This is a question directed at people who have passed/taken the JLPT1 and for anyone who is preparing to take it...

I figure there may be a temporary jump in JLPT1 applications for 2009, before the change to 2010!

I'm taking it 2009 though I unfortunately doubt I will make it since I don't have the time nor the motivation to study enough.

At the moment, I'm more or less "perfecting" my JLPT2 level. I've already passed it but I know I'm not good enough at it to "move on". Thus, I'm working on JLPT2 vocabulary, JLPT2 grammar and JLPT2 level texts. As I feel these are becoming simple, I move on to JLPT1 material a little by little.

I learn grammar by putting Kanzen Master JLPT2 example sentences into Anki (From what I know, the grammar used on JLPT1 is more or less identical to the grammar used on JLPT2. If you know all the grammar for JLPT2, you should thus be more or less guaranteed to pass JLPT1 grammar-wise). I learn vocabulary from the various texts I read (generally manga but I have some books as well). For listening I simply watch drama, I think listening is something you can't really concentrate on any one area.

Right now I'm focusing on reading comprehension, that was my main weakness on my JLPT2 test and it's also what I feel is most fun to train. Training specific vocabulary is what I dislike most.

Hi, I'm preparing too.

My preparation consists in reading random slashdot.jp, news.tbs.co.jp and yomiuri.co.jp articles along with some novels and random blog articles, collecting vocabulary and sentences to put in my anki deck.

I also listen to anime and doramas. Before I was focusing on romance ones because they are easier to understand but now I'm focusing on political/army related, to get some specific vocabulary.

My plan now is to listen and read the Natsume Souseki novels from the resources section of this forum.

I want to sign up for the DEC 2009, but it will depend on how much daily studying I can complete.

On my list of things to do (a tiny bit) every day:

1. KZM 1kyu Kanji/Vocab
2. KZM 2kyu grammar review
3. KZM 1kyu grammar review
4. 重要単語表 which helps you distinguish between vocabulary that have similar meanings
5. Read through a vocabulary book from 早稲田
6. Read For Fun!!!

-------------------------------------------------------

Of course, I prefer to do 6. instead of 1-5., but it's quite exhausting for me to have to look up vocabulary more than once or twice on a page.

So the only solution is to learn more vocabulary...

Reading comprehension will probably be the most difficult section.

Tobberoth Wrote:I'm taking it 2009 though I unfortunately doubt I will make it since I don't have the time nor the motivation to study enough.

At the moment, I'm more or less "perfecting" my JLPT2 level. I've already passed it but I know I'm not good enough at it to "move on". Thus, I'm working on JLPT2 vocabulary, JLPT2 grammar and JLPT2 level texts. As I feel these are becoming simple, I move on to JLPT1 material a little by little.

I learn grammar by putting Kanzen Master JLPT2 example sentences into Anki (From what I know, the grammar used on JLPT1 is more or less identical to the grammar used on JLPT2. If you know all the grammar for JLPT2, you should thus be more or less guaranteed to pass JLPT1 grammar-wise). I learn vocabulary from the various texts I read (generally manga but I have some books as well). For listening I simply watch drama, I think listening is something you can't really concentrate on any one area.

Right now I'm focusing on reading comprehension, that was my main weakness on my JLPT2 test and it's also what I feel is most fun to train. Training specific vocabulary is what I dislike most.

(From what I know, the grammar used on JLPT1 is more or less identical to the grammar used on JLPT2. If you know all the grammar for JLPT2, you should thus be more or less guaranteed to pass JLPT1 grammar-wise)

are you REALLY sure about that ?
because when I was looking for a 2KYUU grammar book I had to choose between KM2KYUUand どの時どう使う also called 日本語表現文型500― . In the index of this latter every point is noted 1KYUU or 2KYUU.... and there a lot of 1Kyuu points..... Hence two intepretation :
-either KM is really thorough (which is true but hell!!! even if KM merge variation of the same notion and that some notion have up to 4 different meanings , there are only 140 grammar points while there are 500 of them in どの時どう使う !)
- or there are still a lot of other grammar points....

By the way ( I know it may sounds obsessive but as it allowed me to get the 2KYUU in a single year I know it's very effective ) if anyone is interested into typing up どの時どう使う or KM 1KYUU for Anki.... I've finished typing up my keigo book two weeks ago so I'm eager to do a 1KYUU grammar book . Getting the 2KYUU in a year is cool but starting from scratch to 1KYUU in half and year would be really great . It's quite a challenge so I don't have much time to waste. Anyone else interested in making a 1KYUU grammar anki deck ?

