The 5 Biggest Mistakes

People Make on the JLPT

(A Handy Guide to Help you Get the Best Score on the Test)
By Mac from the JLPT Boot Camp at http://jlptbootcamp.com
2010 JLPT Boot Camp, all rights reserved
Table of Contents (clickable)
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................................................3
2. Big Mistake #1 Don't Eat Healthy Before the est !......................................................................."
3. Big Mistake #2 #ot $sing %ny &ind of 'eading (trategies !...........................................................)
". Big Mistake #3 Don't (tudy E*act Brush (trokes !........................................................................12
+. Big Mistake #" Don't ake a ,ractice est !..................................................................................1"
-. Big Mistake #+ (to. (tudying after the est !...............................................................................1)
/. hank 0ou !......................................................................................................................................21
). 2egal Ma34o 5u34o !.......................................................................................................................21
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Intro!ction
;hen I first started studying 5a.anese< I really had
no idea =hat I =as getting into. I =as studying on
3y o=n and had a tutor that I 3et =ith t=ice a
=eek. I =as a4le to s.eak so3e 5a.anese< 4ut I
didn't really ha>e so3ething to =ork to=ards. I
didn't ha>e a goal to achie>e. I only took a year of
5a.anese in college and to 4e honest that didn't
really .re.are 3e for anything.
hen< I found the 52,. It =as 8ust =hat I =as
looking for. I could 3easure 3y le>el and ha>e a
goal to =ork to=ards. By the ti3e I heard a4out
the test and decided to take it< I had 4een studying
5a.anese for a good 2 or 3 years. I figured it =ould
4e easy to .ass le>el 3< 4ut I =as =rong. I =ent
through a .ractice test and failed 3isera4ly.
But I didn't get discouraged. My tutor hel.ed 3e
through a lot of the difficult ?uestions and I also
asked 3y co@=orkers Anati>e 5a.aneseB a4out
so3e of the 3ore difficult .oints as =ell. Ho=e>er<
none of this really fully .re.ared 3e for the 4ig
e*a3. he te*t4ooks go o>er the gra33ar<
>oca4ulary< and kan8i< 4ut they don't co>er ho= to
actually take the test.
%ll of the 3istakes listed in this eBook are
3istakes that I ha>e .ersonally 3ade and =ished
so3eone had told 3e a4out the3 4efore the test.
I use all of these ti.s no= to gi>e 3e the 4est
chance of .assing the e*a3. It 3ay see3 easy to
get the 3andatory +1C D -1C you need to .ass
the test< 4ut so3eti3es it can co3e do=n to 8ust a
fe= .ercentage .oints and these ti.s =ill hel. you
get those.
0ou are already ahead of the ga3e 4y reading this
eBook. 0ou are on your =ay to .assing the 52,.
;hether you are 8ust starting out =ith #+ or are
trying for the ulti3ate #1 ?ualification this eBook
=ill gi>e you the edge you need to 3ake it a
4reeEe. I ho.e you en8oy the ti.s I share =ith you
and I =ish you ulti3ate success =ith your 5a.anese
studies.
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Big Mistake " # $on%t &at #
'ealth( before the Test
#o=< you 3ay 4e thinking to yourself. Mac< this
isn't a freaking 3arathon< I don't need you to gi>e
3e a nutrition guide to .assing the test. But< hear
3e out. he 52, can 4e an i33ensely difficult
test< and getting an e*tra +D11C on it can
definitely 3ean the difference 4et=een .assing
and failing. Feeling good =hile taking the test can
a4solutely affect your results.
2et 3e tell you a little story. ;hen I first took the
test< I li>ed out in the sticks in 5a.an. I had to take
the train into a 4igger city to take the test. o do
that< I had to =ake u. at +a3 and e34ark on 3y
e.ic 3G hour 8ourney into the city. I still ended u.
3is8udging the ti3e I needed to get to the test
site< so I couldn't sto. and eat 4reakfast. I =as
fa3ished. he only thing I had to kee. 3e going
=as a 4ig coffee I 3anaged to na4 out of a coffee
sho. on the =ay.
I 8ust 3ade it in ti3e to take the test. I struggled
through it and had co3e to the conclusion that I
had failed the test 3isera4ly. he sad thing =as is
I kne= that test< I kne= the gra33ar .oints. I
could read kan8i like no4ody's 4usiness. I could
listen to si3.le con>ersations and .ick u. 111C of
the content. I =as the 3an =hen it ca3e to the
old le>el 3.
he results ca3e 4ack fro3 the test< and I found
that I did indeed .ass< 4ut only 4y the sli33est of
3argins. If I had 3issed one or t=o 3ore
?uestions I =ould ha>e 4een sunk. %nd it all could
ha>e .layed out a lot 4etter for 3e< if I had 8ust
follo=ed so3e si3.le diet ti.s.
What To Eat And Drn!
Before The B" Day
2et's first get the co33on sense stuff out of the
=ay. It 3ay see3 o4>ious< 4ut a nightca. A4e it a
=hiskey on the rocks or a case of 4eerB is definitely
not a good idea. %lcohol disru.ts your slee.
