I wanted to take the JLPT test as a source of motivation to keep my progress in check. I was preparing the usual stuff (vobabs, grammar, listening etc) Little did I know, that rolling a gacha RNG trying to get a seat was part of the curriculum. I now finally understand people’s posts about flying to another city to do the test.
So, how far do you all booked in advance? Is this “seat lottery” due to covid somehow or is it a common JLPT moment? Because my friend who is taking IELTS can seem to do it whenever he likes with ease.
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They open enrollments about 3 months before the test date (check the site). It’s first come, first served. Seating maybe limited due to Covid (this will depend on your location and current conditions), but I don’t think there is a lottery.
Sign up as soon as you’re able if you want to take it or seats may fill up.
In Ireland last year registration opened I think in October and the exam itself was December. Places filled up I think honestly in a single morning, there was such demand. Set an alarm that day and be ready! Check the website for the administering centre in your area and hopefully they might have an idea of dates already.
It’s only been a rush to sign up because Covid has limited the number of seats and sites available. In previous non-pandemic years you had a couple weeks to sign up, whereas last time they filled up within hours of opening. So I would sign up ASAP this year. It looks like they added more sites and seats compared to last year, but there’s still a backlog of people who missed out last year and are trying to take it this time. Within a couple years or so of Covid restrictions ending I imagine it will return to normal with seats running out like a couple weeks after registration opens.
Registration opens August or Sept (for the December test) depending on what country you are taking it in. For the US one, they announced they are going to have many more seats available this year than last, since people missed out last time.
You can check the specifics of the country you want to take it in here
Japan: [https://www.jlpt.jp/e/application/domestic_index.html](https://www.jlpt.jp/e/application/domestic_index.html)
Everywhere else: https://www.jlpt.jp/e/application/overseas_index.html
In the U.S it opens in late August
Only had N2 and N1 in the Philippines. (N3,N2,N1 in a different region).
slots didn’t fill up and there was still plenty of vacant slots.
I signed up for the Melbourne test in Aus this year. By the time I finished my registration and was back at the start page (maybe 10 minutes) all of the N3 tickets were gone, and within three hours the rest were sold out as well. So really depends where you’re taking it.
yeah the aus positions for n3-n5 filled up in all of 20 minutes. n2 was a little slower and n1 the slowest. you need to be there immediately. If there’s a late application period and a few available spots you’re screwed and it’s luck of the draw depending on if you get a test as there’s just too many people refreshing their pages.
In Australia the registration for December tests opened last week. You need to know in advance when the registration opens and get in quick! Also they don’t announce when the registration will open until like a month before so you have to keep checking. I kept missing the bloody registration and finally got in this year lol