Passed JLPT level 4

[The7thSamurai]

Well after 11 months of (mostly disorganised self-teaching) Japanese study I found out today that I passed the JLPT level 4 test that I did last December. Still didn't do all that well though. My best was vocab/writing with 91/100, but listening was poor (53/100) and reading/grammar was also pretty crap 121/200. Overall 66%. Actually I am pretty happy as I didn't study specifically for the test until the day before (which was when I realised that there were about 20 grammar points that I didn't know!!)

I really want to go for level 2 this December, but I have to focus on the simple stuff and not let myself get carried away. Actually, talking about carried away, yesterday I bought three little books about Japanese history/culture that are written in both English and Japanese. Spent about 3 hours the other night examining the translation of two paragraphs! Way beyond my league.

How did everyone else go?

 

[Mike Cash]

Actually, talking about carried away, yesterday I bought three little books about Japanese history/culture that are written in both English and Japanese. Spent about 3 hours the other night examining the translation of two paragraphs! Way beyond my league.
How did everyone else go?

Congratulations.

If when the time for registering for the 2006 JLPT (September?) rolls around you still find them to be way beyond your league, you should probably sign up for 3 instead of 2.

 

[Damicci]

Congrats man. Thats good to hear. I was thinking about taking 4 but maybe i'll just go for 3. I have taken a few of the online assessments and done fairly well. Good luck on your way to JLPT2.

 

[Elizabeth]

Congraulations, Bucko !!!

話す内容は Bucko さんがわかるような内容ばかりだと思う相手に、耳を傾けてみてくださいね。

Is this correct ? Please listen to conversation partners who speak only at a level you can understand. That was my attempt anyway...

 

[KrazyKat]

おめでとう


I don't understand why they take so long to mark all those JLPT tests after all. Its multiple choice after all, they should really be in the post the next day. I think I have to wait until March to get mine.


I agree with what Mike Cash says though. Although I'd go one stage further and say aim for 3kyuu unless its ridiculuosly easy by August. That way you don't build up false expectations, if you are ahead of where you thought you would be you feel great, but if you are behind its not really so good, even if that point is at the same standard of language. 2kyuu is a lot harder than 4kyuu.

 

[J C]

Jplt

Congratulations - that's a great achievement passing level 4 with just self-study.
I would warn you though, that the levels seem to get exponentially more and more difficult. So I'd advise going for level 3 this year. It's just that you only get one shot a year (or have things changed?) and it's better to go for an achievable target rather than one you could possibly fail and be left with nothing for another year.
It would be interesting to hear other people's experiences, but in my experience, level 4 to level 3 is probably around a years' worth of study. Level 3 to level 2 is around 1 1/2 to 2 years. I can't really comment beyond there, but the couple of people who I know who passed Level one were living in Japan for a couple of years and also put quite a lot of effort into learning the grammatical constructs required. So I'm guessing another 2 years of good study to get up to level 1.
The guide for number of hours of study required is here:
JLPT Guide

Good luck

 

[Nicky]

BuckoくんはJLPT試験に合格した。おめでとう!
(... I hope this sentence is right)

I plan to sign up for the test this year myself. Ideally I'd like to try level 3, but I might have to settle for 4.

 

[The7thSamurai]

Congratulations.
If when the time for registering for the 2006 JLPT (September?) rolls around you still find them to be way beyond your league, you should probably sign up for 3 instead of 2.

Good advice Mike Cash, I'll keep it in mind. Cheers.

 

[The7thSamurai]

BuckoくんはJLPT試験に合格した。おめでとう!
(... I hope this sentence is right)
I plan to sign up for the test this year myself. Ideally I'd like to try level 3, but I might have to settle for 4.

You should definitely go for 3 IMO. Had I done specific study for level 3 then I'm sure I would have passed it too, but I was more interested in plain old communicating than the JLPT for most of the time.

 

[The7thSamurai]

Congraulations, Bucko !!!
話す内容は Bucko さんがわかるような内容ばかりだと思う相手に、耳を傾 けてみてくださいね。
Is this correct ? Please listen to conversation partners who speak only at a level you can understand. That was my attempt anyway...

Thanks Elizabeth

Also, can you clarify what you meant by "Please listen to conversation partners who speak only at a level you can understand"? Do you mean for me not to bother speaking with people who are too advanced for my level?

 

[Champloo]

Holy ****, congrats. I bet we will be hearing about level 1 passage soon ;ooooo

 

[J44xm]

Congrats. I look forward to passing level one one day.

