Had an official practice test for the new JLPT N3 today, so thought I'd post how it was for anyone taking the real one. Was about 1/3-1/2 as long as the real one.
げんごちしき（もじ・ごい） I found quite a bit harder than on the sample (http://www.jlpt.jp/j/about/pdf/mondai/N3-mondai.pdf)
Was just about right for time, but not much for checking.
げんごちしき（ぶんぽう）・どっかい I found really tough for time, in 40 mins I think there were 5 passages in all (maybe 4), didn't get to the last one, plus grammar questions. Similar things to the sample, a business letter, letter to a friend, something on about ice and ice cream, maybe something else and some kind of schedule.
In hindsight I should have started with the easier ones and left the business letter till last. Plus I was kinda taking it easy until about 20 mins in when I realised I was gonna run out of time.
A big step up from the old level 3 reading thats for sure.
ちょうかい finally gave some relief as I found it pretty easy, same kind of stuff as in the sample.
Gonna have to brush up on my kanji readings as much as poss in the next 2 weeks. Wish there was some past papers to practice the timing for the reading, might get the N3 reading book thats out but a bit hesitant as it's not an official one anyway.
げんごちしき（もじ・ごい） I found quite a bit harder than on the sample (http://www.jlpt.jp/j/about/pdf/mondai/N3-mondai.pdf)
Was just about right for time, but not much for checking.
げんごちしき（ぶんぽう）・どっかい I found really tough for time, in 40 mins I think there were 5 passages in all (maybe 4), didn't get to the last one, plus grammar questions. Similar things to the sample, a business letter, letter to a friend, something on about ice and ice cream, maybe something else and some kind of schedule.
In hindsight I should have started with the easier ones and left the business letter till last. Plus I was kinda taking it easy until about 20 mins in when I realised I was gonna run out of time.
A big step up from the old level 3 reading thats for sure.
ちょうかい finally gave some relief as I found it pretty easy, same kind of stuff as in the sample.
Gonna have to brush up on my kanji readings as much as poss in the next 2 weeks. Wish there was some past papers to practice the timing for the reading, might get the N3 reading book thats out but a bit hesitant as it's not an official one anyway.