JLPT July 2026

Japanese
#82

I started studying way back in 2010 when I was 16 (and I’m 31 now!). On and off as well, to be honest I really didn’t take it seriously at all and eventually life and work stuff took over and I only got back to studying this year (seriously this time) so I completely relate to you. Even though I felt like I could probably pass N4, I still took the N5 JLPT. I do consider myself a completionist though :yum: Imo it’s actually a nice introduction for you to get a feel of how JLPT exams are coordinated in your area so you won’t get a shock when you sit for the advanced levels. The rules and regulations can get quite overwhelming sometimes!

Also, @Minh_Nguyen is right! Don’t be discouraged at all, it’s a big deal going from no certificate to actually holding one in your hands! Always remember what they always say here; it’s a marathon, not a sprint :slight_smile: Everything at your own pace :sunflower:

All the best!

3 Likes
#83

@Minh_Nguyen, @virtualputeri - thank you both so much for the encouragement! Writing this next to all those amazing people tackling the upper tier levels is a little humbling, but I love the take of 'doing better than my past self ’ and actually holding a certificate of any kind in Japanese would absolutely make my day!

Besides, I haven’t really considered the aspect of getting used to the exam process, but that makes a ton of sense for higher tier levels too.

So… ありがとうござます - this helped a ton!

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#84

Happy (185) New (days) Year! (left):partying_face:

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#85

Is Leiden the Name of a City? In German it means to suffer :joy:

#86

Yes! In Dutch leiden means to lead and lijden means to suffer. Similar pronounciation

#87

If it helps, I’m thinking about sitting N4 in July. I took the N5 in December 2023 so been quite a while haha but I think I’m in sort of a similar position to you. Japanese is very much a hobby and the first thing to go from my routine when I’m busy, but it’s nice to have some sort of evidence of achievement.

I think realistically I was somewhat lucky to pass N5, especially listening, whilst this time round N4 is probably a bit too easy. But I would have no chance at N3 without putting in some serious work which I’m not really in a position to do between now and July, so it will be nice to get some sort of achievement/benchmark of progress to maybe do N3 in 2027 or 2028 (I don’t like how big the year numbers are getting, wasn’t it 2019 last week??)

1 Like
#88

Since we’re all preparing for the exam, I was wondering if anyone has recommendations for improving listening skills. I’m sure many others are struggling with this too, so I’d love to hear if anyone has a fresh approach I could try.

My vocabulary is actually quite strong, so I’m not worried about that. However, when I do practice exercises, I understand much less than I would if I were reading the same content as text. It’s frustrating because I’m always amazed by how much more I understand when there’s a script. I’ve even started doubting myself and reconsidering taking the exam this year (I passed N5, but failed N4 because I was three points short on the listening section).

I listen to podcasts and YouTube videos without subtitles to try and focus, but the frustration builds up when I realize how much I missed once I turn the subtitles back on. For those who have been through this, is the answer just ‘listen more,’ or am I missing a specific technique?

Thanks in advance for any recommendations! :crossed_fingers:t3:

176 days left to the doom 🫠

5 Likes
#89

So the techniques are

  1. Listen to stuff you already studied - The mp3 files from AppData\Roaming\Anki2\Study\collection.media, convert Japanese videos you’ve already watched to mp3.
Watch with subs first, the next day listen without
  1. shadowing, repeat every word you hear as fast as possible. It is tiring
  2. do the bunpro listening reviews (or the listing exercises from a textbook)
  3. talk to japanese people, out loud
    All of these strats work, so pick the one that sounds fun/ doable.
    I do 3 and 4
5 Likes
#90

So I made the (possibly stupid) decision to try and aim for the N3 exam in July. I was originally thinking of doing it in December, BUT I finished all N4 grammar/vocab this month, and rushed straight into N3. AND I happen to be in London the first weekend of July (when I assume the test will be held), so it’d be fun to take it at King’s College I think… They seem to open their registration in March, so fingers crossed!

Does anyone know when the July 2026 could be ‘officially’ announced?

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#91

It is not the first Sunday in the month of July? It is staying that way for quite a while now. So it should be 05 July 2026.

