I’ve had a somewhat irregular history with japanese as I didn’t intend to actually learn the language at the beginning but was so immersed in their entertainment culture (mainly music, movies and dramas) that eventually had the urge of learning -just- the basics (hiragana, katakana and the most most basic grammar and kanji) and with the pass of time and huge hearing exposure to the language I started to understand more than intended.
After enrolling to a japanese class for the first time and spending a year on there, somehow trying to structure my knowledge for the first time, I got N4 by barely getting the minimum needed scores.
Then I dropped the classes (college was just way too demanding) and never got back to actually study japanese for like 6~7 years. On that time I always kept the intense exposure to the language, thus inevitably learning by hearing, but of course that can do as much and suddenly my japanese knowledge was a huuuge mess.
I got a private Japanese teacher who literally set himself the task of “detangling” my japanese knowledge mess lol and spent about 2 years with his classes, then I applied for N3 and got it at the first try with a fairly nice score (except for reading/kanji which was nearly the minimum necessary to pass) and now we keep working on enhancing my N3 knowledge before even thinking on going for N2 which is a much bigger gap.
Now, I mention all of this because looking at my experience and making a self evaluation by comparing my knowledge and my performance when trying to communicate with japanese people from the moment I got N4 to the moment I reached N3, and it is a big gap not to be underestimated.
After getting N3 I just couldn’t comprehend how on earth I got N4 on the first place because I think my level now is nowhere compared to the one at that time lol
N3 is after all considered to be a much more serious level where the “real” casual and everyday japanese language starts to come around.
Also, various people (even people who has N2) have told me that they struggled much more with getting N3 than any other level because they all coincidentally say that it can turn out to be a very tricky level. Even by having the knowledge and everything, the questions may be tricky and confusing, plus the potential nervousness of a test can turn it into a bad luck combo.
For instance, the texts of the reading part can be very challenging and is probably the most difficult part of the test. By recommendation of my teacher I skipped immediately to that part and started from there, then moved to the other “easier” parts of the test before running out of time. So if you consider that your reading speed is somewhat slow, you may want to focus on that area during your preparation for the test.
In conclusion, you should go for the level that you think is most suitable for you right now but should not underestimate N3.
Also, I think it is a very important level (for all the reasons mentioned before) and it is worth it to have the experience of making the test and all.
If after making the test for N3 you get a very high score on there, then you can be sure that N2 is within the reach and can start working towards it in order to get a good score at N2 as well.
My final advice: JLPT is important to have if you are aiming for something on which you would need to prove your level with that certificate, but reality is that the true test will obviously be the actual performance when talking to Japanese people and/or when visiting/living in Japan, and if you introduce yourself with a N2 certificate, people will expect a lot from you in therms of language, so it can turn into a huge pressure, so don’t rush to get it.
I would suggest sticking with the level that (outside of the test classroom) best suits your knowledge and with the one you will feel most comfortable with in case you need to communicate completely in Japanese.
Sorry for the looooong post lol
I guess this is why I am considering N3 as well, I know I’d get a motivation boost from it, but failing N2 could do that just as well.