N5-N1 sample tests available

[ReyBrujo]

Hi everyone, been away for a good while. Just a couple of days ago my Japanese teacher told me one of her students brought a copy of the N4 sample exam (which is the one I am aiming at right now). Indeed, the JLPT official site was updated on July 13th, adding samples for all levels. I haven't seen this mentioned around, so I am posting it here.

What follows is my personal opinion (some of the higher levels may have had these exercises before, though, however I am talking as someone who passes the 4th level last year):

I haven't yet checked the old JLPT3 tests, but the first thing I noticed is that some exercises are pretty tough. For example, there is a new exercise where you first need to sort the sentence and then write the answer:

つくえの　＿＿＿＿＿　＿＿＿＿＿　＿＿★＿＿　＿＿＿＿＿　あります。
１。が　　　　２。に　　　　３。上　　　４。ペン

So, you would have to first sort the sentence in your head （つくえの上にペンがあります。） and then select the word marked with the star as correct answer (in this case, ペン).

There is a lot more focus on understanding. For example, there is a text where they tell you about a website that sells coffee, the prices and the discounts, and then ask you how much would a determined amount of coffee would cost. You need to apply any discount implied by the paragraph.

My professor gave me a copy to try it out, and other than my lack of vocabulary (some words I didn't know, some I didn't remember), it was a rather easy ride until the block of texts. Looks like it will be pretty tough.

[NeWbY]

Thanks for the update of the sample tests.
I took the N2 one, and I realized I'm still lacking in some fields
Luckily I still have some time left to study though.

I think it's a good improvement that they're trying to put the focus on understanding. This way you actually test yourself if you understand it or not. Though it might make the test a somewhat more difficult, the large texts were already in the previous tests as well.

I'm curious if I can pass the new one in December

Edit: I passed the example N2 test with 31/40 (or 77.5%)
I have to say its a bit too easy for a N2 test as JLPT2 was more difficult. I can not expect the real test to be that easy :/

[Meyem]

maybe you're better than you give yourself credit for

[ReyBrujo]

The interactive tests are also pretty good, they even have the listening part. I recommend anyone wanting to try the test to take them in order (to get used to the new type of exercises).