I’m going to try and get a seat for N5 when it opens up in my testing region on the 22nd. Doing it for the experience and to have something to show on paper for the time spent studying Japanese.
Going for N5 for the same reason. My listening comprehension really sucks and I think I can pass N5 scraping a few points in that section, don’t think my other skills are strong enough to carry listening at N4 where I’d basically be guessing.
I’m not sure if I should aim for N2, I clearly don’t have the level at all. But I also passed N3 so… the next obvious one would be that one.
On other hand, I’d prefer to take a Kanji Kentei test instead, but those are more niche and hard to get an examination.
I had planned to take the N3 after having passed the N4 last December. But even though I’ve been studying consistently and did an N3 prep course I didn’t feel very prepared. I did some N3 practice questions with a 50/50 success rate and wasn’t even really sure why the correct answers were the correct ones. I did better in the reading comprehension exercises that were included with the prep course, but not well enough to be able to do it in the time the test would allow.
So I started BunPro about a month ago and will see where I am by next year at this time.
I also logged on to the registration site “just to see” and all the seats in both NYC and Washington DC were full only an hour after registration opened. Seems like a sign that taking a step back was the right call.
I took N3 last July. The results aren’t in yet but it felt easy enough. So whatever the results may be, I’ll be taking the N2 in December. I don’t think I will be ready yet, though. My goal is to retake it in July and be successful then. December is a training session to me ! No pressure ! 
I wonder if the BJT is a more practical route. You can schedule whenever you want in a Pearson testing center anytime of year. Plus you can re-take it as soon as 3 months later and headphone audio, no pencils nor fumbling proctors or test room distractions. No waiting for a score either and the immigration points for visas are just as good as JLPT.
I failed N3 by 10 points in July 2019, I rather do the N3 exam and pass it once and for all haha. I don’t feel like I have enough time to train up to N2, my vocab is really lacking.
The bigger question for me is where to take it. I am not sure where I will be in 4 months time haha. The JLPT is a nice “excuse” to visit and live with some friends for a bit haha.
For what it’s worth, I jumped in for N2, even though I’m nearly certain I’ll fail hard as I’ve only passed N4; hoping to see which parts I really bomb and use the results as a guide to focus on my biggest weaknesses.
If anyone is still considering taking it in the US, there are handfuls of seats open in different sites for all levels, but not many.
I might do the same as you. I still have until the 30th to make the final decision in my country.
FYI London is sold out
Boston N3 sold out in less than 12 hours. Next closest to me (in Maine) would have been Philly. That was gone by next morning. So I just jumped on N4 as soon as it opened. My listening skills are crud anyway, so that might be the right level for me. I’m just excited to be taking any level at all. Good luck to everyone!
I’ll have to wait for next year, since I didn’t have time to go get my hearing test/proof of disability ready to go. Might give me time to get suuuuper comfy with N3, haha.
I never heard of selling out seats in Spain, it’s shocking to me that it seems to be common everywhere else.
It probably has to do that its been 2+ years in some places since the last exam with limited spaces maybe…
Also the test has gotten more and more popular over the years too. In 2019, there were 1+ million people taking it overseas…
Here in Spain they do it in University campus, so they have plenty of space and my guess is that they use teachers other than the ones in the Japanese area.
Apologies, I’m sure this information is available elsewhere but this is the most convenient place to ask.
Does one have to pass each section in order to pass overall, or can your stronger areas carry your weaker ones (to a certain extent).
Say I’m really rubbish at the listening section but much stronger in the others, do I need to pass the listening section on it’s own?
You need to pass all sections but it’s low mark (19). I have seen people get 60 points for the listening (because they work in Japanese speaking offices, but not necessarily working with Japanese materials) and then barely scrape 20 in the other sections to pass N2. On the other hand I have seen people fail because their scores were too slanted towards one section. It’s much better to have an all round ability obviously but strangely enough your chances to pass might decrease. 33, 33, 33 for N1 would be a fail while 19,21,60 would be a passing score. Another flaw of the test I think.
So I decided to see how far I’m from N2 in a real test scenario other than speculating so I ended signing up.
I’ll have some laughs, specially with Kanji is my guess.
Thank you for this–this is very helpful to know!
Edit: quick question on passing marks-- I recall having read somewhere that in addition to the score minimums, you also have to pass within a percentage of others taking the test? Something along the lines, of needing to be in the top x percentage of test takers as well. Is this correct?
Never heard such a thing. The cut-out scores have always been those since the N levels were introduced afaik.
Quoting from the Noken website:
In order to pass, (1) total score needs to be at or above the point required for passing (overall pass mark) and (2) score in each scoring section needs to be at or above the minimum point required for passing (sectional pass mark). If there is even one scoring section where the score is below the sectional pass mark, examinees are determined to have failed, no matter how high the total score he/she might have.
※The above standards were adopted beginning with July test in 2010 (December test in 2010 with N4 and N5).
Examinees will be judged to have failed if they miss a test section. Although they will receive a Score Report, it will not show scores for any test section, including those that have been taken.
