I can't find any actual numbers on it? I'm sure I read somewhere it's 3000 total for 1級.

From what are you drawing your data?

-edit-
nevermind

Note 1.  KanKen level. I've included numbers as a guide to which level each 四字熟語 might appear on. The number shows the lowest level at which each jukugo could appear, given the kanji it contains.

Last edited by Jarvik7 (2010 February 13, 5:34 am)

Did a small bit of study for 5級 so far but it's good that I've started studying for it. I took a practice test too and got 117/200 (140 is a pass) so I could get passing this one way faster than expected. I got pwnd in the 書き取り section so I figure what I will do for 5級 is put all the vocab I learn for it in my vocab deck to retain it and put all the 書き取り questions I get wrong into my old kanken deck. The rest I'll just leave for this level.

Jarvik7 wrote:

For 3,4,5 kyuu combined it's probably somewhere closer to 1000 yojijukugo.

Yeah, but you don't actually have to learn every single one.  I passed 5, 4, and 3kyuu and I barely know 50 yojijukugo.  If you just use the prep books you can pick up on the ones that are probably going to show up on the test.

Also remember when you're studying them (for the kanken) that it's not just about knowing what they mean (in fact, you don't have to know what they mean until 2kyuu), you have to insert the correct kanji in a blank or convert one katakana sequence to kanji.

Last edited by yudantaiteki (2010 February 20, 8:26 am)

yudantaiteki wrote:

Jarvik7 wrote:

For 3,4,5 kyuu combined it's probably somewhere closer to 1000 yojijukugo.

Yeah, but you don't actually have to learn every single one.  I passed 5, 4, and 3kyuu and I barely know 50 yojijukugo.  If you just use the prep books you can pick up on the ones that are probably going to show up on the test.

Also remember when you're studying them (for the kanken) that it's not just about knowing what they mean (in fact, you don't have to know what they mean until 2kyuu), you have to insert the correct kanji in a blank or convert one katakana sequence to kanji.

You can completely get away with not knowing some sections at all because they're only worth 10 points. I'm interested in 四字熟語 so I've started on a mission to learn 10 a day with a goal of learning 3000 inside of a year. Partly because they're quite fun to learn and partly in prep for a possible shot at 1kyuu So far it's going well.

Jarvik7 wrote:

True, but following that pattern is really a matter of one's goals. Do you just want to pass the test (for resume/work purposes), or do you want to actually earn it as a personal goal?

@mezbup: Apparently there is a big gap between levels 4 and 5, but 4 is the first one I took so I don't know for sure.

You're right. It's like the difference between 7 and 8 isn't much but between 7 and 6 it is. 5 and 6 aren't much difference but I took a 4級 test before (got about 65) and it's definitely a lot harder. I imagine the difference between 3 and 4 will be a smaller step though so that's ok. I think it kinda scales up like that the whole way from my experience.

As for goals? It's a personal challenge aswell as to broaden my knowledge, reinforce what I know and It's something I want for the future on a resume. I'm aiming at 1.5級 and once I get there and thinking of having a crack at 1級. Purely for the チャレンジ.

Jarvik7 wrote:

True, but following that pattern is really a matter of one's goals. Do you just want to pass the test (for resume/work purposes), or do you want to actually earn it as a personal goal?

Well, my goal in taking the kanken was mostly for fun, but I don't consider the 4ji jukugo a very important section of the test in terms of useful knowledge; I've rarely encountered ones in reading that I wasn't able to understand, and being able to fill in the missing kanji in a 4ji jukugo (especially out of context, like on the jun-2 or 2) seems more like a game than an actual useful skill.  Being able to do that really doesn't have anything to do with whether you can understand them, or use them in your own speech or writing.

Last edited by yudantaiteki (2010 February 20, 9:51 am)

deathspi wrote:

When the results for the tests are shown, it says there are 30 questions for the 読み section, but obviously there are only 20 questions at the start. Anyone know where the other 10 come from? (Noticed this in levels 5 and 6 so far...)

You mean 30 points over 20 questions? When you go to the details section you can see how many questions per section and also how many points there we're for that section.

So I've put 5級 aside now, I studied it for a month but am passing consistently with about 160. Don't really have time to devote to it as much as I'd like so I gotta move on to 4級.

The plan is 1 month 5級, 2 months 4級 and 3 months 3級.

I took my first 4級 practice test about a week ago for fun to see what would happen, I got 66 (every freakin time). I just took my second one as I'm officially studying it now and I got 72. So punishingly hard. Felt like I got everything wrong and knew hardly anything at all... I don't really wanna think about 3級 but if I can do 4級 then I can do 3級.

I've done a certain amount of prep work for 4級 kinda and it's done a little to help me but the only way to improve on this level is just to Anki the shit out of all the vocab on the questions I get wrong. The crap thing is that that's a lot! Alas it's making me learn a tonne of vocab and that is a very good thing. Though I find myself really, really wishing I had all that time to devote to speaking skills instead. After 3級 in August I will take a break from KanKen (maybe study 2.5級 cos that's the whole jouyou) and just work on output, output, output.

Maybe if I'm brave enough I can come back and tackle 1.5級 the following August

Hello : ) I don't know if this thread is still active but I wanted to drop a line and ask few questions.

I found also kanken very efficient if you use it besides studies. But I don't know why the game say that I've covered only about 3% on each levels though I did each several times... anyone has an explanation ? and is there a way to see all the drills for a single level at the same time with no limitations (it seems it's 30 per exercises) ?

Thanks !

Really you could just study solely for ２級 never having studied for any other level and just pass it without ever taking any of the others if you wanted to. It's as Jarvik says, each level tests pretty much only whats on that level. The only really difference is in terms of reading which incorporates material from all levels before it but you're not being tested on that stuff per se rather it will just be included in the questions out of necessity.

I was going to sit 5級 recently but due to very unfortunate timing/circumstances I had to give it a miss... next opportunity is Feb 2011 which I will hopefully give either 5級 or 4級 a go depending on other studies.

deedo wrote:

i know that each level are different. What I meant is I will study 4級 and ３級 and take both exam. 4級 should be easier.

The next exam is in november and not february 2011 btw

That depends on where you live. It's feb for me. 頑張って！

おめでとう！ That's a solid result!

Yeah it was supposed to be in August for the last one but it got moved foward July... It's held at the Japanese supplementary school here. I sat it this year in Feb and i'm told its being held again next Feb... *shrugs* Hope I do aswell as you!

Version 1 has like half the example problems of the later versions or maybe even less. So, the others are definitely better but It will surely still do the trick for getting good marks on the real deal.

Btw I sat level 5 last month, waiting for the results now but I felt like I did pretty well on it and am fairly confident of a pass!