I'm going to do it.

I haven't subscribed to it yet, but I'll do it.
And I'm doing 1kyu, even if I fail miserably.

Here the test is in December. Anyone else is planning to do it this year?

I'm taking 1級 on December 6th in Chicago. The sign up period is in mid-June for people in the US. I think that's similar to when I signed up in Japan. Thankfully, my parents live in Chicago, and so I can stay with them when I go to take the test. Still, I think it will be stressful. Even though I grew up in that area, I'm not familiar with it at all. I had an easier time getting around Sapporo than I ever had getting around Chicago. I'll probably just take the train in, and then catch a cab from there.

I passed JLPT2 last December, and I started studying for 1級 a few weeks ago. I'm not hellbent on passing 1級 like I was hellbent on passing 2級. I'm mostly following the path laid out on Nihongo Pera Pera. I'm entering sentences into SRS from 例文で学ぶ漢字と言葉. When I'm finished with that I'll start Kanji in Context Workbook 2. At some point I'll start a new deck for grammar points from my どんな時どう使う日本語 ALC dictionary. I think that will be in the second round of my studies in about 3 months. I should be finished with RTK by then, and so I can use that free time then for doing grammar.

As the test gets closer I'll start ramping up my reading practice. I want to get the vocabulary out of the way first. I find that is my biggest hurdle with reading. My comprehension is very good, and my speed is good when I can understand the vocab. I find that I can skim Japanese extremely fast as well.

I'll also probably work through my Unicom listening book for 2級 again, and this time SRS all the vocabulary having to do with those sorts of questions. I hear the 1級 listening isn't that much different. If I had the money I'd get the full Unicom set for 1級, but I hate buying duplicate books. Still, I'll probably buy the 1級 reading book.

I thought on doing 2kyu last year, but I chickened out during the subscription time. I regret not doing it.

About my study, my menu is totally diferent from yours. I won't do anything of this.

What I did now (30 minutes ago) was to artificially add sentences to all missing joyo from my deck. I have now a batch of ~100 sentences to cram. It'll problably take untill friday to finish them.

I'll also listen and read to 15 newpaper articles everyday + sustain my anime and dorama addiction.

Going for 1kyuu since I've already passed 2kyuu. I don't know if I'm ready yet, but I hope to be come December.

Currently adding all of the sentences from Kanzen Master 2kyuu (No use training 1kyuu until I've perfected 2kyuu, right?) in an effort to make sure I can handle anything they throw at me in the grammar section (will move on to Kanzen Master 1kyuu when I'm done). At the same time, I'm adding sentences just for words in my SRS, but it's not really structured, just comes from the stuff I read every day. I try to make sure I know at least one on'yomi for each kanji by context, but some kanji are used in so specific and random words that I can't be bothered.

I read Japanese manga and books to get my reading comprehension up to speed and I listen actively to Japanese some every day as well (mainly watching gameshows such as London Hearts and Mechaike, but some news as well).

I really think my main weakness is vocabulary. As long as I know the words used, I can follow along in pretty much any conversation at any speed in Japanese, but my vocabulary is still extremely weak considering my level. I'm planning to up my added sentences each day by at least 100% this summer.

Since I've already passed JLPT2, I know what to expect and I know how much one needs to speed through the various parts, where to put the extra effort etc. I'd say I have a decent chance as long as I can boost my vocabulary enough.

EDIT: I should note, I'm spending all autumn studying for the JLPT as well. I've applied to the Japanese course at the university here. Since I've already passed JLPT2, they are letting me jump a year ahead (which will still drop me in around JLPT3 level people...) so I will have all the time in the world to focus on my self-studies (attendance doesn't matter in Sweden, as long as I pass the tests, I can study wherever and whenever I want).

Nice! And you still get the grades!

I passed 2kyuu last December with 94%, so I'm probably gonna take 1kyuu this December too. I'm just gonna do the same study method I did last time: Playsay.com vocab list in anki + skim over a grammar list. I don't really see a need to do anymore indepth study than that when there is no production section on the test.

Good luck to everyone, especially those doing 1kyuu.

Taking 1kyuu in July.... but it's coming up way too fast, so I'm guessing I'll be sitting for it again in December

Right now I'm cramming vocabulary into my brain like crazy.... and doing a second run through grammar. I'm also trying to read at least one newspaper article of some sort a day (usually the コラム on the first page of the local paper) and I enter any words I don't know from that into Anki. I'm hoping to get time for a practice test this weekend, then next month will be finishing up the grammar, hitting the Kanzen Master reading book and lots and lots of practice problems.

mentat_kgs Wrote:Nice! And you still get the grades!

Exactly I just finished my thesis in informatics for my bachelor. However, I lack 60 college points (which is 1 year of university studies here) so I thought hell, why not Japanese? I already know it more than well enough so I can get really good grades. And since I get to skip the first year, I get 60 points of B-level Japanese instead of 60-points A-level something else. Besides all that, it's fun

Hopefully, studying Japanese in university here also raises my chances that I can get a job which pertains to Japanese later (Sony Ericsson being the shining example). Not because I need it (I'm already better than people who has studied for 2 years in University regardless) but simply because employers have a tendency to look at CVs and ignore actual ability.

