I wanted to participate in the December round of the JLPT this year, but I have absolutely no clue of which JLPT level I should try - I'm considering the N4 and the N3. However, I can't gauge my japanese skills and I don't know how they will progress until the test and I really don't know what they are asking there.

At the moment, I have done half of Minna no Nihongo book 1 and will finish it this summer. Apart from that, though, I am learning vocabulary from different sources (core2/6k, JapanesePod, whatever I encounter) and I did (most of) RtK1. I think my biggest problem is and will be the grammar, but I leave that aside for now and simply do vocab...

Until October, I won't be able to study much and certainly not focused on something, but after that, I could study more or less full time for the test. Would two months be enough?

I had a look at the example questions at the JLPT homepage and the N3 ones didn't look too hard and the N4 ones were already doable, but then I kinda wonder if this is a true representation of the test.

What do you think? How did you choose what level to take?

At the following website you can find a level checker. *click me* Also you can see what you will need to know, vocab, grammar, kanji, for the individual JLPT tests. With みんなの日本語 1 you would be closest to JLPT 5 or even 4. With book 2 in your back you should be close to Level 3. Just a rough estimation from what i have read from others on here.

Apparently I'm close to level 3 by looking through the vocab and grammar points. Which means I should shoot for level 2. How reliable are those grammar points he list for each test? Is there a better place to find grammar points based off JLPT?

I'd say the vocab and the grammar points are the easiest parts.

The real test is if you can do the reading comprehension questions (and listening!).

NoSleepTilFluent Wrote:Apparently I'm close to level 3 by looking through the vocab and grammar points. Which means I should shoot for level 2. How reliable are those grammar points he list for each test? Is there a better place to find grammar points based off JLPT?

I don't know if better is the accurate word for it, but take a look at the Meguro Center Japanese School Website, their resources are pretty good as well. *click me* I'm sure there are other resources on the web, but those i have linked are up-to-date, and that i know personally.

dizmox Wrote:I'd say the vocab and the grammar points are the easiest parts.

The real test is if you can do the reading comprehension questions (and listening!).

I agree with this. The grammar section is the easiest by far, so I'd try a couple of reading and listening questions for each level to try to gauge where you're at.