Yes, that’s right.
For every question of every JLPT exam, you only hear each question once.
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Thank you!
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It would be a really interesting experiment to see how the scores change if they played the audio twice. Maybe only for the questions where you might reasonably ask someone to repeat what they just said (e.g. not a station announcement etc). Dunno, there’s just so many times I get it on the 2nd attempt.
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Yeah, I think there are certain parts where it would be reasonable to repeat at least a few of the questions.
Talking of which, does anyone have any tips for the “rapid response” questions, like N2 listening part 4, where they say something and then give you some choices of how the other person should reply?
To me, some of them sound easy, but others sound impossible, like:
Blubluwubliwubbliwurrr …
Ichi) Blayubbiwabbanakatta.
Ni) Mibblywubblyblayubbiwabbakattainnathahatta.
San) BLURBLURHURRHURRHURRFUFUFUSNURF.
Ding!
Next question.
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I mean, from my lowly N4 perspective: Listen super intently on the question, if you don’t know what they’re asking about, it’s kinda tough to pick an answer. I know it’s pretty obvious answer, but concentration is a funny thing. I find having a pencil in hand and just jotting something, anything, helps with that.
The main tip is though, just shake it off, there’s going to be WTF questions on the listening section. Only let it effect that one question. I’ve had it where a complete WTF question has thrown me off the next few questions. Big breath, okay that was 
next question.
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I did the listening part for N5 with a youtube video yesterday and was a bit surprised. There were several parts. The conversation part, a part which was focused on similar things, a part where you have to guess which expression would be the best in a shown situation and a part whith no text at all where you have to guess the correct out of 3 answers to a question.
Are there really 4 parts in N5? I thought some of these types will be added in N4, N3 and so on.
Or what is the rapid response part @bunnypro is talking about?
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Yes, there are 4 parts in the N5 listening.
This is according to the most recent official sample exam available here:
https://www.jlpt.jp/e/samples/sampleindex.html
The “rapid response” section I was talking about is the last one on N5, section 4.
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Sometimes I find listening to the tone can help me identify the correct answers on those rapid portions of the test. Also if you can try to listen to the last section of the question to see if you can see what kind of demand it might be. I know by the end of the listening section concentraction can start waning. Especially after a long test like N2. Best of luck! I know these tips aren’t all that much but hey maybe it can get you at least one extra correct point!
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Anyone who’s taking the test in London and wants to have a debrief afterwards over some food. Roughly between 5 & 7, I’ll be killing time before my coach home at:
It’s about a mile from the test centre over in China town.
Somewhat suprisingly, I don’t look like my avatar, so if it’s of interest to you, send me a message and we can sort it out.
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In my case, just taking tons of past JLPT N2 exams for practice. You can’t meaningfully improve in Japanese in a week, but you can at least try to get used to the format and test-taking strategies. I did five exams in four days over Thanksgiving break and I’m aiming to do two more exams tomorrow.
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The strategy I’m using is to just skip the grammar section entirely (i.e. just put down 1 for everything) and go straight to reading. When I do that, I usually have time for all but the longest essay at the end.
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Interesting strategy!
I guess so long as you are really confident on the vocab to pull you through and listening to make up the difference to the 90 points, it could work!
I think I’m going to make up my strategy as I go along during the exam tomorrow, just see how it goes and not take it too seriously if I don’t pass this time 
The score scaling is a complete blackbox, so it’s hard to really know what will get you the points you need. But reading is an entire section by itself while grammar is combined with vocab, so it seems like reading is a lot more important. Additionally, grammar is my worst section, so torturing myself with the grammar section first is of dubious value anyway.
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So the past month or so I’ve been testing myself on specific bits and pieces of the test. I’ve taken the N2 before, and since I’ve had no problems with time constraints or listening (which is my highest score by quite a bit). I decided to focus and hone in on vocabulary, grammar, and reading. So far I’ve noticed my grammar and vocabulary have improved a lot. Those pesky little star questions aren’t too big of an issue anymore. However, I’m still running into issues with the “What is the author saying in this passage?” questions. 2-3 of the answers always seem like they overlap. I have no problems reading the passage, and can summarize it to my wife without issue, but when it comes to figuring out which small little sentence applies to it I feel like a complete idiot. I’m almost certain I’m going to fail because of this reason specifically.
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Same problem here. Also struggling with the response answers. Even though I can correctly translate and understand everything, I am just socially awkward enough to think that on some questions every answer is something I’d say.
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Good luck for tomorrow everyone
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Good luck for both tomorrow and the score scaling being in your favour 
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Yeah
Q) Please come to my party next weekend.
いち) Sorry, my pet parrot died.
Yep, that sounds like a reasonable thing to say in that situation.
に) Oh, look over there, a shiny object!
Yep, that sounds like a reasonable thing to say in that situation.
さん) Do you want me to buy everyone a drink or something?
Well that’s ridiculous to ask a question back … why would you even care … but wait, are they being ironic, so maybe just about possible?!
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Good luck everyone, everywhere taking the test!
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It’s finally tomorrow…
Best of luck to everyone!!
皆は緊張しているだろうけれど、頑張ってください！
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