.atterns and you =ant those as undistur4ed as
.ossi4le. he one ca>eat to this is that if you do in
fact drink alcohol on a regular 4asis e>ery night<
you are going to =ant to stick to that schedule< 4ut
no 3ore no less. he sa3e goes for caffeine.
For your 3eal< you should .ro4a4ly try to load u.
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on so3e 'healthy' car4ohydrates. ;hat I 3ean is
3ore .asta or 4reads and less .rocessed
=hate>er. his ser>es t=o .ur.oses. For starters<
it hel.s you get a good night slee. as your 4ody
=ill go into rela* 3ode to .rocess those car4os.
(econd< it'll .ack you u. =ith so3e handy energy
to 4urn the ne*t day.
0ou 3ight not kno= it< 4ut your 4rain actually
consu3es 21CD2+C of the calories in your 4ody.
During a test< your 4rain is in o>erdri>e trying to
recall infor3ation as fast as it can. 0ou need to
gi>e it enough fuel to kee. going. Hetting all that
digesting of car4ohydrates for energy the night
4efore< kee.s you alert for the test< 4ecause you
don't ha>e to 4e digesting food.
Brea!fa#t before the Te#t
For the 4reakfast 4efore the test< you are going to
=ant to eat a filling 3eal. Don't o>ereat 4ecause
this 3ight 3ake you slee.y during the test. Don't
under@eat 4ecause this 3ight 3ake you hungry
and distracted during the test. ry to eat a4out
the sa3e@siEed 4reakfast as you al=ays do. If you
regularly drink coffee in the 3orning< hel. yourself
to your standard dose< again nothing 3ore and
nothing less.
#IE6 If you regularly hel. yourself to a 4eer e>ery
3orning< you should .ro4a4ly think a4out looking
into getting so3e hel. for that 4efore tackling the
52,. 5ust a little ad>ice fro3 a friend.
he key ingredients for this 3eal are .rotein and
fi4er. he .rotein =ill hel. kee. you energiEed
co34ined =ith the car4ohydrates that you
consu3ed the night 4efore. he fi4er =ill hel. you
feel full so you are not distracted and also .ro>ide
a slo=ly 4urning source of energy.
By all 3eans a>oid the follo=ing6
1) refined sugars
2) corn syrup
3B white flour as in .ure su.er@.rocessed
=hite 4read and other such .roducts
"B energy drinks @ 'ed Bull< genki drinks< etc...
+B candy it gi>es you 4ig sudden 4oost< 4ut
sla.s you =ith a crash after=ard
-B coffee if you don't usually drink it
/B anything you don't usually eat no= is
not the ti3e to try oysters for the first ti3e
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I reco33end the follo=ing foods6
1B fruits 4ananas< oranges< a..les are filled
=ith fi4er and natural sugar
2B eggs or nuts 4oth are high .rotein and
easy to eat in the 3orning
3B yogurt and cottage cheese again high in
.rotein and the yogurt hel.s you feel full and
not hungry.
"B green Tea as a natural alternati>e to
coffee for a caffeine 4oost.
+B wheaty stuff this includes oat3eal< 4ro=n
rice< and =hole =heat 4read. %ll of these are
high in fi4er.
-B sports drink this =ill hel. you stay
hydrated for the test.
/B fish especially salmon Fish is high in
I3ega@3s =hich are 4elie>ed to hel.
i3.ro>e 4rain function. hey are also a good
source of .rotein.
% really easy thing to =hi. u. for the test day is a
=hole =heat .eanut 4utter and 8elly sand=ich.
Make sure to .ut a healthy dose of .eanut 4utter
in it. If you can< try to get as natural .eanut 4utter
as you can. For the 8elly< 3ake sure you use at
least natural looking 8elly< Aie it has 4ig chunks of
4lue4erry or stra=4erry in it not 8ust a 4ig glo4 of
gelatiniEed sugar fla>ored 4lue4erry.B
If you are in 5a.an< you can also eat Jhikuwa.
hey are often sold in con>enience stores< are
chea.< and are a handy finger food. #atto is also
another e*cellent source of fi4er and .rotein.
Iutside of 5a.an< you can get so3e .rotein 4ars or
shakes to hel. .ack in .rotein for the 4ig test. For
=hate>er reason< .rotein 4ars are not >ery .o.ular
inside of 5a.an at least .resently.
%nother ?uick note< in 5a.an< all soda is 3ade =ith
glucose< not corn syru.< =hich is the current
fa>orite in %3erica. Hlucose is 3arginally 4etter
for you and your 4rain< 4ut still not the 4est thing
on a test day. If you are in 5a.an though< taking a
little si. 4et=een sections of the test could hel.
you out a 4it.
D$rn" the te#t
During the test< you =ill =ant to stay fueled so you
can 3ake it through. 0ou can .ack so3e fruits
=ith you to snack on. Bananas are es.ecially
handy for this. hey are easy to .ack and you can
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eat the3 ?uick. 0ou 3ight =ant to also 4ring
along so3e nuts like al3onds to hel. you too.