The greatest leap from 2kyu to 1kyu is vocabulary.

You have to acquire a few more thousands of words.
Isn't it in the 能力試験 flyer, something about 10.000 items of vocabulary?

The grammar points you'll pickup easily while devouring texts for the tons of vocabulary.

I was wondering...
I am working on memiorizing all the jouyou kanji right now but I was studying for the 3kyuu. I am roughlu 3kyuu level. I was wondering if it is possible to study for the 1kuu without preparing for the 2kyuu. Maybe I should prepare for the 2kyuu then skip and study for the 1kyuu. hmm...

mentat_kgs Wrote:Isn't it in the 能力試験 flyer, something about 10.000 items of vocabulary?

Since I dug it out, yes, that is what it says. "Level 1: The examinee has mastered grammar to a high level, knows around 2000 Kanji and 10,000 words, and has an integrated command of language sufficient for life in Japanese society. This level is normally reached after studying Japanese for 900 hours." Shoot, if I started from scratch and studied 5 hours a day, I'd be ready in 180 days. What am I doing?

I sat for and passed 3kyuu just a few months ago, and I realized how silly it was as soon as the test started. I did a few hours of vocab in mnemosyne every day the week before the test, and I guess it shows in my 96/100 writing and 95/100 listening. I got 166/200 in grammar though, because that's not as easy to SRS. Forgive me SRS masters, I only picked up on the trend recently. I didn't study for the grammar in any meaningful way, in retrospect. What I came here to tell you though, gyuujuice, is not about what I've done, but what I plan to do. Because 3 and 2kyuu are worthless.

Everyone says it's impossible to pass JLPT1 on your first try, and they might be right, but they might be well-meaning bluffers too. When I studied for JLPT3 It was a good thing, but actually sitting the test was an expensive, awful chore (mostly cause I live in the 田舎). The only positive thing I took away from it was the sense to avoid JLPT2, and make sure I'm ready for JLPT1 before I go in. I'll study for it, I might even buy a book and take the practice tests, but it's not worth losing a weekend of my boring life to take the test. I've never seen a job that requires 2kyuu or lower; JLPT1 is the only test worth having proof of, and some people don't even put much stock in that. So definitely skip 3kyuu. I think I'll casually prepare for the 2kyuu, skip it, earnestly prepare for the 1kyuu test, and take it once or twice.

Finally, back on topic, how to prepare? I'm using どの時どう使う in a pretty lazy way (it's sitting above my toilet now) until I finish learnin the jouyou kanji here on koohii. That should be in about a month. Ha. Then I'll start typing that どの時どう使う stuff up from あ to を. I've thought about this task for a long time now, and it'll take a long time to do. I plan to do it in 4 passes, one for each level. I even got my 4-color pen picked out.

Chully, I'll probably be doing the same thing though it'll be for the DLPT (defense language proficiency test) for Japanese instead. It's more convenient to take to boot.

Since you asked (but do you care?) for grammar, here's how I'm doing it as an SRS: I use Tae Kim's sentence examples. In Anki, I have kanji sentence, kana sentence, english sentence, a note that's essentially the chapter and paragraph headings (a darn good reminder what the sentence is about), and audio via TTS.

Study preparation: I read over a chapter in Tae Kim. At the same time I go through the sentences in Anki. I bold the area of the sentence (kanji and english) the grammar point is about. In addition, I add notes to the english sentence to remove any vagueness (ex: polite, masculine, +たら, etc.) I may even change up the English sentence to make it even more literal. After I study to a point I get about xx number of sample sentences, I go back and write out each sentence entirely using the preview function. After that, I unsuspend them in Anki. This opens up a production and recognition card.

Recognition: Show the kanji sentence. I have to pronounce it out, though messing that up is not automatic failure. Instead, if the grammar area concept (the part in bold) is not understood then it's a failure. On these cards, I write out the bold part for extra reinforcement. I also try to say the sentence without looking (actually, I try to put myself in a mental situation where it's used). The answer side is audio, notes, and English translation.

Production: This may be controversial. Here, I have the notes (describing the grammar point) and the English sentence (with additional notes on the end) displayed. Here I have to say the phrase in Japanese. The main point is the grammar concept. With all the extra info I added, the sentence to create is not vague. It just takes effort. I don't fail for not knowing other parts of the sentence or use an equally valid variant within reason. The answer side is Kanji sentence, kana sentence, and audio.