Jarvik7 Wrote:I passed 2kyuu last December with 94%, so I'm probably gonna take 1kyuu this December too. I'm just gonna do the same study method I did last time: Playsay.com vocab list in anki + skim over a grammar list. I don't really see a need to do anymore indepth study than that when there is no production section on the test.

I downloaded the free playsay 50 word pack for JLPT 2. It doesn't sound like anything revolutionary to me, but perhaps having audio would be good for me while I'm on the train and such. I imagine you put in into Anki with the audio? I do most of my Anki studying at school (where I can't use sound) and on my cell phone, so maybe not the most useful thing for me.

I'll be taking 2級 this year. Just did a past paper and scored 74%, so with a 6-month revision I'm sure I'll pass. If you're thinking of taking 2級 start with the kanji (if you haven't already), then vocabulary, then grammar. I've read before that 2級 and 1級 are all about the vocabulary and I have to agree with that.

For some reason, JLPT tests seem a bit easy, no wonder they're making N1 harder.

captal Wrote:I downloaded the free playsay 50 word pack for JLPT 2. It doesn't sound like anything revolutionary to me, but perhaps having audio would be good for me while I'm on the train and such. I imagine you put in into Anki with the audio? I do most of my Anki studying at school (where I can't use sound) and on my cell phone, so maybe not the most useful thing for me.

The sample wordpack and all the stuff they sell is worthless in my opinion. However there is an excel list of all of the vocab you need for each level. It's the same as the thbz list, but has been gone through and most of the errors corrected/definitions improved.

You get access to the list when you sign up for the sample.

I may take ３級, but I haven't decided yet. How late do they accept applications?

I'm leaving Japan in August and think that signing up for the test in Dec. will be my best self-motivator to stay full bore on Japanese study. I'm going to take 1kyu and fail it spectacularly.

hknamida Wrote:I may take ３級, but I haven't decided yet. How late do they accept applications?

I'm assuming you're taking it in Sweden? The closest place where the test can be taken is Copenhagen and the instructions on how to apply won't be up until August.

http://www.cbs.dk/uddannelser/bachelor/b...iency_test

If you're in Japan and want to take the summer test, you're too late, applications stopped 1st May.

Tobberoth Wrote:

hknamida Wrote:I may take ３級, but I haven't decided yet. How late do they accept applications?

I'm assuming you're taking it in Sweden? The closest place where the test can be taken is Copenhagen and the instructions on how to apply won't be up until August.

http://www.cbs.dk/uddannelser/bachelor/b...iency_test

If you're in Japan and want to take the summer test, you're too late, applications stopped 1st May.

You are correct in assuming that I'm taking it in Sweden (or, well, Denmark). If the information won't be up until August, I'll have plenty of time to make up my mind. Thanks for the information.

I plan on taking the ２級 this year, in Chicago, which I've never been to before so I'm scared about just that fact, haha. Not sure how I'll do.. I think I might be setting my sights a bit too high right now, but I think ３級 would be too easy for me. Anyways, I hope to pass it even if it's the lowest passing grade. 頑張ります.

@emily00,

If only you could take two levels in the same session huh? I took 2kyuu for resume reasons last year, but really I should have challenged 1kyuu. If they didn't have simultaneous testing for all levels I'd have both now

I am going to try ２級 in Honolulu. I am not adjusting how I study in any way. Just keep doing what I enjoy. The test is just to gauge where I am at this point. Passing won't change my life in any way. Perhaps just a confidence booster.

Jarvik7 Wrote:

captal Wrote:I downloaded the free playsay 50 word pack for JLPT 2. It doesn't sound like anything revolutionary to me, but perhaps having audio would be good for me while I'm on the train and such. I imagine you put in into Anki with the audio? I do most of my Anki studying at school (where I can't use sound) and on my cell phone, so maybe not the most useful thing for me.

The sample wordpack and all the stuff they sell is worthless in my opinion. However there is an excel list of all of the vocab you need for each level. It's the same as the thbz list, but has been gone through and most of the errors corrected/definitions improved.

You get access to the list when you sign up for the sample.

Thanks Jarvik, I just saw this today. Sorry I didn't see your response here earlier and sent you the same question in email. Awesome- I downloaded the xls just now- thanks for the advice.

I was reading something on word lists earlier today on the board and I think I'll start using this xls sheet with the word list method and then find sentences with the vocab to put into anki. Oh, and I'm taking 2級 in December.

welldone101 Wrote:I'm leaving Japan in August and think that signing up for the test in Dec. will be my best self-motivator to stay full bore on Japanese study. I'm going to take 1kyu and fail it spectacularly.

That's the spirit lol.

Hoping to sit 3 (or 2 depending how I feel when the sign ups begin here in August). It's a pain it's all the way down in London though...

emily00 Wrote:I plan on taking the ２級 this year, in Chicago, which I've never been to before so I'm scared about just that fact, haha. Not sure how I'll do.. I think I might be setting my sights a bit too high right now, but I think ３級 would be too easy for me. Anyways, I hope to pass it even if it's the lowest passing grade. 頑張ります.

Hey Chicago buddy. 頑張って.

Taking L1... exactly 6 months to go as of today!!!
The plan is to get this on my resume to help find a job/move back to Japan.

ファイト!
一発！

Is there a further break-down by country for passing the JLPT? I assume test results from Western countries are much lower than the overall 2級 "Outside of Japan" 37% pass rate .