When it comes to the reading and listening sections of the JLPT, concentration is key. It’s not enough to be able to understand difficult texts and audio, you have to be able to do it for more than one hour long. Of course, you want to constantly improve your Japanese level, but don’t forget to improve your concentration too!
This is a review of the two series Nihongo So-matome and Shin Kanzen Master for the JLPT N2. I compare both series book by book to help you decide which series is best for you!
This is a long post about me taking and passing the JLPT N1 for the first time. I will talk about: my scores, section by section; what I did during my six-month preparation for N1, what was useful and what was useless; why I am going to sit the test once more in December and how I am going to study for it. But first, some context: The JLPT and me I took and passed the JLPT N2 twice in 2017. The following year, I took a break from the JLPT, and I am back now in 2019 for a new JLPT challenge. My idea was to sit the JLPT N1 in December 2019, but I also took the test in July as a warm-up exercise… and I passed! It is interesting to note that the scores I had for N1 this time are very similar to my results of July 2017, when I took N2 for the first time: 2017 = JLPT N2 2019 = JLPT N1 Test 1July Language Knowledge: 34/60Reading: 60/60Listening: 38/60 Language Knowledge: 36/60Reading: 48/60Listening: 37/60 Test 2December …
Since January 2019, I am studying to pass the JLPT N1. My goal is to pass the test in December, but I also took the test of July to gain some practice. It was helpful, but it also gave me a sense of achievement, and it is hard to get back to the JLPT preparation now! After the test of July, I went on holiday, but it has been several days since I came back, and I still haven’t done anything for the JLPT or my blog. This post is long due! I have tried to identify what makes it difficult for me to go back to studying for the JLPT when I usually don’t have to struggle to study Japanese. First of all, waiting for the results (of the JLPT of July) is frustrating. It is hard to get back to the preparation of the JLPT without knowing where I should put my efforts. On the other hand, the results won’t come out before the end of August, so waiting would mean losing a precious month. In January, when I started …
I have taken the JLPT N1 on July 7th (2019) for the first time, and I was not very surprised by my performance… I think that I might pass, but I also feel that I need the remaining months until December to increase my vocabulary and progress in listening. Report on the July test Vocabulary/Grammar I found that the vocabulary part was not as hard as the drills I have been doing recently. I think that the Korean textbooks and drills that I use tend to be very demanding so that students are well prepared. During the real test on Sunday, I was surprised to see that the vocabulary part was not that hard. I don’t mean that I answered everything right, of course, there were a lot of words that I didn’t know, and I picked several answers randomly. But I also felt that a little more work on vocabulary will be sufficient to ensure a good mark in that section. The most surprising part of the whole test was the grammar section. I felt …
This is my review of the textbook So-matome Grammar N1. I loved studying with it, I don’t think that it is the perfect textbook, and I could point out many things that I didn’t like in it, but… for someone who learns Japanese as a hobby, it was pleasant and not overwhelming.
I can’t believe that the test of July is in a little more than one month. My real goal is to pass in December, and I am taking the test of July as an exercise. Nonetheless, I cannot help but feeling excited (stressed) for July, and I am focusing on making vocabulary and grammar drills. So-matome Grammar: DONE! I have finally finished the So-matome textbook for grammar. I had planned to finish it in May, so I am very glad to say that everything went according to plan. I am aware that the So-matome textbook is not enough, this is why I will also study with a Korean textbook: This Korean textbook is very thorough. It has a lot of example sentences, and it has a strategical approach, showing you the grammar in the context of JLPT questions: I still don’t know if I will buy the Shin Kanzen for grammar or not… I remember that the Shin Kanzen was a little overwhelming for me when I took N2. More than once, I felt discouraged when …
