Proficiency Test

jbm1x · Sep 15, 2003, 11:52

I'm going to take the 4th level in December. Has anybody here taken it already? Can you give any advice on what to expect or how to do better on it?

I'm kind of worried about the listening part, how does that work? I can read pretty well, I know a lot of words and kanji, but I have almost no practice in conversation or listening.

senseiman · Sep 15, 2003, 13:35

Don't need any conversation practice for the Proficiency test. The listening test is pretty simple, especially for level four. Most of the questions will give you 4 pictures and you will hear a sentence and have to choose which picture applies. Like you'll hear the voice say "Yoshii has 3 apples" and you'll have to select the picture of a kid with 3 apples instead of the one with a kid with 2 bananas or something.

jbm1x · Sep 15, 2003, 14:13

Oh that's not so bad. Is it played fast like a normal Japanese conversation or slow like somebody talking to a stupid gaijin? Also do they repeat it? Thanks!

Keiichi · Sep 15, 2003, 14:57

Kinda mean saying "stupid gaijin"... *lol*
Still interesting. I'd like to know how this test is. Sounds like my Japanese class.

senseiman · Sep 15, 2003, 23:34

I don't think you'll have any problem, they are pretty slow and very clearly spoken. They only play it once though, so you have to listen carefully. I took level 3 last year and it was a breeze. Its too bad you are in the states, because in Japan you can buy the previous years tests in the bookstores, they are great for studying.

serewen · Sep 16, 2003, 03:24

yeah,U r right.senseiman.

MShingen · Feb 2, 2004, 23:03

Originally posted by senseiman
I don't think you'll have any problem, they are pretty slow and very clearly spoken. They only play it once though, so you have to listen carefully. I took level 3 last year and it was a breeze. Its too bad you are in the states, because in Japan you can buy the previous years tests in the bookstores, they are great for studying.

My country also have the past year papers sold at bookstores

SacredBlue · Feb 3, 2004, 05:13

I have a few of the CDs for all levels of the JLPT. The conversations are average-paced and shouldn't be hard if you practice listening and speaking (speaking will enforce listening skills).

However..It can get tricky..More than once on my CDs the speaker has changed his mind completely and said something different (usually fast) that makes the preceding dialogue irrelevant. For example:

A: 山本さん、木曜日に会議がありますか。
B: いいえ、ありません。
（Blah blah random talk on how they should see a movie etc.)
And then at the end
B: ちょっと。。すみません、木曜日に会議があります！

Finishing on time is my biggest concern..

Elizabeth · Feb 3, 2004, 05:30

Originally posted by SacredBlue

B: ちょっと。。すみません、木曜日に会議があります！

Finishing on time is my biggest concern..

Sorry, I have a meeting Thursday....

Museigen · Jul 8, 2004, 04:48

Does anyone have any old JLPT samples?? 3 or 2kyuuｿ

**cacawate** · Jul 8, 2004, 05:45

LOL @ 3kyuu. Ok, old joke. But here:
http://www.mlcjapanese.co.jp/Download.htm
http://language.tiu.ac.jp/index_e.html

And other links on JLPT here:
http://www.sabotenweb.com/bookmarks/language.html#test

There are also .pdfs out there but I gotta ask some people where they are.

-Jeff

Museigen · Jul 8, 2004, 06:37

Cacawate, good looking out for the prep material!

**cacawate** · Jul 8, 2004, 07:01

Word life, my friend. Word life.

noodle · Jul 16, 2004, 02:27

i'm in the u.s., i bought old jlpt test booklets here:

http://www.thejapanshop.net/jlpt.htm

msfi · Jul 16, 2004, 16:58

Hi,

I'm also planning to take the JLPT4 in December. I have been learning for a couple of months using Pimsleur and the book "Japanese for Everyone". I'm learning the 80 Kanji required for this level (and all that I encounter in my other studies). I've learnt languages before so I'm hoping to be at the level required by the test by November. I am also spending a few days in Tokyo in October so I can practice.

