The Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) N4 refers to one of the series of tests that are conducted to evaluate your knowledge of the Japanese language. It is often required by many educational institutions as well as employers. Therefore, if you plan to go to school, live, and work in Japan, you may need to pass this test and others.
Like other language proficiency tests, passing the JLPT N4 can be sometimes difficult for most individuals. if you want to pass the JLPT N4, here are the essential things you need to do:
1.Familiarize with the structure of the exam
2.Determine your strongest and weakest skills
3.Get all resources you need
4.study schedule for vocabulary and grammar
5.Master Kanji
6.Practice reading and listening
7.Be consistent
8.Learn time management
This is because it requires you to have a good knowledge of Japanese. At this point, you are expected to understand about 300 kanji symbols and 2000 words. Resultantly, the test needs a bit of advanced grammar usage that can be utilized for reading most signage and documents as well as having a day-to-day conversation in Japanese.
Familiarize with the structure of the exam
As you start preparing for the JLPT N4, you should first know its structure. Generally, N4 features a wide range of sections that all test your ability to comprehend and converse in Japanese. These sections include grammar and vocabulary, reading, and listening. Your preparation for the exam must focus on these sections.
Also, the JLPT N4 answers are mainly multiple choices. So, you have to select your answer by marking a line from the available options – A, B, C, or D.
Determine your strongest and weakest skills
Check out the overall structure for JLPT N4 and think about your weakest and strongest attributes. Are you great at Japanese vocabulary and grammar? Is your reading or listening great? Prioritize the weakest skills, but don’t overlook the need to also study your strongest skills.
Get all resources you need
As expected, the resources you have will determine the speed and accuracy of your practice. So, you should take the time to find the best resources that can help you achieve your goal of passing the JLPT N4 in just 6 months.
Tons of resources can help you and we will suggest a few examples here.
- Genki II – recommended for grammar
- Soumatome Series of books – for your grammar and vocabulary.
- NHK News Easy – offers easy-to-understand versions of the news. This exposes you to various new words and how to apply the things you have been learning.
- A Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar – this is a dictionary that both beginners and advanced learners can use.
- Japanese Pod 101 – helpful for learning to hold a useful conversation in Japanese.
In addition to the resources above, watch anime whenever you are chanced. It enhances your listening, vocabulary, and grammar.
Have a detailed study schedule for vocabulary and grammar
Vocabulary and grammar form an essential part of your JLPT N4 exam; therefore, you need a comprehensive study schedule for them. You are advised to get the Soumatome series of books that focus on improving your vocabulary and grammar. These series provide you with the particular materials you need to pass the test.
Whatever resources you are using for your vocabulary and grammar, create an easy-to-follow daily routine for learning. It is also advisable to start preparing for the test with vocabulary and grammar. This is because grammar and vocabulary make it easier for you to understand Japanese; resultantly, it can offer the basics required to study listening and reading.
It is also recommended that you utilize the Anki system to learn new words every day. Focus on finding about 4 new words daily so that you can improve your Japanese vocabulary. Besides, cram as many new words as possible as this can go a long way in helping you pass the exam.
Master Kanji
When writing the JLPT N4 exam, you will need about 300 kanji characters. So, it is imperative to master these symbols if you want to pass the exam. Considering the number of characters you need to learn and master within 6 months, you need to learn about 2 or 3 new characters every day. Ensure a day doesn’t go by without you learning new kanji characters. At the end of each week, make sure you review the newly learned kanji characters.
Practice reading and listening
Listening and reading are usually the most difficult parts of the JLPT N4 exam for most individuals. So, you need to ensure that you dedicate lots of time to practice them.
Notably, the reading speed can be tasking for new learners. Therefore, your practice must pay attention to how you can read the texts quickly. Of course, constant reading every day is the only thing that can boost your reading speed.
Similarly, listening requires you to hear everything and understand it. Well, this can also be challenging but regular practice is the solution. Always consult your materials on N4 listening, watch YouTube videos, listen to the news, and train from time to time.
Be consistent
You cannot achieve your aim of preparing and passing the JLPT N4 exam in 6 months if you are inconsistent. So, it is a must for you to be consistent in practicing everything you need to pass the exam.
For consistency, set small goals that you can accomplish every day. This doesn’t only help you achieve your overall goal, but it also eases the process of preparing for your JLPT N4 exam. When you are tired of learning, take a short break, and return when refreshed.
Learn time management
The JLPT N4 is like many other language proficiency tests that are time-bound. As a result of this, time is a crucial factor that may determine whether you will pass the exam or not. While you are still thinking about the answer to a specific question, you may even miss the next one. Therefore, you should be conscious of time. If there is any question you are not certain of, you can guess the answer and move to the next question. Don’t waste time on any question.
Conclusively, practicing daily for 6 months can look like a herculean task. However, this is the only way to ace the JLPT N4. So, stay motivated by focusing on your reasons for taking the test. Don’t be complacent. Study like your life depends on it.