Sorry if this has already been posted. I didn't see it.

http://momo.jpf.go.jp/jlpt/e/info/index.html

Quote:In the past there have been requests for revisions to address the fact that examinees who have passed the Level 3 test often have trouble with passing the Level 2 test because of the large gap in those two levels, as well as to address the need to measure abilities more advanced than those targeted by the current Level 1 test.

It says the new JLPT level 1 will measure higher levels of Japanese proficiency, but the passing level will be about the same. I guess that means they will add harder questions and lower what the passing grade is? Is passing JLPT level 1 not enough for some jobs now?

And they are adding a new level between levels 3 and 2. I always thought the gap between 2 and 1 was larger than the gap between 3 and 2. But then I don't know anyone that's taken the tests beyond level 3. For those who have taken the higher level tests, is the gap between 3 and 2 worse than 2 and 1?

The wikipedia page: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_La...iency_Test
Shows the difference between each level of the test. The big jump is clearly between level 3 and 2. Between 2 and 1 looks like a pretty good jump as well, but once you get to that level it's probably much easier to learn things.

I wish they were introducing the new level this year, as I'm currently trying to figure out whether to just do level 3 or aim for level 2. I wouldn't want to go for level 2 then end up failing and have nothing to show for it...

Personally I think they should add one between 3 and 2 and another between 2 and 1. So in total there would be 6 levels.

But what it says about the level 1 makes it look like passing 2010~ level 1 might hold more weight than passing ~2009 level 1. Hopefully, that's not the case at all.

I know what you mean. I want to take one of the tests this year. But I have no clue what level I'm at right now. I'm not sure if I'd rather try a difficult level and probably fail or try an easy level and probably have an easy pass.

At what point do you have to decide which test you are going to take for this year?

[edit: changed years]

"The 2008 JLPT registration period will begin on Friday August 1st, 2008 at 10AM PDT and end on Friday September 26th, 2008 at 5PM PDT."

http://www.jflalc.org/?act=tpt&id=23

I haven't taken any of the JLPTs yet, but I think you are placing way too much importance on them.

If you want the JLPT for getting jobs, it works just like a degree: VERY important for your first job, not very important after that. Your first job means a lot more than any paperwork you have. If you do well in the job, bad or missing paperwork means nothing. If you do poorly in the job (get fired, etc), then the paperwork can help you get another job, but you're going to have to really shine in the interview to get past that first job.

Concentrating on learning the language, instead of getting the best possible version of the test for your resume.

Just my advice.

wccrawford Wrote:I haven't taken any of the JLPTs yet, but I think you are placing way too much importance on them.

Not really. I care more about whether or not my Japanese is good enough to do what I want to be able to do in Japanese than whether or not I can pass a test.

What I'm wondering is if jobs/schools are placing more importance on them now. I don't see why they would feel the need to revise the highest level otherwise. It looks like if someone wants to measure your "beyond JLPT level 1" abilities, they should have their own test for that. My concern about which version of level 1 holds the most weight, isn't really for myself but others that have already passed it. I don't really see a reason to revise the difficulty of it. I don't think I'll ever take level 1 anyway. It's just that the new changes have perked my curiosity.

just add a level 0

Wow, great news, any chance of this thread being renamed to better fit the news? "JLPT Levels to be Revised" perhaps?

Sure. If I knew how to change it, I would. It looks like I can delete the whole thread, but not change the title...

Wait for Faburisu to change the thread title, not seen him in a while though.

http://www.jees.or.jp/jlpt/pdf/20080525_..._pre01.pdf

According to that, the change won't take place until July of 2010.

Wish they had it now. I'd take 2.5kyuu this December.

I'll probably just go for the regular 2kyuu I suppose. And probably not pass, sadly. Anyone who has taken it, any suggestions?

If you don't pass this December, it looks like you can try again in July of '09 instead of waiting a whole year at least. But I heard the summer date is only for Asian test sites...

I'm pretty sure I saw that too. I'd like an excuse to go to Japan, but that would be ridiculously expensive. On top of that, I'm only 14, so that would be nigh impossible.

Generally speaking, the JLPT is good for two things: not getting weeded out, and making your resume look good.

A lot of job postings will ask for JLPT 2 or 1 as a requirement, basically because it's a quick and easy way to weed out unqualified applicants.

Also, obviously having the JLPT on your resume is a quick way to get a rough idea of your Japanese level -- i.e., if you've passed level 1, you ought to be able to handle a lot of kanji and should have a good vocabulary, at the absolute least.

I've heard some interesting stories about actual job interviews though -- one where the interviewer had a newspaper on his desk, passed it to the interviewee, and said "read some to me" -- the interviewee luckily knew his stuff, and read the newspaper without a problem -- at which point the interviewer was content in their Japanese ability and hired them.

So in short, if you're going to try and get a job in Japan, or something Japanese related, I suggest you take it. When you combine that and the fact that they might lower visa requirements for people who pass the upper levels in the future, it really is a good idea to just go ahead and take it. I mean, if you're aiming for high level proficiency, you'll have to learn all the vocab/grammar/kanji anyway -- might as well have something to put on the resume too.

Very interesting. Too bad they didn't make it like in martial arts with Kyus and Dans for rankings. I'm studying now for JLPT 4 - and depending on how it goes I was thinking of maybe doing 3 - haven't decided yet, but I'll have to look at the new system more closely. Thanks for posting the links.

If you find JLPT1 too easy, there is also J.Test. Looking at their materials, it seems they designed it to improve on JLPT's shortcomings (doesn't test realistic usage/tests rare grammar), as well as offer higher skill levels. According to the site JLPT1 is about as difficult as B級 on J.Test (with A級 and 特A級 being harder). There is still no written or spoken portion which makes it a pretty poor representation of someone's actual Japanese skill though (just like JLPT).

>There is still no written or spoken portion

J.Test has a written section.
At least it did the two times I took it.

orochi Wrote:>There is still no written or spoken portion

J.Test has a written section.
At least it did the two times I took it.

As in essay/paragraph writing?

> As in essay/paragraph writing?

You had to write a few sentences.

It's the opinion of my both me and my wife (both of us are foreigners living in Japan) that the JLPT level 1 is kind of starting point. We have both passed it, but when I consider the level of English that most foreigners living in America attain I really think the JLPT is nothing more than proof that you can read a little and memorize some grammar phrases. It might be good for a resume, but it proves almost nothing about your real ability in the language. I find myself befuddled on the phone pretty often and I'm supposed to be a proficient speaker according to the JLPT. I think they should have a speaking/ listening test with 45 year old salary men from Osaka to test your real ability. After six years plus in Japan I still can't understand many of them well.

chipan Wrote:I think they should have a speaking/ listening test with 45 year old salary men from Osaka to test your real ability.

Better test = decreased profit margins unfortunately.