I bought a copy of the 2002 test at Kinokuniya to practice, it also comes with a CD of the listening exercises. My only concern is that I am hard of hearing so I am hoping that I will be able to hear and understand the questions.

Also I will be out of town on the day the exam is held so I'm going to have to find my way around a foreign city to take the test.

mad pierrot · Jul 16, 2004, 17:09

Who here has taken the test?

Who here plans to take it?

I'm studying for level 2 right now, and it's been painful at best. Anyone here who has taken level 2 care to give me some advice?

PaulTB · Jul 16, 2004, 17:24

Originally Posted by mad pierrot

I'm studying for level 2 right now, and it's been painful at best. Anyone here who has taken level 2 care to give me some advice?

I've taken level 2 a fair while back*

My advice is : Study, lots. Then study some more.

You can work out where your weakest areas with past papers, and there are books specifically designed to help people taking JLPT but basically it boils down to my first bit of advice.

* Translation : I can't remember if it will be two years in December or not.

Sep 15, 2003, 11:52	#1
jbm1x Regular Member Join Date: Aug 5, 2003 Posts: 23	Proficiency Test I'm going to take the 4th level in December. Has anybody here taken it already? Can you give any advice on what to expect or how to do better on it? I'm kind of worried about the listening part, how does that work? I can read pretty well, I know a lot of words and kanji, but I have almost no practice in conversation or listening.

Sep 15, 2003, 13:35	#2
senseiman Regular Member Join Date: Jun 24, 2003 Location: canadian Age: 33 Posts: 801	Don't need any conversation practice for the Proficiency test. The listening test is pretty simple, especially for level four. Most of the questions will give you 4 pictures and you will hear a sentence and have to choose which picture applies. Like you'll hear the voice say "Yoshii has 3 apples" and you'll have to select the picture of a kid with 3 apples instead of the one with a kid with 2 bananas or something. __________________ 祇園精舎の鐘の聲、諸行無常の響あり。娑羅雙樹の花の色、盛者必衰のことわりをあらはす。おごれる人も久しからず、唯春の夜の夢のごとし。たけき者も遂にほろびぬ、偏に風の前の塵に同じ。

Sep 15, 2003, 14:57	#4
Keiichi Hi Join Date: Mar 9, 2003 Posts: 818	Kinda mean saying "stupid gaijin"... lol Still interesting. I'd like to know how this test is. Sounds like my Japanese class. __________________ K1

Sep 16, 2003, 03:24	#6
serewen 太陽は沈まない ! Join Date: Sep 5, 2003 Location: Malaysia Age: 25 Posts: 165	yeah,U r right.senseiman. __________________ Kimi ga dai suki desu

Feb 2, 2004, 23:03	#7
MShingen Regular Member Join Date: Jan 17, 2004 Posts: 465	Originally posted by senseiman I don't think you'll have any problem, they are pretty slow and very clearly spoken. They only play it once though, so you have to listen carefully. I took level 3 last year and it was a breeze. Its too bad you are in the states, because in Japan you can buy the previous years tests in the bookstores, they are great for studying. My country also have the past year papers sold at bookstores

Sep 15, 2003, 14:13	#3
jbm1x Regular Member Join Date: Aug 5, 2003 Posts: 23	Oh that's not so bad. Is it played fast like a normal Japanese conversation or slow like somebody talking to a stupid gaijin? Also do they repeat it? Thanks!

Sep 15, 2003, 23:34	#5
senseiman Regular Member Join Date: Jun 24, 2003 Location: canadian Age: 33 Posts: 801	I don't think you'll have any problem, they are pretty slow and very clearly spoken. They only play it once though, so you have to listen carefully. I took level 3 last year and it was a breeze. Its too bad you are in the states, because in Japan you can buy the previous years tests in the bookstores, they are great for studying.

