If so, I was wondering what you guys thought of it. I am thinking of taking 7級 but am not sure how hard it is and what kind of vocab comes on it. If anyone took it I would love to hear how it was

Thanks

Pardon my bluntness, but rather than asking the opinion of people whose knowledge may be vastly different from yours, why not mosey on down to a bookstore and see for yourself how hard it is? If you live in Kyoto that should be pretty easy.

Better yet, you can just look at these sample problems:
http://www.kanken.or.jp/teido/mondai/new...i/7m01.gif
http://www.kanken.or.jp/teido/mondai/new...i/7m02.gif

I agree with Jimmy's advice but perhaps not his bluntness

One doesn't actually have to take the tests to study the material. I jumped in at level 8 pre-Heisig then have done a few more since I got through RTK1.

Looking back, I wonder if starting from the very beginning might have been better?

Anyway, with regard to the tests my suggestion would be, don't be satisfied with passing, aim for full marks.

Whatever level you decide to start from there will be plenty of vocab that you can pick up.

Also, if you don't already have one, I'd suggest picking up a DSlite and the Kan Ken 2 (Rocket Company) title. Well worth the outlay.

thanks for your quick responses. full marks then... would you recommend remaining on the same level study-wise if I don't pick up full marks. Obviously I know everyones level is different but generally.

I have KanKen 2 on the DS and am apassing everytime with over 80% but I have been doing the same level for so long that I've got used to all the questions so I think it has become a case of me remembering the sentences and linking them with kanji (not on purpose mind) So I wondered what the real ones were like. Unfortuantely I live in the super inaka so there isn't a bookshop around for me to check on past paper books

Quote:I live in the super inaka

Excuse my misunderstanding. The two links I gave you are exactly the way an actual test would look, so give that a try.

I think Kanken DS 2 is a pretty accurate reflection of the test. I haven't done level 7 on that software so I don't know how many questions the software has for that level, but I assume it's a good number. The tests are quite predictable and repetitive, so if you've learned most of the questions on the software, the test will be nearly the same.

I think synewave was suggesting studying to do as well as you can, not to just pass, and I think that's the way to go.

littleblue Wrote:would you recommend remaining on the same level study-wise if I don't pick up full marks.

Nope. I did this (took 6 again) as I didn't know 100% of the material for that grade. Even though I was picking up some new words I felt I was spending too much time, on the DS and on past papers, going over stuff that I own. I sure I would have picked up more new vocab, readings, etc. if I had given 5 a go instead.

And the frustrating thing is I know I didn't get 100% on the last test I took