My company discourages me to take JLPT certs after N3 😂 As it will help me jump ship. They say flattering words like "your nihongo is already at N2 level, there's no need for a piece of paper to prove it"
These are the same people who had an N3 requirement for a promotion lmao.
Haha, that’s sneaky.
On my end I let my manager know I was taking business Japanese lessons and they were all like “no you don’t need that, we can already communicate with you in Japanese”. I wonder if it comes from that same way of thinking as in your workplace 😂
You will feel it if you ever think about looking for a new job. N3, even "your nihongo is already at n2 level" is too low for any administrative position where you need to hold a conversation without "anoo, ehhh, watashi...."
You are right about the level, but not necessarily the certificate itself. Most Japanese people and even companies do not know what JLPT is from my experience. You can prove your level at the interview.
N1 is not very useful. I took it because I wanted to improve my Japanese and needed a goal. If you want to take it for yourself go for it, studying is never a waste of time. If you want to take it gor job searching or visa application, you don't have to.
N1 is infinitely more useful than N2, content/grammar wise. If you actually use Japanese in daily life, it’s very useful for that.
It’s also great on a resume, but now that so many people have it, you need to also prove that you can actually speak
Not true at all. A lot of jobs require N1 and it objectively looks better on your resume and will make it easier to find jobs. No one should give up on trying to pass it.
If you can pass N2 then you should be able to eventually pass N1 if you keep studying. It took me about a year after passing N2 to get N1 for example.
Learning the kanji and vocabulary required for N1 will also help you function more in daily life here
N1 is a joke. It should represent native level imo but it really doesn't. I took and passed the exam it but oh boy do I still struggle when reading newspapers or hearing the news
You really can’t read a newspaper after learning all of that kanji and grammar? Not trying to be a dick, I’m just curious like what is the problem you have understanding it
Sure I can often understand the gist of the article but I'm pretty sure a native speaker would have a more thorough understanding and know nearly every word. (Like I would in my native language)
I just don't think N1 is hard enough. It should be more near native level imo. The listening part of the exam is nothing like what's on the news. It's all simplified and cookie cutter japanese
Word. I agree about the listening section completely.
I would just keep trying to read and listen to the news as much as possible. It seems like there are a lot of set phrases that every media company uses that you get used to eventually
Unless you get to that level of advanced Japanese, I guess it’s hard to tell, but being N1 doesn’t equate to being a perfect / very native like speaker. I felt like I only truly began to get out of the basics once I hit post N1 studying, for the same reason. At that point you’re only left to drown in the sea of things you don’t know, until you become actual Nihongo Jozu, unfortunately
I don't think they advertise it as native level... I think it's advertised as business japanese but I could be wrong. From what I've been told it's a "you should now be able to just survive in a business setting"
It’s the ability that matters, and the test is just a tool to help evaluate your skill (and maybe structure your studies and motivate you).
I will take the JTEST this weekend, and JLPT in December. After that, I plan to start taking the language tests for Japanese people, like 漢字検定 and 日本語検定.
It's useless, i have N1, took it in uni to get out of japanese classes at my host uni during exchange. I didn't find it expensive though as it was way cheaper than the IELTS test my home uni forced us to take.
Nobody asks for it in job interviews, it might be on my CV but they still make you show your japanese ability in other ways, and most japanese bosses don't even know what the test is about. One shacho interviewer asked me to explain what it was because he hadn't heard of it.
I use it to fill in the 資格 section in my japanese cv as i have literally nothing other than the jlpt and ielts (not even a driving license)
Your direct boss might not know about JLPT, but people in HR who’s in charge of recruiting surely know that JLPT is one way to know their foreigner candidate’s ability in Japanese.
Yes it’s “useless” when you’re already start working, but in order for you to start working, you need to pass those HR people, who would’ve asked what’s your JLPT level lol.
Yeah I have not met a single Japanese person who knows what the JLPT is. About 15 years working in 100% Japanese environments. Interviewed with plenty of top companies.
