Comments on: JLPT Level 1 (without studying!) Impressions

By: Purplekat

Purplekat — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:50:14 +0000

Hi everyone …… I ran across this site during my quest for study materials/study plan for the JLPT 4 (new 2010 level4). Very good write up :) I am in the IT/IA field and have taken numerous standardized certifications tests ….. the CISSP was 6 hours long …… grueling!!!

I know you all are so very far past the level that I am going to try for Dec 2010 but I was wondering the best way to start studying for the JLPT. There is so much information ……. should I start with the hiragana/katakana and then progress to the kanji one I’ve mastered them?

I am a visual learner and am a bit fearful of the listening part of the JLPT …. any suggestions?

Thanks :)

oh …….. LOVE the boots!!!!

By: Harvey

Harvey — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:10:30 +0000

As I read I was thinking the same thing about taking past tests for benchmarking.

On the new test, I don’t think the top level will be much different than the existing JLPT1, so your practice this time will be relevant for next year.

By: Brett

Brett — Tue, 29 Dec 2009 18:04:29 +0000

I initially wondered why you wouldn’t just sit past tests at home if you wanted to do some benchmarking, but then I remembered that test day is a bit of an adventure. You certainly don’t get a feel for that silent camaraderie by doing practice tests at home. I took level 1 in ’07 largely under prepared and dealing with other major life issues at the time so I was resigned to failure. I missed by only a few marks but wasn’t bitter because I had approached it with a different mind set.

By: mo

mo — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 07:29:42 +0000

Thanks for the comment, Lloyd. Well said — the very silent camaraderie was kind of comforting (no one spoke to each other, but the vibe in the room was rather humble and like “oh my god this is going to be so hard”)

Sounds like the new JLPT changes will shake things up a bit — especially if it’s TWICE a year… that will take the edge off a bit.

And great idea about train tickets. I don’t remember being frustrated waiting or anything like that, but there was certainly a mass exodus from the exam to the train station afterwards… in America, not so much, since we’re lacking the whole public transportation thing. It’ll be interesting taking it again in Japan in another year or two!

By: Lloyd Vincent

Lloyd Vincent — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 06:13:31 +0000

Ah, JLPT level 1. I took it 2 years ago (passed! ;-D)

I also enjoyed it too, in a way. It was kind of like a vacation going out to the test site and getting to see a Japanese university. There was a nice sense of camaraderie too, with all the other test takers.

Some people really struggle with it and some people pass pretty easily. I think it comes down to if you have strong testing skills or not–if you can keep your thoughts clear through all the hype and panic and hours of sleep-deprived testing torture.

My number one tip is to get a day pass or whatever you need so that you don’t have to wait for the ticket machine at the train station on the way back :-P

I think with they’re going to start doing the JLPT twice a year two, although only for the easier levels (or was it the harder levels?…)

By: JinRoh

JinRoh — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 19:09:44 +0000

Actually, I believe they’re changing the structure of the test starting next year.

By: mo

mo — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 17:01:11 +0000

@sixmats: That sucks! I guess I’ll feel a little silly if I’m just a couple of points under and minimal studying will do the trick.

@Ed: Cool! Glad to find someone else who felt the same way about Lvl 1. Kinda jealous you took it in Yokohama though :)

@Alex: Good point good point. The new JLPT starts next year, right? Ahh well, hopefully taking the old one will still help me cross the new-JLPT-1 bridge when I come to it!

@Ryan: I’m sure you did fine :) From what I can tell your Japanese is way more solid than mine was when I took JLPT 2. I know how you feel though, I felt horrible about the listening section when I took level 2 but ended up doing way better than I expected! If you pass 2, will you be trying for 1 next year?? If so, 一緒に頑張ろうね！

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 13:35:40 +0000

I took the JLPT2 this year and found the listening particularly difficult, but the other two sections really quite easy. Hopefully I’ll have passed, but I find it hard to think postively about these things!

Good luck with your results; why is March quite so far away, hey?!

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 10:59:38 +0000

Great write up to break down the intimidating JLPT wall, although the test will be more difficult next time with the revised 5-level version rolling out.

By: Ed

Ed — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 05:57:27 +0000

I have the same sentiments as you have, the kanji-vocabulary homonym and same usage is a tough one. I had barely enough time to finish the
reading comprehension section. The listening part is easy though. Took the exam this December 2009 @ Meiji Gakuin Daigaku in Yokohama area.