texts or videos that cover the same challenges or grammar? Just so your mind doesn’t fill in the blanks and automatically ignore the details of the information. I’m not sure if that’s what you meant, but I certainly can’t be trusted to reread a textbook passage, for example, and tackle it with the same determination that I did the first time
3 Likes
Yes!! That’s it exactly!! I have no problem sitting down with the textbook, but my brain remembers the textbook itself (if that makes sense lmao) and the examples etc in it, so I’m always like ‘Oh! I know this!’ but I don’t
Different material is a good idea, I’ll try picking up another textbook!
3 Likes