When are the test dates?

My life is currently split between Tokyo and Florida, and hoping I might have a chance to take JLPT4 this year, in either of those places, schedule permitting.

found the answer:

The 2009 JLPT is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 5 and in December.
In July the Level 1 and Level 2 test will be administered in Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan. In December all level test will be administered worldwide.

I wouldn't really recommend taking JLPT4. If you want to test yourself, download previous JLPT4 exams and do those.

1. It really doesn't give you any benefits at all. No one cares whether you have passed JLPT4 or not because:
2. It's extremely easy. I can see people studying in low-level classes like high school etc struggling with JLPT3, but JLPT4 is just beyond everything else.
3. It costs money to take it.

Basically, ask yourself why you want to take it. Then ask yourself if you can't just do an old test instead which it free and way less effort.

Tobberoth Wrote:Basically, ask yourself why you want to take it. Then ask yourself if you can't just do an old test instead which it free and way less effort.

Basically, to give myself a goal and a deadline, which would help keep me on task. It's only for motivational purposes.

Would it be worth it then to aim for JLPT3? Or would that be wasted effort as well?

Thanks for the input.

yukkuri_kame Wrote:

Tobberoth Wrote:Basically, ask yourself why you want to take it. Then ask yourself if you can't just do an old test instead which it free and way less effort.

Basically, to give myself a goal and a deadline, which would help keep me on task. It's only for motivational purposes.

Would it be worth it then to aim for JLPT3? Or would that be wasted effort as well?

Thanks for the input.

Both JLPT4 and 3 are wasted effort in taking them officially IMO. I consider both good measurements of ability (not really JLPT4 though since it's so extremely low level. JLPT3 encompasses the basics while JLPT4 is more or less in the middle of em) but those two levels just don't really mean anything, so there's no point in paying money for em.

JLPT2 and 1 both give good qualifications if you want to go to Japan, so those are worth taking IMO if you feel you might need them.

So I say, set your own dates then take the old JLPT4 and 3 tests then. Here's a link where you can download every JLPT test ever, both the test, the answer sheets and the audio:

http://www.orkut.com.br/Main#Community.a...m=54056729

Since it's just for motivation, I would say to go ahead & take the test.
Tobberoth is right that JLPT4 is probably too modest a goal considering you have 10 months to study. JLPT3 might be possible, depending on how much time you have to study and how much Japanese you know now.
The window for applying is around July to September, so you have lots of time to decide. In the mean time, study and try some practice tests to get an idea of what is realistic for you.

After looking just at the Kanji lists, I have to agree it would be a waste of time to do JLPT4. Not sure about 3. I think my vocabulary and listening are probably better along than my kanji. Grammar perhaps a weak point.