So I recently passed JLPT N2 with a score of 128 41/41/46. Although I didn’t smash it, it was a comfortable pass and I felt the difficulty level was pretty appropriate given my Japanese knowledge.
I’m now preparing to JLPT N1 at some point, and my original intention was if I passed JLPT N2 in July 2023, then I’d look to take JLPT N1 in July 2024, giving me a year. I want a realistic time frame to study, prepare and give myself the best chance of passing in one go. It’s not cheap so I don’t want to take an “experimental” approach to taking the test. I want to feel like I’ve got a good chance of passing in one shot.
So my question is (especially for those who have passed both JLPT N2 and N1) how much time is realistically needed to go from JLPT N2 to N1? I’ve seen varying cases where some guy on TikTok passed JLPT N2 (with lower scores than me) then passed JLPT N1 5 months later, which I’m sure must be really rare. Then I’ve read cases where people have passed JLPT N2 and then even after 1 year+ are still failing. So I get it very much varies between people.
I already know all of the JLPT N1 grammar expressions and people say it’s the reading in N1 that’s the hardest. However, I have the Shin Kanzen Master N1 reading textbook which is basically just full of practise/past N1 reading questions and I’m getting pretty much everything correct. Personally, I don’t think N1 reading feels much harder than N2 reading. My biggest concern would be vocab/grammar as I still need to learn quite a bit, but in the 3/4 months between now and December I could cover a lot. I also looked at the July 2023 N1 vocab section, guessed a lot of questions using my kanji knowledge and got most right. Listening is my weakest skill though my N2 mark doesn’t suggest that. Ideally I wanted to spend some time in Japan before taking N1 so I can “train” my ear and improve listening.
If I want to take N1 this December, I’d need to register tomorrow. I think I’ve pretty much made up my mind and think I won’t go for it, but wanted to get thoughts from people if they think going from passing N2 now to taking and passing N1 this December is possible or just not very realistic? Motivation is high now, hence why I’m keen but like I said I want to give myself the best chance possible of passing in one sitting.
Thanks!
by Next_Blackberry8526