To be honest, when I was trying UBJG, I did production as kana to kanji trying to write out the entire sentence. Led to a miserable case of burn out for me. When I started Tae Kim, I tried recognition only. Problem was it was too easy most of the time, but it felt I was missing out on something so I experimented with production. The above, though difficult at times, seems to work for me. I get grammar points in my head without drilling grammar. It makes reading much easier to boot.

chully, thanks for your response but I wan't planning ontaking the 3kyuu or the 2kyuu at all. I was wondering if I were to study for the 1kyuu, do I study 4kyuu, 3kyuu and 2kyuu first? That would be annoying. >.>

gyuujuice Wrote:chully, thanks for your response but I wan't planning ontaking the 3kyuu or the 2kyuu at all. I was wondering if I were to study for the 1kyuu, do I study 4kyuu, 3kyuu and 2kyuu first? That would be annoying. >.>

Let me put it this way: it would be rather difficult to pass 1kyuu while failing your 2kyuu (70% vs 60% pass requirement, not withstanding)...

The way you phrase your question seems strange: what would it mean if you could pass 1kyuu but couldn't use は vs が?

If you can pass 1kyuu, all the lower levels >SHOULD< be a trivial pass...

As for actually taking the tests, you don't need to take the tests in order. Some people think 3kyuu and 4kyuu do not mean much so they start by taking 2kyuu. There are others (fewer) who think 2kyuu is meaningless so they just take the 1kyuu.

You can try taking 1kyuu without taking 2kyuu, if you like... ...but be aware of what's ahead of you - the step from 3kyuu to 2kyuu is big and so is the step from 2kyuu to 1kyuu.

Knowing all the Joyou Kanji is a start, but jukugo is where the real action is at! Also, there are like 200 grammar points to learn from 3kyuu to 2kyuu. Anyways, look around on the web or take a peak at some textbooks to get an idea of what you need to learn/know...

gyuujuice Wrote:chully, thanks for your response but I wan't planning ontaking the 3kyuu or the 2kyuu at all. I was wondering if I were to study for the 1kyuu, do I study 4kyuu, 3kyuu and 2kyuu first? That would be annoying. >.>

You don't have to study in preparation for any test. It's not like you have to finish all JLPT4 resources before you can start your JLPT3 studies, not at all. However, it's good to know what is JLPT4 grade material, what is JLPT3 grade material etc. This is a language, you can't skip one section and learn the next like in history. All the kanji used in JLPT4 will be used in JLPT3, 2 and 1 as well, they all build on each other. It's not like you can simply buy a JLPT1 book and start your studies there, you wouldn't understand anything in it. It's like saying "I want to pass a test in Calculus 3, do I have to study Calculus 1 and 2 as well? That would be annoying."

EDIT: To make my analogy a bit more obvious: You don't have to pass tests in Calculus 1 just to pass a test in Calculus 3. BUT, you have to be good enough to pass a Calculus 1 test.

chully Wrote:Everyone says it's impossible to pass JLPT1 on your first try, and they might be right, but they might be well-meaning bluffers too.

chully Wrote:JLPT1 is the only test worth having proof of, and some people don't even put much stock in that. So definitely skip 3kyuu. I think I'll casually prepare for the 2kyuu, skip it, earnestly prepare for the 1kyuu test, and take it once or twice.

You can download these tests and try yourself at home.
I'm pretty positive I'll pass the 1kyu the first time I do it.

mentat_kgs Wrote:

chully Wrote:Everyone says it's impossible to pass JLPT1 on your first try, and they might be right, but they might be well-meaning bluffers too.

chully Wrote:JLPT1 is the only test worth having proof of, and some people don't even put much stock in that. So definitely skip 3kyuu. I think I'll casually prepare for the 2kyuu, skip it, earnestly prepare for the 1kyuu test, and take it once or twice.

You can download these tests and try yourself at home.
I'm pretty positive I'll pass the 1kyu the first time I do it.

If you try them at home, it really isn't the first time you do it though. I mean, you will know how the questions are laid out and how it works, how you need to focus your time etc.

OK, it would ridiculous to have to take them in order.
I am aware that you should completelyunderstand levels 3 and 4 before levels 2 and 1.
I just didn't want to waste time taking them.