 

[Glenn]

Yeah, so do I. Maybe next year.

 

[Elizabeth]

Thanks Elizabeth
Also, can you clarify what you meant by "Please listen to conversation partners who speak only at a level you can understand"? Do you mean for me not to bother speaking with people who are too advanced for my level?

いいえ、Bucko さんの役に立つような方法を使ってください。
でも、レベルを知らないネイティブスピーカーと話している場合は。。。。
出来るだけ自然の速さのほうが、聞き取りに必要だ（か ？）と思ったら、まったくわからないようなら、
相手にゆっくり話すように聞くのが役に立つですね。。

 

[Mahoujin Tsukai]

おめでとう
I don't understand why they take so long to mark all those JLPT tests after all. Its multiple choice after all, they should really be in the post the next day. I think I have to wait until March to get mine.
I agree with what Mike Cash says though. Although I'd go one stage further and say aim for 3kyuu unless its ridiculuosly easy by August. That way you don't build up false expectations, if you are ahead of where you thought you would be you feel great, but if you are behind its not really so good, even if that point is at the same standard of language. 2kyuu is a lot harder than 4kyuu.

The jump between 3kyuu and 2kyuu is very big, let alone 4kyuu and 2kyuu.
More realistically, you should aim for 3kyuu this year.

 

[Gaijinian]

If you deticate a lot of time to studying, you might be able to do it... and even 3kyuu is a lot harder than 4kyuu...
But, good job so far!! Keep it up

 

[Kinsao]

Congratulations, Bucko! Nice one!
I have no idea what my level is... my course is just called 'Japanese for beginners' and it is certificated by Asset Language............... I take my first exam (the oral exam) in one week! I'm looking forward to it... need to do a little more revision but I know what my 'presentation' is going to be. After that we take the listening and the reading exams.

 

[Glenn]

がんばってね、Kinsaoさん！

I'm sure you'll do well.

 

[Pachipro]

Congratulations Bucko. Keep at it. It's the first step and should give you more confidence in reaching the next level. It also gives inspiration to others seeking to study and take the test.

 

[Kinsao]

Yeah! I took my oral exam yesterday and it went fine (our tutor says we all have passed ;-) ), now it's only the listening and the reading, and I'm not worried about them at all. It's only at Level 1, but it's a start...

I decided... when classes break up after the exams finish, then I'm going to start learning kanji, I'll learn from a website to begin with I think (there seems to be a lot of recommendations here!) That way I can carry on learning without the class, and then I want to take Level 2 next year.

Without kanji yet, I can't read a lot of posts in this section...

Also, this section was the reason that I joined j-ref - with a language question - and it's the section in which I've posted the least, so I look forward to a time when I can participate more fully.

 

[Glenn]

Congrats on passing the exam!

Keep at it; we welcome your questions. And in time you'll find those undecipherable symbols to be quite helpful. We look forward to your fuller participation!

 

[SortOf]

Congrats on your test! Im hoping that by the 2007 year ill be able to take the level 4 test. (yes im that much of a moronically slow learner).

I put over 700 hours in playing World of Warcraft, I can put in it leaning Japanese.

 

[Elizabeth]

Yeah! I took my oral exam yesterday and it went fine (our tutor says we all have passed ;-) ), now it's only the listening and the reading, and I'm not worried about them at all. It's only at Level 1, but it's a start...

おめでとうございます、Kinsao さん！
By all means (necessary), please do participate, even in the Beginners kana/romaji thread ! 参加お願いいたします！
Anyway, we don't take no for an answer around here
In the meantime....お気持ちだけでけっこうです。(Just your thinking of us is enough).

 

[Kinsao]

Thank you Elizabeth-san!
I'm hampered in reading this section of the forum by the fact that my work computer doesn't have Japanese characters package and I am not allowed to install it. So I have to read at home if I want to see the kana and kanji, and I have very little home-time.
and I am sure I will be only in the beginners' thread for quite a while yet! =P

How do you get your computer able to actually write the kana in this forum? :? Is there a programme I should download? My home machine displays them fine but I can't write them.

 

[kumo]

How do you get your computer able to actually write the kana in this forum? :? Is there a programme I should download? My home machine displays them fine but I can't write them.

For Windows XP:
Japanese Input on Windows XP
Changing your non-Unicode settings is not necessary (unless you need to install Japanese programs etc...)