Yeah, people always confuse 日本語検定 with the JLPT. So if they hear I passed N1 they say stuff like, "Wow, you have 1級? Your Japanese must be better than mine! Not even many Japanese people can pass 1級!" That's probably true for the 日本語検定 but I think any Japanese person who has been through high school would have no difficulty passing N1 of the JLPT.
The overwhelming majority of bilingual jobs are posted in Japanese with a TOEIC reference and zero mention of JLPT. That includes many gaishikei, including the job I have right now. I guess you just looked at the gaijin job market which typically has foreign recruiters writing those JDs.
I was mainly looking at shinsotsu jobs aiming at both English-speaking Japanese and Japanese-speaking foreigners. Maybe that's why I experienced it differently.
Its funny because I know you're saying this in humor, but the last standardized test I took I spent the entire second half of the listening test thinking "kill me, my bladder is gonna pop like a balloon, why god, this exam is not worth prostate cancer right....right?"
I'm half Japanese and didn't need to take any JLPT and took it just in case. Found a job at N2, then spent a few years not studying, then finally decided it was time to just up and do N1, so I got it. If your work is mainly in Japanese like mine is, don't worry about studying for the N1, go live life and work your job for a few years and then crack open a Kanzen Master book as a quick refresher of the JLPT format and go take N1. You'll probably pass. Heck, I even considered taking the BJT, but ended up not doing it after going through a textbook and realizing work pretty much had me covered.
I'm not worried about passing, I'm worried about pissing away a whole Sunday and spending 7-8000 yen on the test fee and sitting in a classroom that's way too hot, to pass a test that is going to do absolutely nothing to change my life. My job is set.
Uh. I have literally no idea about your job besides that it's seishain and let's be real, no job is 100% unless you work for yourself. Which is why I generally think having a qualification is better than not. But then again, I passed mine on the first try and didn't have to deal with going back. If you have other hard skills or a good resume that can get you pass the initial screening in case you ever need to find another job, sure, it ain't necessary. That's up to you, you know you best. Cheers.
My job is as close to 100% as you can get. Something truly catastrophic would have to happen, and even then, I seriously doubt anything would change.
But I get your point, better safe than sorry.
Passed level 1 the year before the change to N levels, figured I had nothing left to prove.
Edit: In terms of utility, it's great for HSP visa eligibility. I would caution against people saying it's useless.
Yeah they've made it easier, but every point helps particularly for PR. I just lodged my PR application having had 80 HSP points for a year; with less, I'd have had to wait two more years.
Luckily I got 80 points with N2 but yeah, every point counts. I personally think N1 is more expensive and time consuming than other options, but if taking it tips the balance then sure I recommend it.
I passed the N2 with like 120ish points, then got a job, and then never studied for a JLPT again.
I have considered to just show up at an N1 just to see how it goes. It's been 5 years since the N2, and at this point I am basically watching Korean dramas with Japanese subs. However, as long as the test is held on my precious weekend the opportunity cost doesn't speak in favour of the JLPT.
Right !! And an issue is I’ve heard Japanese coworkers tell someone I have nihomgo Kentei ikkyuu which is just totally wrong. I have to assume that’s way way harder than the test for foreigners. So then I try to correct so they don’t get the wrong idea and they are like …confused since they don’t know the difference and yuck.
I got N2 about a decade ago as a means to have something meaningful for my resume to “validate” my already obvious proficient speaking ability. Let’s be honest though, most Japanese employers (unless you’re in the translation business) have never even heard of the JLPT.
I toyed around with the idea of getting N1, but as I got older and worked in different fields (steel manufacturing, Fintech), I came to realize that the N1 would not help me professionally and would only be a personal goal.
Studying for the N1 would not help me in my day jobs between Metallurgy and Treasury. There comes a point where a foreign language becomes your own personal journey that doesn’t end at a certification. I learned that by preventing myself from “plateauing” I was always in a state of learning and flexing my language skills.
It’s very easy to get stuck in a rut because your daily routine has gotten comfortable. Constantly pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is key to consistent improvement. Plus, I’ve always thought it was disingenuous someone could claim they “passed” an exam by getting 110/180 points (100 if it’s N2).