Tobberoth Wrote:(From what I know, the grammar used on JLPT1 is more or less identical to the grammar used on JLPT2. If you know all the grammar for JLPT2, you should thus be more or less guaranteed to pass JLPT1 grammar-wise).

This is not true.

There are over 100 grammatical forms on JLPT1 that are not on JLPT2. And it's these 100 or so that comprise the majority of grammar questions on JLPT1.

I started studying to pass JLPT level 2 in the beginning of June, but by September I was determined to pass JLPT level 1. I haven't taken any official JLPT examinations, but I've tried some at home. I've taken 5 Japanese classes in college in addition to self-study for 7 years. I'm bilingual in Korean and English.

Most of my preparing for JLPT level 1 has involved both Korean and English sources, but mostly monolingual workbooks. Here's basically a day's work I do to prepare for the test:

1. Do a page of matome Vocab
2. Do a page of shiken ni deru Grammar
3. http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9195/cachup.jpg (I try to do at least 500 words a day, 1000 at most)
(for the ones that say _kor, I designed the deck so that I have to type in the kanji's furigana:
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/4238/jpg1p.jpg
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/579/jpt2.jpg
There are a lot of kanji that I know what they mean but can't read.)
4. 1~2 pages of Kanzen master 1&2kyuu Vocab (I finish one chapter every 3~4 days)
5. 1~2 pags of kanzen master 1kyuu Grammar (I finish one chapter every 3~4 days)
6. Do something fun in Japanese (watch a kids anime [lately I've been watching a lot of Candy Candy and Creamy Mami] or watch a drama/movie [I don't like dramas in the first place, so I often settle for the movie if I don't want to watch an anime] or play a game [usually a VN of some sort] or read a book [usually something aimed at middle/high schoolers])

?. Do absolutely nothing for at least an hour (=sit around and play katamari damacy)

7. (before bed) Kanzen master 1kyuu Reading 1-3 reading questions.
I don't practice any listening because most of my scores for the listening section have been in the mid 80 percentile. Right now my biggest focus is vocab -- reading kanji the way the Japanese read it. Grammar is a little important too, but for the most part I spend my time memorizing kanji compounds. Boosting my vocab has helped me boost both my vocab section and reading section.

ocircleさん、
良い点を取るはずです。＾＿＾よく勉強するそうです。
頑張って下さいね。

I'm doing 40 smart.fm sentences a day for vocab and grammar and watching (plenty of) anime for listening practice, as I always have done anyway. I'm only at 440 sentences (out of 8000~ so far), but give it 190~ days. Then I figure I'll somehow learn the rest of the JLPT1 vocab in a proportional timespan by whatever method I'll figure out later (so ~300 days total). I guess I'll have to get some grammar books along the way too. Currently my vocabulary learning and kanji reviews take up just over an hour of my time, so I do feel I can do more. (see below)

Maybe I won't quite make it for december 2010, but I know I can definitely learn all the vocabulary without hardship, and then there's always next year. I don't see the point of aiming for anything less. (Well, clearly fluency is a much better aim than JLPT1, but I would like JLPT1 to look better on my CV to employers and graduate programs there before that.)

I'm guessing the kanzen master 1+2 vocabulary and grammar books would provide a decent bridge from core 6000 to jlpt1? Can someone advise me on this? It's looking ahead a couple hundred days, but I'd like to have a clear route to the endpoint. If there's anything else *efficient* that could be recommended to study in parallel with the core 6000 I'd appreciate hearing about that. edit: I hear the Dictionary of Japanese Grammar books are better, so maybe going through those 3 would be the best bet?

Background: I've been studying Japanese off and on for years, but now I'm at uni and my work ethic is stronger, I'm finally making real progress. I finished RTK in 50 days a few weeks ago, and I'm just trying to get as good as I can as fast as I can in hopes of doing graduate study there in three years (maths, not Japanese).

Grammar is weighted pretty heavily on jlpt, the reading section is difficult due to strict time limits, and listening ability isn't something one can SRS or cram for. The listening section of JLPT1 is less anime and more news broadcast kind of speech, so you should watch real tv via the internet.

You need much more varied study if you want to pass 1kyuu in such a short timeframe.

Hmm, advice noted. I'll move onto harder listening material when I have the vocabulary to support it I guess. I'm not in a huge rush, 2011 is fine too, I just want to make sure I'm spending my study time as efficiently as possible.