How I Studied and Passed the JLPT N2

When I first began learning Japanese in 2016, the idea of taking, let alone passing the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N2 was a pipe dream, something I thought was reserved for people who have already been living in Japan for at least a decade. Or at least, I assumed that it was hallowed ground that only otaku and language fanatics could ace.

Such were my impressions as I embarked on this language journey. It has been three years since I wrote my first Hiragana and Katakana character, and after passing the N4 in August 2018 and the N3 in January 2019, I wanted to see how far I’ll go. So last March 24, 2019, I took the plunge and sent in my N2 exam application. As soon as the N3 results were released, I invested in the best study materials that would give me the adequate knowledge I needed during the critical five-month window of preparation. Despite having a full-time job, I knew that passing this test was an objective I needed to accomplish sooner than later.

The JLPT N2 became my white whale.

As a way of paying it forward to anyone who is interested in learning this language, whatever his or her objectives may be, I gathered a list of resources and reflected on my struggles, frustrations, and realizations that I experienced along the way. I hope that I can inspire and motivate someone out there who is quietly self-studying for the JLPT, knowing that it has been achieved many times before through grit, hard work, and perseverance.

The textbooks I read:

The online resources I used:

The Big Day:

My JLPT N2 took place at Chukyo University near Yagoto Station last July 7, 2019. Since this was a place that I frequently passed by during my evening runs, the familiarity of the location made me a little more at ease.

One of the topics debated online is the correct sequence to take the test. Some people advised to do the Language Knowledge (Vocabulary and Grammar) section first. Others suggested answering the Reading section first. Given that there are only 105 minutes to answer a total of 49 Language Knowledge questions and 21 Reading questions, time is of the essence. This constraint is most evident in the Reading section, where the test will force you to skim through passages, demanding the ability to parse text the way you would reading an English newspaper or business report. No easy feat.

The logical approach would be to attack the Language Knowledge first, answering as many items as confidently as possible, and using whatever time left to surge through the “short”, “mid-sized”, and “information retrieval” Reading questions. There is simply too much time wasted for the passages that take up an entire page and reward you with only two questions at the end. Do not get cute. Do not start with the more difficult Reading section. You will only risk running out of time and scrambling to haphazardly recover your bearings in Language Knowledge. That is an awful way to head into the 30-minute break, as you will be anxiously doing mental calisthenics, arbitrarily tallying how many points you already have while waiting for the Listening Section to begin.

There is honestly nothing else I could have done to prepare myself better for the Listening section. The proctors were kind enough to test the volume of the PA system at least three times (that’s kaizen for you) and thankfully, my classmates were very well-behaved. Nobody was fidgeting in their seat, tapping their pencils in frustration, taking photos of the questionnaires, or throwing a temper tantrum. God forbid.

Advice I would give my past self:

My Result:

Passed. Language Knowledge: 35, Reading: 31, Listening: 37. Honestly, I wish I had gotten a much higher score in the first two sections, but that’s nitpicking at this point. The JLPT is essentially a pass-or-fail test, and I can breathe a sigh of relief with my certificate in hand and say, 「合格しました！」(I passed!)

What’s next? Let’s see, I need to take a break first. Considering I started from scratch with absolutely no background whatsoever three years ago, passing the N2 is a significant checkpoint that I will relish and celebrate. I want to strengthen my foundations and drastically improve my conversation skills, particularly keigo, before going face-to-face with JLPT N1, the final boss.

Disclaimer: The information listed above will not guarantee a “Passed” result on your JLPT N2, or any level for that matter. My opinions are not a bulletproof approach. That said, if you do intend on taking the test, I wish you all the best!

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