0ou =ill =ant to stay hydrated during the test. It
3ay see3 si3.le 4ut 4e sure to drink a4out one
4ottle of s.orts drink 4efore the test. If you get
dehydrated< it could 4e 3ore difficult for you to
concentrate and you 3ay get a headache during
the test. In the fli. side of that< don't drink too
3uch or else you =ill ha>e to .ee during one of
those /1 3inute reading sections and that's a
night3are you don't =ant to go through.
Eatn" %"ht can &elp' b$t t(# not
the )l*er B$llet
Eating right and slee.ing =ell 4efore the test can
gi>e you the 4est o..ortunity to .ass. It =ill not
3ake you 3agically 3ore intelligent. 0ou should
still go o>er the 3aterial and .ractice your drills so
you are confident =ith your ans=ers. hat 3ay
see3 a little o4>ious< 4ut I thought I'd 4e clear
none the less.
his 3ay see3 like co33on sense< 4ut it's =orth
saying. 0ou should also 3aintain a healthy
lifestyle =hile studying for the e*a3. 0ou should
try to eat healthy and not stay u. too late to cra3.
aking a regular 3ulti>ita3in and .ossi4ly
su..le3enting it =ith I3ega@3s or B >ita3ins can
really hel. you retain the infor3ation in the first
.lace.
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Big Mistake ) # *ot +sing #
,n( -in of .eaing
/trategies
he reading sections of the tests can 4e ?uite
daunting if you go in un.re.ared. E>en if you go
.re.ared it can 4e ?uite difficult< 4ut there are a
fe= tricks to getting your =ay through this section.
Don't =orry they are fairly .ainless and don't
re?uire you to do any3ore =ork or .re. for the
test than =hat you =ould usually do.
Te#t Ta!n" Madne##
5a.an is a country fascinated =ith test taking.
hey ha>e tests for e>erything fro3 city facts to
4eing a certified cell.hone so33elier. In res.onse
to all this testing 3adness< a =hole cottage
industry has s.rung u. on test taking strategies to
use. It has 4eco3e a 4it of a science really. he
test =riters ha>e res.onded 4y raising the 4ar for
the tests e>er higher.
(o< =hat does that 3ean for youK ;ell< the 52, is
a 5a.anese test< and it is =ritten and ad3inistered
as such. hey .ush the li3its of your kno=ledge
to 3ake sure you kno= the language inside and
out. It is after all a test of your language a4ility.
(o they =ill 4e using e>ery trick u. their slee>es to
3ake sure you kno= =hat you are doing. ;ouldn't
you feel a little 3ore co3forta4le kno=ing a fe=
tricks of your o=nK
0our ty.ical 52, .re. 4ook doesn't ha>e 3uch in
the =ay of test taking strategies. %t least none of
the ones I looked o>er in research for this 4ook.
(o< I decided to take a different route. I did the
4ulk of 3y research =ith test .re. and reading
co3.rehension 4ooks =ritten for ele3entary and
8unior high school students taking entrance e*a3s.
I .oured through these te*t4ooks and 4oiled it
do=n to this cheat sheet to hel. you get through
the reading section.
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%eadn" Comprehen#on
+*er*e,
here are 3any schools of thought on ho= to
actually ans=er the ?uestions for reading
co3.rehension. ;hat I a3 a4out to tell you is one
such 3ethod that I ha>e found to 4e useful and is
generally reco33ended for reading
co3.rehension tests in English or 5a.anese. I
strongly encourage you to .ractice it on so3e
3ock tests 4efore the actually e*a3 so you can
use it s3oothly on the real e*a3 and to see if it is
right for you.
here are " 3ain ste.s to ans=ering ?uestions on
the reading co3.rehension .art of the e*a36
1B 'ead for the to.ic
2B 'ead the ?uestions for the first ti3e
3B 'ead for co3.rehension
"B %ns=er the ?uestions
0ou 3ay feel a little unco3forta4le =ith this
.attern to start off< 4ut if you .ractice it a fe=
ti3es 4efore the test< you =ill get 3ore and 3ore
co3forta4le =ith it. he idea is to do this naturally
and =ithout hesitation. he faster you can ans=er
the ?uestions correctly< the 3ore ti3e you ha>e
for other .arts of the test. Ine of the 4iggest
.ro4le3s =ith first ti3e test takers is running out
of ti3e in the reading section.
%ead for the Topc
5a.anese essays are structured radically different
fro3 English essays. Henerally s.eaking< in an
English essay< there is an introductory .aragra.h<
the 4ody of the essay that has a4out 3 3ain .oints
and then a conclusion that su33ariEes the
content. 5a.anese essays are different fro3 this
structure. hey start off rather general and then
slo=ly get 3ore and 3ore s.ecific until the final
.aragra.h concludes the essay.
;hat so3e .eo.le don't kno= is that it is .erfectly
okay to =rite in your test 4ooklet. It's 8ust that
anything =ritten in the 4ooklet =ill not 4e counted<
so o4>iously this isn't the .lace to ans=er the
?uestions. Ho=e>er< you can 3ake notes to hel.
you get through the test easier. ;e'll 4e 3aking
so3e 3arks in the test to hel. you ski3 through
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and ?uickly ID the 3ain .arts of the essays.
5a.anese essays do still ha>e a to.ic sentence in
the first .aragra.h so3e=here. It =ill introduce
the to.ic< 4ut not gi>e you anything definiti>e. Be
sure to underline the to.ic sentence if you s.ot it.
It =ill 4e handy later. %lso on your first read
through< circle the =ords that co3e u. the 3ost.
he circled =ords =ill 3ost likely 4e closely tied to
the to.ic of the essay and the 3ain idea.
%nother thing to kee. track of is connectors such
as etc... Jircle these
as =ell< that =ill 3ake it easier for you to see the
connections. If the essay is longer< usually
3ediu3 length or longer< then .ut slashes =here
the essay changes to a different su48ect. For
e*a3.le< if it starts off gi>ing e*a3.les and each
.aragra.h is a different e*a3.le 4e sure to denote
that to hel. you 4reak u. the ideas.
It 3ay see3 like a lot of =ork to add 3arks to the
essay< 4ut it =ill hel. you =hen you start to
ans=er the ?uestions later on. hese readings can
get .retty a34iguous< so it is 4est to try to 4ring
as 3uch structure as you can to the3 to
understand the 3aterial.
%ead the -$e#ton# for the .r#t
Tme
%fter you ha>e read for the to.ic< you ha>e a
general idea of =hat the reading is a4out. #o=<
read the ?uestions one 4y one. Don't read the
ans=ers yet. If you do< it 3ight 4ias your o.inion.
It's good to go into the second reading =ithout
ha>ing any .reconcei>ed thoughts a4out the
ans=ers.
Make a note of =hat they are asking for. %re they
asking =ho< =hat< or =hereK %re they asking
a4out a su33ary of the readingK Do they =ant
you to fill in a 4lank in the reading =ith one of their
ans=ersK Make a note of it< so you can 4e on the
look out for that infor3ation.
%ead for Comprehen#on
#o=< that you ha>e read the ?uestions< they
should ha>e gi>en you a general idea of =hat to
look for and =hat to .ay attention to. he
.re>ious .encil =ork you did =ill also hel. you to
3ore easily understand the reading. his ti3e 4e
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sure to try to understand the general idea of each
.aragra.h. 2ook at any of the =ords that are
defined for you at the 4otto3.
If you encounter a =ord or .hrase you don't
understand< 8ust try to read around it and guess
the 3eaning. #o= is not the ti3e to get 4ogged
do=n. 0ou don't really ha>e a lot of ti3e to try to
figure out e>ery little sentence. 5ust try to 3ake
an educated guess as to the 3eaning of
so3ething and 3o>e on.
An#,er the -$e#ton#
%fter you'>e finished a co3.lete through read of
the reading< you can ho.efully ans=er the
?uestions =ith relati>e ease. Don't look at the
ans=ers first. ry to ans=er the ?uestions 4efore
looking at the ans=ers. %gain< this =ill kee. you
fro3 4iasing yourself to one ans=er or another.
%fter for3ing the ans=er in your head< look for the
ans=er in one of the choices. Be a=are that on
3ost of the higher tests #3G they =ill re=rite the
ans=er using different =ording to test your
>oca4ulary kno=ledge.
If you ha>e trou4le choosing the right ans=er< try
to eli3inate so3e of the .ossi4le ans=ers. (o3e
of the ans=ers can 4e eli3inated si3.ly 4ecause
they actually don't 3ake any sense. Ither
ans=ers can 4e eli3inated 4ecause they =ouldn't
e>er 4e the ans=er to the ?uestion 4eing asked.
,ractice doing this eli3ination on .ractice tests or
reading te*t4ooks 4efore the e*a3.
Henerally s.eaking for #" and #+< the ans=ers
should 4e easily e*tracted fro3 the reading. he
ans=er =ill 3ost likely 4e sitting out in the o.en
and you 8ust ha>e to .ick the right .hrase. For the
higher tests #3 and a4o>e< you =ill need to do
so3e inference to ans=er the ?uestions. hey =ill
really test your actually co3.rehension of the
3ood and feel of the reading.
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Big Mistake 0 # $on%t /t!( #
&1act Br!sh /trokes
E>ery le>el of the test has a section on kan8i. In
a>erage< you need to ans=er around - ?uestions
dealing =ith orthogra.hy. hese 4asically re>ol>e
around a sentence that uses a =ord in hiragana
and then you 3ust select the correct kan8i that
corres.onds to the hiragana. (ounds si3.le
enough rightK
It is for the 3ost .art. here are going to 4e a
cou.le of ?uestions that =ill co3e to you easily<
4ut you'll ?uickly notice a fe= of the ?uestions
ha>e ans=ers that look like kan8i you'>e ne>er
seen 4efore. ;ell< that's 4ecause they %'E kan8i
you'>e ne>er seen 4efore. hey are 'fake' kan8i
.ut there to test your a4ility to identify and use the
real kan8i. (neaky little guys aren't theyK
(o ho= can you .rotect yourself against getting
tra..ed 4y these little 4uggersK Drills< drills< drills.
I hate to say it< 4ut they are like natto. 0ou 3ight
not like the look of it< 4ut it is good for you none
the less. here are easier =ays to do drills though<
and that's =hat I'll 4e co>ering in this section.
Tool# for Practcn" /anj
First< there is %nki< >isit htt.677ankisrs.net7 to
do=nload a co.y of it for ,J< Mac< 2inu*< or
FreeB(D Afor freeB. %nki is a (.aced 'e.etition
(yste3 or ('(. ('( is a .ro>en 3ethod of
3e3oriEing large a3ounts of 3aterial =ith the
least a3ount of effort. Ho= it =orks is that you
are gi>en a certain a3ount of flashcards each day.
If you can easily recall those flashcards< they =ill
co3e again later in a cou.le of days. If you ha>e a
harder ti3e recalling the >oca4ulary they =ill 4e
sho=n to you 3ore often. his has 4een .ro>en in
tests to hel. you retain infor3ation for a long ti3e
=ith 3ini3al effort on your .art.
%nki is a great .lace to start< 4ut it isn't a cure@all.
0ou also need to 4eco3e fa3iliar =ith the 4rush
strokes and e*act sy34ols that 3ake u. kan8i.
Ither=ise you 3ight 4e fooled 4y those tricky fake
kan8i. 0ou don't ha>e to kno= the kan8i =ell
enough to =rite it< 4ut you do need to kno= it =ell
enough to .ositi>ely ID it in a line u..
he 4est =ay to do that is to do so3e =riting. his
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3ay see3 a 4it inti3idating< 4ut there are so3e
tools out there to hel. you. I .ersonally use i&an8i
for i,hone to .ractice kan8i< their 3eanings< their
readings and ho= to =rite the3. It includes the
a4ility to use the touch screen to =rite the kan8i. It
gi>es you the .attern< so you don't ha>e to do it
freehand. I find this to 4e a good 4alance< 4ecause
again you don't ha>e to =rite it< 8ust 4e a4le to
recogniEe it.
%nother great resource is the 4ook< 'e3e34ering
the &an8i. 0ou can get the e4ook =ith o>er 3111
kan8i here. his 4ook is chock@full of 3ne3onics to
hel. you re3e34er the different kan8i and ho= to
=rite the3. It is also e*tre3ely reasona4ly .riced
for the a3ount of infor3ation and =ork that =ent
into that 4ook. here is an acco3.anying =e4site
called htt.677kan8i.koohii.co3 that is a handy =ay
to do drills for the 4ook as =ell.
&o, to Learn /anj the Ea#y Way
(o3e .eo.le go a4out learning kan8i stroke 4y
.ainful stroke. his is tedious and o>er=hel3ing
for so3e of the larger kan8i you =ill need to learn.
his is not actually learning kan8i< 4ut learning
shodo< 5a.anese calligra.hy. here is a 3uch
easier and useful =ay to learn kan8i.
;hen you are studying the kan8i< kee. an eye out
for the radicals< not strokes. hese are little kan8i
.ieces. For e*a3.le< the kan8i for 3irror AB has
three radicals6 gold AB< stand AB< and see AB.
he radicals =ill get 3ore and 3ore co3.le* as
you go through the tests< so 4e sure to kno= the3.
hey =ill co3e in handy =hen you ha>e to tell the
difference 4et=een say and < =hich
isn't actually a =ord.
0ou can e>en for3 3ne3onics of your o=n to
re3e34er the kan8i. For e*a3.le< if =e =ant to
use the 3irror e*a3.le again< =e can say MStand
and See Gold in the Mirror.N his .hrase 3ight
not 3ake a =hole lot of sense< 4ut it utiliEes the
na3e of the radicals< so you can re3e34er the
different .ieces of the kan8i. If you can't 4e
4othered to co3e u. =ith your o=n< 'e3e34ering
the &an8i is full of the3.
If you are going to use =riting drills as .art of your
kan8i .ractice< 4e sure to 3i* it u.. Don't =rite a
3illion of the sa3e kan8i in a ro=. Break it u. into
co3.ounds that use the kan8i or at least shift
4et=een different kan8i e>ery 2 or 3 that you =rite.
his =ill kee. your 4rain fro3 going into s.ace out
3ode. 0ou =ill 4e a4le to focus and learn the kan8i
you need to kno= for the test.
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Big Mistake 2 # $on%t Take a #
Practice Test
I3agine you are a4out to .ut on a .roduction of
Music Man. 0ou =ouldn't go out on stage =ithout
a dress rehearsal =ould youK But< that's 8ust =hat
a lot of .eo.le do 4efore the test. 0ou can kno=
all the lines to the .lay< hit all the notes< 4ut if you
ha>en't gone through at least one run through< it's
going to 4e a little rough.
In the .ast< you =ere a4le to get the .re>ious
year's test fairly easily. It =ould only cost you
a4out 1-110 to .ick u. the test along =ith the JD
for the listening section. It =as an incredi4ly
useful =ay to .ractice for the test< 4ecause it =as
chea. and it ga>e you a good feel for it. %lso< if
you =eren't u. to snuff< you could o.t for not
taking the test and then 8ust take the .ast test
=hen it =as 3ade a>aila4le a cou.le of 3onths
after the test.
Ih< those =ere the good ole days. hose days
ha>e gone< 4ut there are a fe= o.tions still left for
you. Jurrently< there are a fe= 3ock tests
a>aila4le for each le>el e*ce.t for #+. %t the ti3e
of =riting< there doesn't see3 to 4e a 3ock test
a>aila4le for #+< 4ut I'3 sure one =ill 4e a>aila4le
soon.
Moc! Te#t# *#. Pre*o$# Te#t#
hese 3ock tests are 4est guesses of =hat the
ne= test =ill 4e like. It's not an official test. his
could 4e a good or a 4ad thing. It 3ight 4e good
4ecause it 3ight actually 4e harder than the real
test and so .re.are you for the =orst. It 3ight 4e
4ad< 4ecause the ?uestions 3ight 4e .oorly
=orded or 3ight 4e too easy< =hich could lull you
into a false sense of security. Either =ay< they =ill
ha>e the right a3ount of ?uestions and so =ill 4e
great .ractice for ti3e 3anage3ent as =ell as
eli3inate shock o>er the test ?uestions on test
day.
he other o.tion is to take the old tests =hich are
still a>aila4le. hese differ fro3 the ne= test< 4ut
ha>e si3ilar ele3ents. #a3ely< the gra33ar<
>oca4ulary< and kan8i sections are largely the
sa3e. here is a ne= sentence structure section
that 3ight thro= you for a loo. though so 4e sure
to go o>er that 4efore the real test. %lso< the
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listening is ?uite different fro3 the old tests.
here are sa3.le ?uestions a>aila4le on the
official =e4site that can gi>e you a general idea of
the ne= ty.es of ?uestions.
If you do decide to go =ith the old tests< I =ould
reco33end actually 4uying an official co.y of
the3 as o..osed to finding the ?uestiona4ly legal
ones on the net. his is 4ecause it =ill gi>e you
the true e*.erience of taking the test< and it really
isn't =orth the hassle to do=nload and .rint off the
co.ies any=ay. (a>e yourself so3e .rinter ink
and grief and 8ust 4uy the test 4ooks.
;hite 'a44it ,ress is the 4est .lace to get old
tests and 3ock tests in the states and 3ost of the
=orld6
#+ #" #3 #2 #1
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52,s
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#e=
Mock
ests
#" #3 #2 #1
In 5a.an< you can try any 3a8or 4ookstore.
%nything do=nto=n in a 4ig city =ill .ro4a4ly ha>e
a 5a.anese section that you can look through to
get .re>ious tests. 0ou 3ay also 4e a4le to check
out .re>ious tests fro3 the .u4lic li4rary. 0ou'd 4e
sur.rised ho= 3any 4ack=oods li4raries ha>e
co.ies of the test. I =ould say any city larger than
1+1<111 .eo.le has a good chance of ha>ing it in
their li4rary. If all else fails< you can order fro3
;hite 'a44it ,ress< 4ut it =ill 4e a little 4it 3ore
e*.ensi>e than if you 4ought it at a regular
4ookstore.
I,6 If you are 4uying a lot of 4ooks at one ti3e< it
3ight 4e a good idea to do the e*tra leg=ork to
4uy a tosho card A4ookstore gift certificate cardB at
your local ticket .lace. It usually gets you a4out a
3D+C discount and only takes a4out + 3inutes.
Ta!n" the +ld Te#t or Moc! Te#t
(o3e .eo.le =hen they do get a hold of the test
use it as a .ractice guide. hey do the .ro4le3s in
the test 4ook =hen they ha>e free ti3e on their
=ay to =ork or on lunch 4reak. his =ill 4e
4eneficial 4ecause you'll 4e a4le to =ork through
the .ro4le3s< 4ut .ro4a4ly =on't hel. you get a
real feeling for the test.
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In the real test< you =on't 4e a4le to take 4reaks
=hen you =ant to. 0ou =on't 4e a4le to look at
the ans=er key after ans=ering each ?uestion to
get instant feed4ack either. he real test is a 4ig
ordeal. It ty.ically lasts any=here fro3 3 hours to
"G hours A=ith 4reaks of courseB. he sections =ill
4e ti3ed and you =ill 4e under .ressure to =ork
your =ay through the sections ?uickly< not
3oseying through it at your o=n .ace.
(o it's 4est to si3ulate the test taking en>iron3ent
as 3uch as .ossi4le. his =ill gi>e you a realistic
score that you can then use to focus your studying
efforts =ith. %lso< the =hole test =on't see3 so
strange and =eird to you =hen you take it 4ecause
you ha>e already had a .ractice run.
For starters< 4e sure to clear out a chunk of ti3e in
your schedule to take the test fro3 start to finish.
,refera4ly< you should 3atch the real test
schedule as closely as you can. For e*a3.le< if
the test is 12631 to "631< you should try to do the
test around that ti3e as =ell. %gain< you =ant the
.ractice test to see3 as 3uch like the real test as
.ossi4le.
