Taking JLPT N2: the 'before' post

The next chance to take the Japanese Language Proficiency Test is on Sunday (2nd, July 2017). You can't just rock up with your pencils and expect to get in - I applied a month or so back.

Wow, that time's flown by. Am I ready? Here goes.

Reading

Honestly, trying to read Japanese still gives me a headache. Never mind that the text on the JLPT paper is fairly small, and sometimes a little blurry.

The reading comprehension section is pushing 2 hours long. I'm in for a fun afternoon.

I've read on the JLPT website that the N2 level doesn't include long texts for the reading bit. N3 and N1 do, but not N2. That could work in my favour. And it's the first section of the day, so I can get it out of the way rather than dread it.

Grammar

I don't want to jinx it this early on in the post. But... if I'm going to fail N2, it'll be on this section.

As well as getting a minimum overall score, you have to pass each section by a certain number of points. This could let me down, badly.

My weak points in Japanese are: conditional/volitional tenses, and advanced grammar points that connect bits of sentences together. So, all the important bits. The grammar list for N2 looks like a foreign language to me - one I've never seen before in my life.

Listening

For this section, I intend to shut my eyes and hope for the best. Literally.

Having my eyes closed will help me concentrate on the words. It's a shame I have to look at what the multiple choice answers are so I can pick one. Closing my eyes for that would still give me a 1 in 4 chance of being right. (I'm kidding, I'm kidding.)

The only problem I'll have is if the speaking rate is faster than I expected. I remember getting a decent score for listening when I took N3 - not perfect, but enough to pass. If they speed it up for N2, I could be toast.

Kanji

Anyone who's been following my blog or my tweets should know I've been studying kanji with WaniKani. It teaches onyomi and kunyomi side by side. The 'kanji readings' bit of the JLPT should be fine, for me.

I think this is the section I have *enough* confidence in. My progress with WaniKani puts me at roughly 1,000 kanji learned so far, which is the number you're advised to know for N2. I just don't know if they're the same thousand.

Are you ready?

If you're taking the JLPT this weekend, all the best! If you're waiting until December, don't leave it until mid-November to start studying...