Should I take the N3 test in July or should I wait to get N2?

Japanese
#1

I’m planning on getting a work holiday visa in the future before I turn 31 (currently 26 y/o). Maybe next year, maybe in two years depending on my job situation.
I already took several N3 mock exams and my average score is around 85% (reading is my weakness, listening my strong point).

today is the opening day for the next JLPT exam inscription.
I heard from my gf that companies don’t value anything below N2. And therefore N3 is not worth the investment.

My communication skills are decent as I’ve been talking to my gf in japanese only for the last 6 months. So I wanted to know if for example I were to apply for a baito in konbinis or restaurants, is it absolutely required to have a JLPT certificate, or will my speaking skills be enough during a potential interview ?

I want to make the best out of my year of work holiday and I’m convinced that having a job that requires communication skills would be best. A friend of mine had 0 communication skills when he went to japan and he ended up making rice balls at sushiro with other gaikokujin, so he wasn’t involved in any japanese interaction during most of his day, I want to avoid that at all cost lol.

I’m currently studying N2 material (slowly but steadily, I hate rushing things), I was thinking that undergoing the N3 exam would be a good start point to feel the ‘exam atmosphere’, even though I’m not that stressed during exams in general.

from your experience and from your point of view, is it worth it to spend a 100 quid on the N3 exam ?
thank you in advance have a good day :slight_smile:

4 Likes
#2

If you have the opportunity, I’d take it! :+1:
Just imagine if you wait but ultimately just don’t quite pass N2 on your first ever time of trying a JLPT exam … :sweat_smile:
So, I’d take N3 and use the experience to help you towards getting N2, while also giving you a nice safety net in the process :slight_smile:
Just my 2 cents!

7 Likes
#3

You will need N2 for most konbini jobs. Keep in mind that konbini work actually requires very little in the way of actual conversation when working the register as it will tend to be the same script over and over again. On occasion I’ve heard some pretty bad Japanese from foreign konbini workers though so I’m sure some managers will be looking for more reliable and hardworking people than caring too much about language skills.

Restaurants, depending on the type, may have more communication. Independent places are likely to not even know what the JLPT is however they also probably would rather hire a native speaker in most cases. Having said that, if you simply apply and interview the same as everyone else then you may find a good fit somewhere. I’ve been served by foreigners in quite random izakayas and stuff sometimes.

Restaurants and konbinis in tourist areas sometimes have foreign staff who speak English for the sake of tourists so you may find more opportunities there.

Edit: Also, good luck!

3 Likes
#4

Honestly I would shoot for N2 in your case. You’ve got pretty good scores on those mock exams, so I think taking N3 won’t be a good enough incentive for you to study. N2, on the other hand, would motivate you. Worst-case scenario? You fail, but you know what to expect :slight_smile: however, it very much depends on how much is the exam fee to you relative to your salary.

4 Likes
#5

I have lived and been to a share house in Osaka and met many foreigners who worked at local izakaya without holding any JLPT. Or at hair-salons (as a receptionist and whatnot).

I got a job at an izakaya without having a JLPT certificate. They didn’t care because I did the interview in Japanese. I am sure like others have said; it’ll be your best bet.

Also free 勿体無い！All the left-overs were for free bwahahhahaa

Edit: only now read you want to go in the next 5 years. Then I would say: why even take N2? Take N1 when you feel ready. Why go for a piece of paper you don’t need yet?

Edit edit: I am currently in the talks for software engineering position with N3. That’s the bare minimum for software engineering at least.

1 Like
#6

Personally speaking I’ve done the N5 and N4 (passed both) and will do N3 this July providing I’m able to get a place when they release for Leicester on Wednesday.

Will I be able to live in work in Japan with a N5 and N4 currently? No. So why did I do the exam? Because of 2 reasons:

  1. Validation of understanding and benchmarking current progress. Attaching a pass to N5 and subsequently N4 helped me have reassurance in that I was ready to move on to N3 studying.
  2. Experience of the exam flow, and testing conditions. How to be prepared for the exam, what to expect, battling nerves etc. The N5 deeply prepared me for N4 so when I took the N4, I was a lot more calm and prepared - in tandem increasing my score.

I’d recommend doing the N3 to get yourself that experience. It’s worth doing and should you pass you’ll also have a nice shiny certificate to hold dear to yourself. It’s a great way of giving yourself discipline in times of lacking motivation - and then when you’re ready, sit either the N2 or the N1.

2 Likes
#7

Honestly, if you’re already routinely getting 85% on the N3 mocks and you’re speaking with your girlfriend all in Japanese, I’d skip straight to the N2. Don’t bother with wasting the money on validation, since you’ll more than likely pass the N2 given the way you’re studying.

The first JLPT I wrote was the N2 last July and I passed it with no problems. I think as long as you take the mock exams and prepare yourself for the type of questions they’re going to ask you on the test then you’ll be fine. The biggest thing with the reading being your weakness is specifically practicing HOW to answer the reading style questions. In regards to that, there are PLENTY of resources online like video walkthroughs and analysis with native speakers on YouTube.

Good luck, stick with the study, and go get that N2 :muscle:t3:

#8

Thank you for the extra ressources I’ll have a look, I’m also reading native novels daily but I find it easier to follow as we have more ‘‘context’’, I’m also scared of the amount of vocabulary required, I’m on 10 new cards per day and I can’t see myself increasing this number (I tried before and it deeply impact my performance and my motivation as it piles up…) so I’m not 100% sure if I can learn all N2 vocab by then. I can still guess the meaning from kanjis and context but it’s not ideal

1 Like
#9

Have you also tried an N2 mock?
It’s entirely possible that you can already get a passing score, and by the time the test comes around it will only improve.

In terms of exam atmosphere, my biggest N3 takeaway was that the time is quite limited. But if you take mocks with a timer, you can probably get that feeling without spending money on an actual test run.

#10

If not in a rush, take the N3 and pass it.
It will be a huge confidence boost to have an actual certificate.

1 Like
#11

Maybe it’s just my way of looking at JLPT, but I’m perfectly comfortable with not understanding the exam 100%. It’s ok if you don’t know a word or a kanji. As you’ve said, sometimes, you can guess the meaning from context/kanji. Hell, it’s even ok if you have no idea what’s going on in a sentence (which has happened to me on my both JLPTs, both of which I have passed) - don’t dwell on it and move on.

#12

That said, I totally get not wanting to increase the burden of new words per day. I am the same way as you are, it’s counterproductive for me after a certain threshold.

#13

I’ve updated my anki methodology by adding filtered decks (just discovered this feature today lol). This filtered deck aims to gather all the vocab I’ve failed to retrieve in the last 48 hours. I’ll try to add 15 cards a day instead of 10 and I’ll review the filtered deck before bed to emphasize on missed items.
It’s the first time I’ve changed my anki methodology in a year so hopefully it’ll go well.
based on the outcome (I’ll try for a month) I’ll estimate if I can learn all vocab for december or not.

I’ll register for N3 in July as I have saved a bit of money and it would be a shame to not spend it on a hobby that fills a quarter of my days ahah

2 Likes