Failed N3 again

Japanese
#1

I took N3 for the first time last December with a score of 90/180. I was so close so I decided to take it again this July and… Got a score of 93/180.

I’m feeling so discouraged and sad. I’ve been living in Japan for a few years so of course I will continue to study Japanese, but I feel I should be beyond this level by now. I don’t struggle with daily life and conversation here. I even started slowly introducing N2 content after the test because I was confident I passed.

Not sure what I should do now study wise. I really don’t want to take N3 again. I wonder if I should stop focusing so much on JLPT levels and just what I can use practically. But it’s hard when most of the study materials are based on the JLPT.

Any recommendations for what to do next? Or anything in/was in a similar situation?

#2

Probably forget JLPT completely for a year and just consume japanese media that you enjoy. Do immersion for a year and I bet you would pass N2 no problems.

1 Like
#3

It’s pretty generic advice, but watch more anime and drama, read manga, LNs and VNs. Study what you need to know to enjoy yourself, you’ll fly past N2 before you know it.

A few hours a day is necessary to progress. Get a frequency dictionary and immediately add anything below 10k frequency to your reviews (only after having seen it in context in your media). Many of them wont be JLPT relevant, but you need to know them either way. You are learning the language after all. When you struggle to find new words to add, start adding everything below 15k and so on. Words at higher frequencies should also be added if you come across them often and struggle to remember them.

#4

I don’t have any good advice, but just want to say that it’s totally understandable that you feel that way, I would be discouraged too!

Don’t give up tho! Tests are hard, and the fact that you keep beign close means that there is just a few of those questions that you are missing, and you did improve the score even if it’s a little. It might mean you improved a lot just that those things didnt appear as much on the test this time

#5

There are lots of options but the practice tests on Bunpro are good, but I think the ones on Todaiinews are spot on (from my limited experience). If you pass those, I think they are a good indication that you are on the right track. Keep reviewing and study the JLPT prep books and you’ll get it.

That said, I think the other comments already made are really good. Focus on Japanese and don’t worry about the JLPT. I would remind you that the JLPT is a stupid test. I passed N2 and my Japanese is shiiiiiiiiii… very bad. I skipped N3 and went straight for N2 just because of where it was held in my area. But I studied just for the test and passed, I didn’t study Japanese… now look at me, I have a piece of paper that says I am 日本語上手, but in reality I am not at all… I struggle with the language all the time. Like every day…

Keep at it with the real Japanese and come back to JLPT if you need it later. Maybe straight to N2…

All the best!

#6

There were answers on the N2 test I was sure of but didn’t know why… I knew the way the grammar was used so could pick out enough of the answers but didn’t understand the context… it is a stupid test…

#7

Is there a particular area that is dragging your score down? If so, perhaps a more targeted study regime would help.

1 Like