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#92

Yeah, I assume so too! But the official website is still showing the 2025 dates so it’s not 100% sure yet? But hopefully soon.

#93

Really working hard to get a passing grade in N2. Back on the SRS grind, but got rid of my full N5 and N4 reviews, along with N3 vocab but kept grammar (I have regrets on getting rid of the vocab, but I was seriously drowning in SRS).

Trying to get my WK level up again because I put it off. Immersion is upped and I am reading every day finally. We are gonna pass this shit!!!

4 Likes
#94

I’d plan to take the N2 in December, regardless of how the N3 results shape up in a few hours. I hope I can do enough. I know it’s a way away, but life just keeps moving faster and faster so I’m sure it’ll sneak up on me.

College work is keeping me current in N3-level range, so I just need to structure some out of class self study time focusing on N2 content. Bunpro and Wanikani are something I’ve been daily at for a while now, so keeping that going will help. Grammar will continue to be the area that I have to most trouble with, so I plan to focus a lot of my spare time there. I just hope I don’t upset the balance and end up neglecting listening, though that’s a hard one to really prepare for outside mock tests and just listening to a lot of stuff. I got my daily podcasts I spend roughly an hour with a day, so that is a decent ground level for now.

#95

Hello, Summer 2026 JLPT forum! Missed my pass mark by a few measly points, so it feels only right to go back for リベンジ!
Predicted plan of action!

  • Practice my least favorite grammar questions: __ __ :star: __
  • Read on the regular to amp up reading speed and expose myself to grammar and vocab on the regular!
  • wanikani to LVL 30 (if possible, put that off waaaaay too long)
  • Keep using Bunpro to review and progress

皆さん、一緒に頑張りましょう！

6 Likes
#96

Those are such a killer, but somehow I look forward to them XD

4 Likes
#97

I’m thinking of resitting n2 in July (hopefully a more comfortable pass) and then taking a practice shot in December at n1. Anyone else in a similar boat?

#98

What level are you aiming for?

#99

I’m also resitting N2 in July and aiming for sitting N1 in december, but I failed N2 lol.
My study plan is:

  1. I’m going to just do all grammars points on bunpro, at 2/day it should be done in late may.
  2. I’m FINALLY finishing my 常用漢字 deck. Eta early june, 7/day is a bit much but I’ve removed a lot of garbage decks so it’s only around 80-100 reviews a day, which is manageable when paired with the 50ish or so from bunpro
  3. Probably continuing watching a shameful amount of VOICEROID実況 videos as it’s one of the few consistent source of subtitled videos I’ve found (also no english subs so no choice but understand!), but in general continue shifting more and more of my leisure into japanese related things. (Also I should probably increasingly start watching unsubbed videos, I’m sometimes surprised that I … just understand what’s happening?)
  4. I will aim for 2-5 light novels read before july, probably 10x more before december
  5. One practice test a month to gauge level and whether I’m on the good path. probably one N1 practice test before july so I can understand what is expected.

Would be also good to go to the meetup place in my city and practice speaking. I’m at the point now where I’m starting to build sentences by myself when bored in the shower, and it’s been 8 months since I last spoke to a japanese speaking person.
If I have the time maybe I’ll also finish replaying Persona 5 in full japanese, but that’s probably not the most high impact studying method (maybe the most comfortable tho)

I worry it’s a bit too disjointed and that it will not result in that much progress, maybe I’ll finally get a book on grammar and read it too… If anyone got good recommendations for advanced stuff (I think I got N3 and under nailed down by now)

Reading it now that I have written it, I also worry it’s too much but since I got free time a little while longer, I’ll try using it to the max!!

1 Like
#100

Practice my least favorite grammar questions: __ __ :star: __

Maybe I’m alone in this but I think they become increasingly easy the higher the level
… or maybe it’s just that remainder of the test is much harder…
I’ve found it useful to read the combinations aloud in my head and sounding them out, I find it faster than reasoning in terms of grammar about what goes where. Like you “sound” an order, and then after validate it with your grammar knowledge.

2 Likes
#101

Wow that’s amazing!! You must read fast :smiley: