Top 5 JLPT Tools (I Used All Of Them)

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Here are my top 5 JLPT study tools. Yes, I used all of them when I was studying for the JLPT. I still use some of them today because they are great resources.

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0 – Knowledge Of The Test

http://www.jlpt.jp/e/

No, this is not one of the top study tools. It is a precursor, a prerequisite before you start studying for the exam. You need to know about the exam format, what type of questions will appear, and a how it will be scored (although there is no information on the current test format, I believe that old test format provides a general idea of the scoring). If you were learning to play baseball, before I tell you the best bat to buy and drills to do you need to know the rules of the game.

1 – Anki (Flashcard Software)

https://apps.ankiweb.net/

Do you remember when you were in grade school and had to study for a test? I bet you used flashcards to help you remember various random facts such as the meaning of words or your multiplication tables. At least I did. I would test myself with the flashcards and put them into two piles: done (already memorized) and not done (need to keep testing to learn). I would keep studying until all of the cards were in the done pile, meaning I had memorized them all.

Anki is a free flashcard software that allows you to do the same thing, but on your computer or smartphone. This is so much more convenient than physical cards because you can study anywhere, anytime. Even if you have a few minutes while waiting for the bus, get out your smartphone and study. Pulling out physical flashcards would be embarrassing, especially for those of us no longer in grade school.

Where do i get flashcards?

So you’ve downloaded and installed the app. You open it up and see that you have no decks and nothing to study. You have two choices:

  1. Create your own flashcards. The easiest way to do this is directly in the app, although that could take a lot of time if you are on a smartphone instead of a computer. Some people think that making the cards by themselves helps them to learn better. Consider that it takes many tens of hours to create a complete study deck, after which you still need to study the cards you made. If you use someone else’s deck you can spend those precious hours studying rather than typing at your computer.
  2. Download from somewhere. www.ankiweb.net/shared/decks has a few decks for the JLPT that other users have freely shared. This can also be access from within the app. I provide the decks I used for the N1 for free at www.passjapanesetest.com/free-jlpt-n1-flashcards/.

2 – Practice Tests

Back to the baseball analogy. You can run all the plays you want in practice, but nothing prepares you for the big game like a scrimmage. Like a baseball scrimmage, the more realistic you make your practice test to the real thing, the better prepared you will be.

I recommend taking a practice test just like you would the real test.

  • Time yourself
  • Do the sections in the same order as the real test
  • Use the bathroom only during the allotted break
  • Practice in a quiet environment sitting at a desk (the library is a great place for this)
  • Turn off your cell phone
  • Print out the test, don’t read the questions off of your computer screen

Below are a few sources of practice tests/questions.

Old JLPT exams

This is my top recommendation. Nothing can prepare you better for the JLPT than actual test questions. I have seen both the new version of the tests (from 2010 onward) as well as old tests dating back to 1993. They aren’t always available online, but they resurface once in awhile and can be found through google searches. Be aware that the answer keys to the old exams may not be 100% correct. Use a dictionary and your brain to confirm the right answer.

Didn’t the tests change to a new format in 2009? Why would I want to study the old tests? Although not exactly like the current test, the underlying material (the Japanese language) is still the same. The reading section is especially valuable. This is the most difficult part for most people and there are no places other than old tests to get the short passages + questions that appear in the exam.

日本語能力試験 公式問題集

These are practice questions released by JEES, the same organization that creates the test. This is the best readily available resource for practice questions.

Other books with practice tests

To be honest, I have not purchased other books with practice questions. Any book other than the one from JEES does not contain real test questions. I have heard that the difficulty of questions sold by anyone other than JEES does not match the difficulty of the actual test. So, it can be difficult to gauge your actual level of preparedness. That being said, if you’ve gone through the above two resources, mastered them, and still have time, purchasing other practice questions can’t hurt.

3 – Kanzen Master Books

This is by far the best and most complete textbook available. Each JLPT level consists of 5 books: vocabulary, kanji, grammar, reading, and listening. Each book typically gives a lot of examples with good context so you can really get a good grasp of the material. There are also accompanying questions, which are good practice for the exam.

Caution: This series is for serious test takers only. The explanations of vocabulary, grammar, etc. are in Japanese only.

I’ll link to the N1 books below and you can search for the other levels.

4 – Dictionary App

As you encounter Japanese in the real word, use it with your friends, or watch dramas, there will be words or phrases that come up here and there that you don’t understand. These are golden opportunities to supplement your JLPT studies with practical examples.

  • Yomiwa ($5.99): A real dictionary with the ability to detect words and kanji using your camera
  • Japanese by renzo (Free): A dictionary that can also translate text passages
  • Google Translate (Free): Not a dictionary but useful for translating text passages and speech via your mic

5 – Fun Japanese Resources

To help you avoid getting burned out, keep up motivation, and add to your practical Japanese repertoire, here are a few ideas.

  • Japanese Friends: I’m sure you’ve heard this one at least 95,023 times before. The best way to practice your Japanese and have fun doing it is with another human being, preferably someone who is a native speaker. There are certain subtleties that only a native speaker can comprehend. Make some friends and ask lots of questions. Be aware that although fun, if all you are doing is going out drinking, you won’t be getting much practice for the higher JLPT levels (N1, N2). Strive to have deep one-on-one conversations with a close friend.
  • Videos, Movies, Anime: Here’s another obvious one. Note that I recommend watching this stuff without subtitles. Like I’ve said about a couple other things above, they are very convenient but will eventually become a crutch. But where do I get this stuff? Google and find one of the many online stores.
  • Apps and Online Communities: You know how people always say “there’s an app for that”? Well, it’s true in every language. No matter what you like to do, there’s a Japanese app for it. You might be thinking that you need to have an account with itunes Japan. You don’t. There are more choices of Japanese apps in the itunes Japan store, but many developers make their apps available worldwide even if the interface is only in Japanese. The secret is to search the itunes store in Japanese. This way to generally get apps that have no English translation
  • Do Anything in Japanese: Anything you can do in your native language you can also do in Japanese.
    Some examples:

    • Looking up information on the JLPT? Do it in Japanese.
    • Looking for a makeup tutorial on Youtube? Do it in Japanese.
    • Want to know how to get you baby to sleep through the night? Google in Japanese.
    • Set your computer/iphone to Japanese.
    • Writing in your diary? Do it in Japanese.
    • Counting how many friends are coming to your rager? Do it in Japanese.
    • Scolding your pet for jumping on the couch? Do it in Japanese.