Oh wow what an issue.
Sounds like the foundation didn’t have a backup plan for this case, e.g. a procedure send the test file to the test site over a chat app/file share. And without a pre-approved procedure nobody will risk making such a decision on the spot.
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Hi! I was there as well.
I’ve been searching online but did not find a single instance of this happening before, so that makes me think they don’t have procedures for this.
I’m fearing they will solve it by apologize a lot, refunding the amount but refusing to issue a test score - really hoping I’m wrong here.
Very curious if anyone encountered a similar situation in the past.
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Oh, how cool to hear from somebody else who was there. 
D’you reckon they’d do that? That would suck. I’d even prefer to have all unanswered questions just marked plain wrong over not being issued a score.
About to start my test, good luck everyone!
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I agree! I think I have a good chance to pass even with a 0 on the remaining questions.
Otherwise I guess I’ll try for N4 again in Leuven in July.
How did you do other than this unfortunate situation?
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Took N2 for the first time after studying Japanese 3 years and 3 months, one year of that in Japan, here are my way too long experiences and ramblings.
Disclaimer: Only my own experience, I think the JLPT is dependent on your personal progress and strong points in specific areas of Japanese so take it with a grain of salt.
I personally found the Reading section and Grammar to be really doable. However, I found some of the vocab used in the vocab section to be difficult, there were several words I’ve never been before so I had to guess a lot. I have to admit tho, Vocab is still one of my more lacking aspects, they especially asked about a few words I’ve never seen before, maybe also bad luck.
Grammar and Reading were as expected and doable, I finished with 5 minutes extra time to check previous answers. It felt a bit harder than the N2 Bunpro Mock Test I took, but not tooo much.
Listening on the other hand completely fucked me tho and is probably the reason I am likely to fail. After studying in Japan for a year taking classes including listening comprehension, watching anime with jp subs or without every day AND doing good on the Bunpro N2 mock test, I thought I had a good base, but it was MUCH harder than expected. They used a lot of hard vocabulary and it was really hard to get everything. Between this and the Bunpro Mock tests is a large gap imo. While I understood most of the vocab used on Bunpro, I struggled to get a good grip on what’s being talked about. I found the first half (1 and 2) of the listening to be particularly challenging.
Additionally, the rule that you CAN’T go to the toilet during listening broke me…
Although I went right before, I suddenly had to pee 10 minutes into the exam and couldn’t concentrate at all. I asked but it was the choice almost pissing myself or fail the exam. I didn’t wanna cause a fuss by discussing or leaving, so I just tried not to piss myself for the rest of the exam, it was hell. While I do think I could have concentrated better without this “situation”, I still found the listening to be especially hard regardless.
Unironically, I am considering to buy a diaper for the next JLPT and can recommend that to everyone having a very small bladder.
takeaways for me: focus much more on vocab and listening, focus less on grammar and kanji study, buy a diaper for listening
P.S.: Others mentioned it before but they were really strict with putting everything into envelopes and no drinking during the exam.
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Yeah I’m really scared about the combined vocab+grammar/reading section on the N2… 1h45m without a toilet break seems hellish since I usually drink a lot.
Drinking was allowed here during the exam, I asked if bottles on the table are ok (since the instructions said only pencils/eraser/sharpener) and they just checked that no notes were written on any bottles.
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During the reading and vocab section, you were allowed to go to the toilet, at least here!
However, you needed to be accompanied by a staff member and wouldn’t get more time added.
For me it was no problem for that section st least tho, I had to go once during reading section and still finished in time.
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Glad to hear it! I feel good about my test too. Do post again once the results are up in March!
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wait a minute, MARCH?
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They probably meant the official letter. It should be up in late January online.
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Ope.
didn’t know that lol
I’m always clueless.
Then January it is.
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That’s what the 6(?) digit code is for that you had to choose when registering 
with that code you can access the online results in late January.
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3 people got disqualified last year because their phones made some sort of noise during the test.
violating the new no phones rule. As soon as the break started, almost everyone ripped into their envelope… despite instructions not to
In my level there was a question I had already seen in practice materials. I recognized it immediately.
I know we can’t discuss anything specific, but I’m wondering if it’s a common practice for them to repeat questions from previous tests?
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i got cooked on the N3 Listening part but I’m really grateful bunpro helped me read better since it was weakest point last July take, it was smoother this time but damn the listening lol. The current mock test is surely not on the same level with the exam. Looking forward to the newer tests!
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Yeah I was pleased with the listening too! Even tho I was similarly cooked I felt the n2 listening practice on bunpro and the real test were pretty similar. I’m just bad at listening xD
It isn’t unheard of, but don’t rely on it happening too often 
Anyway, it’s not like past JLPT questions are available anywhere, such as on the internet, even just a few hours after each exam …
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Haha if it was a leak, it was very early! This was a question I’d seen on a jlpt prep youtube video probably about 2-3 months ago.
I assumed they got it from a test prep book with older exams in it, but I guess I don’t know the source for certain!
I sure won’t count on it happening frequently, but it was nice to be 100% sure I got at least 1 question correct!
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