Make sure you choose an area to take the test that
is co3.letely free of distractions. % cro=ded
coffee sho. 3ight not 4e the 4est .lace to take the
test. It 3ay also not 4e so hot of an idea to do it in
front of the O 4egging you to turn it on and gi>e
u.. Be sure that there are Eero distractions and
your fa3ily or roo33ates understand that this
should 4e ?uiet ti3e.
0ou =ill =ant to ha>e a ti3er so you can ti3e out
each section of the test. Don't o.en the 4ooklet
until you hit the ti3er and don't kee. =riting after
it has gone off. %gain< stick to the real test
conditions. ;hile taking the test< try to =rite do=n
the nu34er of 3inutes left on your ti3er in the
test 4ooklet after you ha>e co3.leted a section.
2ater< you can calculate ho= 3any 3inutes you
s.ent on each section. his =ill 4e in>alua4le for
honing your ti3e 3anage3ent skills.
%fter taking the test< go 4ack and 3ark the test.
here =ill definitely 4e so3e sections that =ill .o.
out as =eak .oints. Be sure to focus your studying
ti3e on those areas. (o3e .eo.le fall into the
tra. of studying =hat they lo>e to study< like kan8i
or >oca4ulary. hat =ill only 3ake you stronger
=here you are strongest and in order to .ass the
test you need to score at least +1C in all sections.
In other =ords< you can 4e a kan8i 3aster< 4ut if
you can't do the listening you are going to fail.
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%lso< go o>er each ?uestion you ans=ered
incorrectly. If you don't kno= =hy it =as =rong<
definitely ask a nati>e s.eaker =hy it =as =rong
and don't sto. asking ?uestions until you
understand it co3.letely. 0ou can e>en ask a fe=
nati>e s.eakers to get their o.inions on =hy it is
=rong. I al3ost al=ays ask at least t=o .eo.le
a4out a ?uestion. Different .eo.le =ill gi>e you
different e*.lanations and hel. to 4roaden your
understanding of that .articular .oint.
0#e the %e#$lt# to Create a
re*#ed )t$dy Plan
'e>ie= =hat sections you had the 3ost trou4le
=ith. ;as it the long readingK ;as it the kan8i
?uestionsK Did you ha>e trou4le doing the ?uick
res.onseK 'ank the sections you are =eakest in.
I>er the ne*t cou.le 3onths you =ill =ant to
focus 3ore of your energy on these areas.
In order to .ass 3ost of the higher tests A#3GB you
=ill need to dedicate a4out an hour a day to
studying. But< this hour should not 4e focused on
one .articular to.ic or 4e done in one solid 4lock.
hat's going to 8ust lead to you 4oredo3 and
inefficient studying. Mi* u. your study routine and
s.end a good chunk of ti3e focusing on your
=eaknesses.
%4out a 3onth 4efore the e*a3< take another
.ractice test. his =ill ser>e as your final check
4efore you head into the final stretch. Ho.efully<
your 3arks =ill 4e 3uch higher in all areas. If you
are still 4elo= +1C in a .articular area< focus 3ost
of your ti3e on that in the final =eeks leading u.
to the test< 4ut don't o>erdo it. ry to get a
healthy night's rest and refrain fro3 cra33ing as
3uch as .ossi4le.
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Biggest Mistake 5 # /top #
/t!(ing after the Test
0ou'>e 4een 4usting your hu3. to try to cra3 all
those >oca4ulary =ords into your head 4efore the
test. 0ou kno= all of it 4ack=ards and for=ards.
0ou =alked into the 52, and nailed it. 0ou hit a
hard@earned grand sla3 and .assed the test.
JongratulationsP #o=< it's ti3e to sit 4ack and
rela*< take a load off and not think a4out studying
for a=hile< rightK
#ot ?uite. o 4e fluent and 3aintain that fluency
in a second language you ha>e to use it and
.ractice it e>ery day or at least .retty darn close
to it. here really isn't a 'done' to learning another
language. It's so3ething that re?uires regular
3aintenance and tuning.
I kno= 4ilingual English teachers that s.eak 4oth
English and 5a.anese that teach English e>ery day
=ho are still studying and .racticing English. hey
3ight 4e doing it a little 4it less< 4ut they still try
to .ut in at least 1+ 3inutes a day. 2earning a
language is like going to the gy3. 0ou =ouldn't
sto. going to the gy3 the 3inute you could 4ench
.ress 311 .ounds< =ould youK (o< =hy =ould you
sto. studying after you .assed the testK
he key to 3aking real strides in fluency is
consistency. If you are consistently .utting in the
ti3e e>ery day you =ill see .rogress. he
i3.ortant .art of that is e>ery day. #ot a fe= days
here and fe= days there< cra3 =hen you need to<
4ut consistent day in and day out .racticing.
The After"lo,
'ight after the test< you are feeling e*hausted and
3ay4e e>en a little fed u. =ith 5a.anese. I'>e
definitely 4een there 4efore and you feel like you
8ust =ant to take a 4reak for a =eek and then get
4ack to it. But< then Jhrist3as and #e= 0ear's
co3e along and that =eek turns into a 3onth.
