To get an idea of what the new JLPT N1 test will be like, I took the JLPT's sample test and read their English language guidebook to the new test format. http://www.jlpt.jp/e/about/new-jlpt.html
My conclusion is that the new test is not just cosmetic changes, but real 政権交代 in the JLPT world, and that overall, the changes are positive, focusing more on the skills that are important for reading, speaking, and listening to everyday Japanese. But there are still a lot unanswered questions about how the new policies and formats will be implemented, so for the first few rounds of test-takers there will be uncertainty about what to study and how to study for it.
First, the overall test time has been reduced from 180 minutes to 170 minutes. Instead of being given in three parts (kanji and vocabulary = 45 minutes = 25% of score; listening = 45 minutes = 25% of score; reading and grammar = 90 minutes = 50% of score) it's now in two parts (kanji and vocab plus reading and grammar together for 110 minutes, with each section = 1/3 of score; and listening = 60 minutes = 1/3 of score)
Also, the test is now scored on an 180 point scale, 60 each for kanji/vocab, listening, and reading/grammar. That pushes up the importance of listening, seemingly pushes down the importance of reading, but probably not. The new test departs from the old grammar format of one sentence questions and answers with some extended essays, and one of the toughest reading comprehension passages in the sample test was officially in the grammar section. Also, it looks like the kanji/vocab section will become more of a vocab section, deemphasizing questions that test your knowledge of kanji readings, and increasing questions that test your knowledge of vocabulary context and nuance (e.g. the third and fourth level definition questions). Finally, the listening section (at least in the sample test) deemphasized the fact and detail heavy scheduling and map type questions, and focused more on following the development of a theme or idea, as well as appropriate responses to conversational prompts.
The test booklet says there will be minimum passing scores for both the overall test and each section, but they haven’t announced what they are yet. What will be interesting to see is whether for example if the overall pass rate is 70%, whether the section pass rates will be less than 70%. If they expect you to exceed the overall pass rate on every section, then expect to see a very low number of successful N1s.
The sample test questions themselves are fairly easy, probably all ranking in the easiest 50% of questions on recent １級 exams, except that idiosyncratic grammar reading passage. But I encountered the same phenomenon with the ２級 sample questions as well—obviously, it is not in JLPT’s interest to scare people away from taking the test. Unfortunately, JLPT says in the guide book they will not be releasing past exam questions until 2012, so it will be hard to get a more realistic look at the new exam, how difficult it is, and how best to study for it.
Finally, although JLPT says that N1 is supposed to be about the same level of difficulty as １級 but designed to measure advanced skills, I saw no evidence in the sample test of how they would measure those skills, nor how they would report them.
Prospective N1 testees—what’s your take?
My conclusion is that the new test is not just cosmetic changes, but real 政権交代 in the JLPT world, and that overall, the changes are positive, focusing more on the skills that are important for reading, speaking, and listening to everyday Japanese. But there are still a lot unanswered questions about how the new policies and formats will be implemented, so for the first few rounds of test-takers there will be uncertainty about what to study and how to study for it.
First, the overall test time has been reduced from 180 minutes to 170 minutes. Instead of being given in three parts (kanji and vocabulary = 45 minutes = 25% of score; listening = 45 minutes = 25% of score; reading and grammar = 90 minutes = 50% of score) it's now in two parts (kanji and vocab plus reading and grammar together for 110 minutes, with each section = 1/3 of score; and listening = 60 minutes = 1/3 of score)
Also, the test is now scored on an 180 point scale, 60 each for kanji/vocab, listening, and reading/grammar. That pushes up the importance of listening, seemingly pushes down the importance of reading, but probably not. The new test departs from the old grammar format of one sentence questions and answers with some extended essays, and one of the toughest reading comprehension passages in the sample test was officially in the grammar section. Also, it looks like the kanji/vocab section will become more of a vocab section, deemphasizing questions that test your knowledge of kanji readings, and increasing questions that test your knowledge of vocabulary context and nuance (e.g. the third and fourth level definition questions). Finally, the listening section (at least in the sample test) deemphasized the fact and detail heavy scheduling and map type questions, and focused more on following the development of a theme or idea, as well as appropriate responses to conversational prompts.
The test booklet says there will be minimum passing scores for both the overall test and each section, but they haven’t announced what they are yet. What will be interesting to see is whether for example if the overall pass rate is 70%, whether the section pass rates will be less than 70%. If they expect you to exceed the overall pass rate on every section, then expect to see a very low number of successful N1s.
The sample test questions themselves are fairly easy, probably all ranking in the easiest 50% of questions on recent １級 exams, except that idiosyncratic grammar reading passage. But I encountered the same phenomenon with the ２級 sample questions as well—obviously, it is not in JLPT’s interest to scare people away from taking the test. Unfortunately, JLPT says in the guide book they will not be releasing past exam questions until 2012, so it will be hard to get a more realistic look at the new exam, how difficult it is, and how best to study for it.
Finally, although JLPT says that N1 is supposed to be about the same level of difficulty as １級 but designed to measure advanced skills, I saw no evidence in the sample test of how they would measure those skills, nor how they would report them.
Prospective N1 testees—what’s your take?
Edited: 2010-03-28, 6:58 pm