Feb 3, 2004, 05:13	#8
SacredBlue Regular Member Join Date: Oct 13, 2003 Location: Well..I put the asian in Caucasian. Just kiddin! I'm a white kid from freezing Massachusetts. Posts: 214	I have a few of the CDs for all levels of the JLPT. The conversations are average-paced and shouldn't be hard if you practice listening and speaking (speaking will enforce listening skills). However..It can get tricky..More than once on my CDs the speaker has changed his mind completely and said something different (usually fast) that makes the preceding dialogue irrelevant. For example: A: 山本さん、木曜日に会議がありますか。 B: いいえ、ありません。（Blah blah random talk on how they should see a movie etc.) And then at the end B: ちょっと。。すみません、木曜日に会議があります！ Finishing on time is my biggest concern..

Feb 3, 2004, 05:30	#9
Elizabeth Regular Member Join Date: Apr 22, 2003 Location: アメリカ Posts: 8,506	Originally posted by SacredBlue B: ちょっと。。すみません、木曜日に会議があります！ Finishing on time is my biggest concern.. Sorry, I have a meeting Thursday.... __________________ たとえ辛くても、永遠に続く苦しみなどないでしょう。

Jul 8, 2004, 04:48	#10
Museigen Junior Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2004 Location: Seattle Woot Woot!! Age: 26 Posts: 13	Does anyone have any old JLPT samples?? 3 or 2kyuuｿ

Jul 8, 2004, 05:45	#11
cacawate 観察するのが好きです Join Date: Jul 22, 2003 Location: マングリ島 Age: 28 Posts: 533	LOL @ 3kyuu. Ok, old joke. But here: http://www.mlcjapanese.co.jp/Download.htm http://language.tiu.ac.jp/index_e.html And other links on JLPT here: http://www.sabotenweb.com/bookmarks/language.html#test There are also .pdfs out there but I gotta ask some people where they are. -Jeff __________________ Cacawate Fan Club:Idol My Lang-8 ・ What is Lang-8?

Jul 8, 2004, 06:37	#12
Museigen Junior Member Join Date: Jan 21, 2004 Location: Seattle Woot Woot!! Age: 26 Posts: 13	Cacawate, good looking out for the prep material!

Jul 8, 2004, 07:01	#13
cacawate 観察するのが好きです Join Date: Jul 22, 2003 Location: マングリ島 Age: 28 Posts: 533	Word life, my friend. Word life.

Jul 16, 2004, 02:27	#14
noodle bowl of soup Join Date: May 27, 2004 Location: in a bowl Posts: 32	i'm in the u.s., i bought old jlpt test booklets here: http://www.thejapanshop.net/jlpt.htm

Jul 16, 2004, 16:58	#15
msfi Junior Member Join Date: Jul 16, 2004 Posts: 12	me too Hi, I'm also planning to take the JLPT4 in December. I have been learning for a couple of months using Pimsleur and the book "Japanese for Everyone". I'm learning the 80 Kanji required for this level (and all that I encounter in my other studies). I've learnt languages before so I'm hoping to be at the level required by the test by November. I am also spending a few days in Tokyo in October so I can practice. I bought a copy of the 2002 test at Kinokuniya to practice, it also comes with a CD of the listening exercises. My only concern is that I am hard of hearing so I am hoping that I will be able to hear and understand the questions. Also I will be out of town on the day the exam is held so I'm going to have to find my way around a foreign city to take the test.

Jul 16, 2004, 17:09	#16
mad pierrot I jump to conclusions Join Date: Nov 22, 2003 Location: The world via Chi-town Age: 28 Posts: 1,333	OK, let's see the hands. Who here has taken the test? Who here plans to take it? I'm studying for level 2 right now, and it's been painful at best. Anyone here who has taken level 2 care to give me some advice?

Jul 16, 2004, 17:24	#17
PaulTB Manga Psychic Join Date: Jan 22, 2004 Posts: 2,111	Originally Posted by mad pierrot I'm studying for level 2 right now, and it's been painful at best. Anyone here who has taken level 2 care to give me some advice? I've taken level 2 a fair while back* My advice is : Study, lots. Then study some more. You can work out where your weakest areas with past papers, and there are books specifically designed to help people taking JLPT but basically it boils down to my first bit of advice. * Translation : I can't remember if it will be two years in December or not.

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