It's that time of year again. The application forms for 日本語能力試験 were released to bookstores on Tuesday. I went and picked up my application booklet today. I'm going to fill it out in the next few days, get it all squared away, and mail it around August 2nd.

I'm sure you've all heard by this point that the JLPT is changing in the next few years to a 5-level system, but this year is the same as it has always been.

I've never taken it before, but I've taken a number of JLPT pre-tests from various teachers over the years. I'm pretty familiar with the procedure and the types of questions. I'm shooting for level 2.

To tell you the truth it's a little over my head, but level 3 will be too easy for me by December. I've just completed a pre-intermediate Japanese course, but I've been studying for quite a long time. I'm living in Japan now. So I get a lot of random reinforcement of stuff I know just in my daily life. Because of this, and because I have the time to study for it, I think taking level 2 is reasonable. I'm lucky in that it doesn't really matter whether or not I pass. I'm doing it to test my ability. I'll be following my study progress and methods on my blog(link to the left).

Short version: It's time to sign up for JLPT 2008. Post here if you're going to be signing up. Post how old you are/sex/what level you plan to take/Japanese experience/pet's name/etc. Or, if you have any questions, post those too.

Meh, I won't be taking it this year. I don't know enough Japanese. I'd probably ace the kanji section though, heh.

Of course, it's not like I'd be able to anyway in this dumb state.

I'm taking level 2 this year. I think I have enough time between now and December to practice enough to pass it. I'm going to try to aim for level 1 next July.

I picked mine up the other day.... I'll be registering for level 1, but I'm highly doubting I'll be ready for it by December... but since I passed level 2 last year, there really isn't anywhere to go but up

Levels 1 & 2 will be offered in July next year, in addition to the normal testing of all levels in December. Hopefully I'll be a little closer by the time the July test rolls around.

Registering for level 2. If anyone who's going to be in Terre Haute, IN is going to take the test at the Chicago testing site and wants to carpool, give me a shout.

~J

Going for level 2, even though it's probably a crap shoot. I might be able to squeak by. Doesn't matter much either way, because my goal is level 1. Nothing else means anything to me. Doing level 2 is just practice for doing level 1.

I'll be taking the test in DC, probably at Georgetown again. It's the closest site to me. (Although I'd love to take it in NYC and stop by Kinokuniya...)

I'm not going to do it this year, but this "5-level" thing intrigues me. Will the fifth level be more difficult than 1, or easier than 4?

Supposedly it'll be between 2 and 3.

IIRC, the differences will be as follows, by difficulty, with N and O standing for New and Old respectively:

NL1 > OL1
NL2 = OL2
OL2 > NL3 > OL3
NL4 = OL3
NL5 = OL4

~J

Also living in Japan and above level 3, 2 is my mark for December... we'll see how it goes. After using SRS it feels like any sort of standard test can be a snap with enough prep.

Taking 2級 in Edmonton. It's too easy for my level but 1級 is a risk and I need the cert. for resume purposes before the next testing session. It's too bad you can't take both.

Took J.Test 第７９回A-D last weekend as a practice run.

I think I will try for level 2. I think it mostly depends on how much vocabulary I can build between now and then. I should also take a look at some of the grammar, but grammar is pretty easy to learn.

My listening can improve, but that improves well enough just listening to Japanese all the time (unfortunately I am not in Japan). Vocab actually takes work!

Good luck everyone!

woodwojr Wrote:IIRC, the differences will be as follows, by difficulty, with N and O standing for New and Old respectively:

NL1 > OL1
NL2 = OL2
OL2 > NL3 > OL3
NL4 = OL3
NL5 = OL4

~J

You must be an engineer!=D Seriously, what will be more difficult about NL1?

I'm also aiming at 2級, but I think it'll be a little hard, since I only did 4級 last year. If I understand correctly, this reform will also include a new date for the test, in July. If they do offer one in July 2009 I'm definitely going for that.

I've never tried any JLPT but maybe I'll take level 4 for the fun of it. I probably can pass it quite easily between self study and 2 university years of it.

Where do I get the info for it and when/where is the test? I assume there'll be one in NYC?

I think I'll take level 3. I could probably aim for level 2, but I would have to study a TON to get ready for it, and since I'll be in my last semester of college, I don't want to screw that up by spending ALL my time on Japanese... :p

When is the deadline to apply?

I'd like to take lvl 3- but I'm not sure where in Japan I'll be yet. Echoing Zarxrax... when is the deadline to apply?

http://www.jflalc.org/?act=tpt&id=23 Friday, September 26th.

Probably won't be taking it. I only care about 2 and 1, and I'm not quite confident 2 would be worth the effort at the moment. Probably wait until July and see where I am then.

Edit: Whoop, you said in Japan. http://www.jees.or.jp/jlpt/en/jlpt_guide.html September 12th.

I'll be signing up and taking the test at Georgetown too!
Aiming for Level 2-

Huh... After checking out the info, I think I'd be able to do quite well on level 3. I'll have to talk to my sensei and see what he thinks.

Ryuujin27 Wrote:Huh... After checking out the info, I think I'd be able to do quite well on level 3. I'll have to talk to my sensei and see what he thinks.

Be aware that the test isn't for another 5 months. So, if you have time to study and you know your Japanese will improve, maybe shoot for the harder test rather than the easier test.

I got into some arguments with some professors here about taking 2-kyuu. It was pretty bizarre and slightly insulting. I understand their point of view, but I have time to study. I want to study. I'm good at studying, and living in Japan gives me a ton of reinforcement. There's no better time for me to learn a ton of Japanese.

Yeah... by the end of the summer I will definitely be done with Heisig (hell, I'm planning upwards of 80-100 a day if I have to come the last week or two, since I won't be working those weeks), and then I will start on devouring books such as "All About Particals" and "UBJG", as well as Tae Kim. Since a lot of it will be review anyway, more just sentences for the SRS so the grammar stays with me, it shouldn't take very long. Then I'll be reading and probably doing Kanji Odyssey. So yeah, I think I'll definitely be ready for 3, no doubt about it.

I would try 2, even, but I'd rather just do 3 and try to score near perfect and then go for 2 the year after.

I'm not taking it this year. Currently I could pass 3kyu, but I don't care about 3kyu.
I wanna try and go for 2kyu next year either in July or in December.

But I have a question: I'm currently using the JLPT vocab decks that came with Anki but there are way too less vocabs in those decks!
Like for example there are only 400+ words for JLPT3+4 all together! And only 600+ for JLPT2.
Does anybody know where I can find a COMPLETE vocab list for all levels that I can import to anki??

Thanks a lot in advance

I'll be signing up for Level 4. I don't think I'll have time to study for Level 3 even though I've had plenty of formal classes. My goal is to be done with RTK by ... well a lot sooner than my current progress would suggest so I think I'll just stick with 4.

Anyone know how to find study partners for face to face study? I could sure use a group to force me to be disciplined.

I've been using the JLPT vocab lists by Peter Van der Woude at http://www.jlptstudy.com - there are a few minor errors but he's quick to correct them, and he explains the resources he used to come up with the lists. Grammar points, expressions and kanji are also covered. I highly reccommend the site.

I have been entering them manually into Anki, and I didn't separate them from my other vocab, so it'd be hard to share them. But entering them yourself builds character, or something.

I might sign up for 3 to push me to study more this summer - I already have the level 4 vocab matured in AnkI, and I'm plowing through Level 3 a little slower than planned, but I might still be able to make it.