Question about the JLPT

Does a person really need to go to japan to take the test or is there some location in america for the person to take it, because a $3250 round trip ticket to japan is just way too much money to take a simple test. I could spend that money elsewhere.

Kamisama said:

Does a person really need to go to japan to take the test or is there some location in america for the person to take it, because a $3250 round trip ticket to japan is just way too much money to take a simple test. I could spend that money elsewhere.

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That's not very impressive research on your part.

Apart from trying the forum search here, the first link on a Google search for 'jlpt + usa' was
THE JAPAN FOUNDATION Los Angeles Office & Language Center: Japanese Language Proficiency Test
where you can see the text

In the United States, the JLPT is held on the first Sunday of every December at the following test sites: New York (NY); Chicago (IL), Honolulu (HI), Los Angeles (CA), Atlanta(GA), San Francisco(CA), Washington D.C., Seattle (WA - NEW TEST SITE!). This year the test will be held on December 5, 2004

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It's also not particularly impressive research on airplane ticket prices -- since when does it cost $3250(!!) to fly round-trip from the States to Japan? Or did you just make that number up?

Also, I'd suggest that if you're just beginning your study of the language (which seems to be the case from the questions you've asked in other threads), you're better off just focusing on learning at this point, and not concerning yourself with taking proficiency tests. Save the money you'd spend on the application fee and put it towards buying a good textbook, dictionary, reading/listening materials, or hiring a tutor or the like.

In my opinion, passing the JLPT doesn't mean anything at the lower levels anyway. I ended up taking Levels 2 and 1 eventually, but it was more of an afterthought -- just a way to check my progress against some sort of established criteria. So I don't really understand when people start talking about the JLPT when they've just begun their study of the language. The best way to measure your progress is by whether or not your Japanese ability is good enough to accomplish the things you want to do.

Ditto what jt said.

The JLPT should be used as an assessment, not a goal.