Before you kno= it< you get your test results 4ack
and you realiEe it's 4een 3 3onths since you last
.icked u. a 5a.anese te*t4ook.
hat's =hy it is i3.ortant to 3aintain a good study
.lan. &ee. to a regular schedule and try to not
4reak it. Don't cra3 in the last cou.le =eeks
4efore the e*a3 4ecause it =ill 3ore than likely
cause you to crash i33ediately after the test.
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A )t$dy Plan
,rofessional athletes ha>e to train for hours e>ery
day to kee. their 4odies in .erfect condition. hey
are .aid to 4e athletic so it is there 8o4 to kee. as
fit as .ossi4le. Before you'>e e>en had 4reakfast<
they'>e .ro4a4ly acco3.lished 3ore athletic feats
than you usually do in a 3onth. hey ha>e ra.id
fire refle*es and the a4ility to run faster than your
=inkie@=elding atte3.ts to run for the 4us.
,rofessional athletes are like nati>e s.eakers of a
language. hey are so3ething to as.ire to in our
e.ic ?uests to 4eco3e fluent. hey can .ro>ide a
tre3endous a3ount of su..ort and 4e there to
hel. us =ith ?uestions =e 3ight ha>e.
$nfortunately though< 3ost of us =ill ne>er
4eco3e .rofessional athletes and none of us =ill
4eco3e nati>e s.eakers. 0ou si3.ly don't ha>e
the ti3e to do it.
%nd the truth is you don't need to 4e a nati>e
s.eaker. 0ou 8ust need to 4e good enough to run
the race. hat's it. (o you don't need to get u.
early and do drills till your eyes =ater and you
colla.se fro3 a 4rain aneurys3. his isn't 'ocky.
0ou aren't sy34olically fighting co33unis3 in a
dra3atic Holly=ood 4lock4uster. ;e're 8ust
s.eaking a language.
he =ay to 4eco3e good enough to s.eak a
language is the sa3e =ay you get good enough to
4e in sha.e. 0ou si3.ly ha>e to ha>e a regular
regi3en of a4out 31 3inutes to an hour a day of
studying. 0ou can e>en get 4y =ith 1+ 3inutes a
day if you 8ust =ant to 3aintain your le>el.
;hate>er the a3ount of ti3e you set for yourself<
stick =ith it and 4e consistent.
If you are not sure if you .assed the test and you
are =aiting for the results< study for the ne*t le>el
as if you .assed the test. 0ou can al=ays change
your ga3e .lan later. If you are one of the lucky
ones that has .assed #1< no= is the ti3e to do
so3e reading and utiliEe your a4ility as 3uch as
.ossi4le. he certification for the 52, only lasts
t=o years< so you'll need to take it again if you
=ant to stay current.
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Thank 3o!
hank you for taking the ti3e to
read this eBook. I ho.e you
en8oyed reading it as 3uch as I
en8oyed =riting it. I also ho.e it
gi>es you that e*tra edge you
need for test day.
If you ha>e any ?uestions a4out the 52,< I'd lo>e
to hear fro3 you. Don't 4e afraid to sto. 4y the
4log and lea>e a co33ent or you can al=ays
shoot 3e an e3ail at 8l.t4ootca3.:g3ail.co3
If you are on t=itter< 4e sure to connect =ith 3e.
I'3 :8l.thel.. I read e>ery :re.ly< e3ail and
co33ent that is sent to 3e< so don't 4e afraid to
ask 3e any ?uestions. I lo>e to hear fro3 .eo.le.
I'll see you on the 4log or on =itter. Hood luck
=ith your 5a.anese studies and I =ish you ulti3ate
success on the 52,. #o=< go .ass itP
Mac
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Legal Ma4bo J!4bo
I don't like it either, but here is the stuff that makes the lawyers happy. Enjoy!
The information contained in this guide is for informational purposes only.
I am not a lawyer or an accountant. Any legal or financial adice that I gie is my
opinion based on my own e!perience. "ou should always seek the adice of a
professional before acting on something that I hae published or recommended.
#lease understand that there are some links contained in this guide that I may
benefit from financially.
The material in this guide may include information, products or serices by third
parties. Third #arty $aterials comprise of the products and opinions e!pressed by
their owners. As such, I do not assume responsibility or liability for any Third #arty
material or opinions.
The publication of such Third #arty $aterials does not constitute my guarantee of
any information, instruction, opinion, products or serices contained within the Third
#arty $aterial. The use of recommended Third #arty $aterial does not guarantee
any success of passing the %apanese &anguage #roficiency Test also referred to as
in %apanese. #ublication of such Third #arty $aterial is simply a
recommendation and an e!pression of my own opinion of that material.
'o part of this publication shall be reproduced, transmitted, or sold in whole or in
part in any form, without the prior written consent of the author. All trademarks and
registered trademarks appearing in this guide are the property of their respectie
owners.
(sers of this guide are adised to do their own due diligence when it comes to
studying for the test and all information, products, serices that hae been proided
should be independently erified by your own )ualified professionals. *y reading
this guide, you agree that myself and my company is not responsible for your
success or failure of passing the %apanese &anguage #roficiency Test or
relating to any information presented in this guide.

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