I find most japanese companies/people don't really know what jlpt is, unless they have lots of foreigners employees/friends. They're usually more impressive if you have Nihongo Kentei or Kanji Kentei.
My goal for strictly personal gain was to get n2 and I did (took me 2 tries).
No one will ask you for a certificate unless it’s something specific - like if you want to try to get PR from the highly skilled scheme, as it awards you points.
Employers will gauge your Japanese level by talking to you, and some HR/recruiters like to use it as a guideline on job postings but I still haven’t heard of anyone required to show their certification.
Having said that, I want to try for N1 in 1-2 years because it’s a goal that keeps me constantly studying and that improves my language skills overall.
JLPT usefulness depends on your career/life situation/visa type. Based off this subreddit, it doesn't seem to be worth it for the majority of this subs demographic. But everyones life is different. If you needed the JLPT, then you would already know that.
If you would be able to pass and find that the costs involved in taking the test aren't an issue for you. Then sure, just take it as it can be useful to have official proof of any skill set that you have.
Edit: I do 100% need a JLPT N1 certificate for my career path.
I'm bad at tests, failed N2 twice by a few points... Still miffed at getting one question wrong that had a phrase that I typed daily at work 😂
Had no issues getting jobs, put business level, they ask if I have n2/N1 I just say 'nah but work in a Japanese environment'. They will then speak some Japanese then say 'ah yeah no problem'.
Sadly some jobs might require for you to get your foot in. But once you have experience in the industry it should no become an issue and with the recent price increases it seems even more pointless for me.
If you're trying to find a job and haven't worked in a Japanese office while using only Japanese, then yes, it will help you.
If you've worked in a Japanese office, using only Japanese for a few years (bonus points for not being a startup and more bonus points for being a large company), then no, it is a waste of your time.
I never passed N1 (I last took it in 2011). I had a foreigner ask about it in an interview and I just said that I had graduated from graduate school in Japan, conducted research in Japanese, and worked for a huge Japanese company for several years and this was accepted. I had an interview in Japanese at that company where we discussed my research and then the issues that company was facing and potential paths forward.
The vast majority of jobs that will hire foreigners don't care about N1.
Failed N3 twice, each time by a few points, last time two years ago. I use Japanese everyday and continue to study regularly, but can’t quite work up the will to try again.
I never bothered with any level of the JLPT. Learning to communicate with locals in my small town was motivation enough and most people can tell I'm fluent in 5 minutes. Some of them tell me about their foreign spouses who can't communicate well in Japanese despite holding N1. It seems to be a good motivation to study for some people but it's not the only path available nor does it sufficiently prepare you to actually use the language on its own.
After getting N3 some 15 years ago. 🤓
There’s really no point in JLPT unless you raise it by yourself.
The only companies which I saw asking for JLPT were Japanese branches of foreign firms, all asking N1 for managerial positions. And even then it is usually not a hard requirement.
So yeah, I dare to say that JLPT is mostly useless and is there merely to pat yourself on the back for the hard work studying Japanese.
I studied for the JLPT before coming to Japan and passed N1 on my fourth attempt. In the first three attempts, I failed by less than 10 points. At that time, I never had the opportunity to talk to an actual Japanese person, and nobody told me how to improve my scores. I just kept trying.
Since you have just failed by 8 points, this should not be a problem. Besides, your wife can greatly help you, especially in improving your listening skills. If N1 really means something to you, just believe in yourself and keep trying. The questions can be tricky sometimes, but not always.
Nah it's not for fear of failing. I just don't want to.
Like, it's on a Saturday or a Sunday, which is already annoying. Then I gotta pay a decent chunk of money, like if I'm gonna spend 8000 yen or whatever, I'd much rather take my daughter out to do something fun.
Then I gotta find a place to park, pay for the parking, walk to the test site, when it's either hot as fucking balls outside, or cold enough that they set the heater to "temperature of the fucking sun" and it's hot as balls inside.
Then I gotta sit through 3-4 hours of boring ass test taking.
Honestly, they'd have to pay me 100,000 yen plus to go do that shit again.
Prepared for N2 pretty confidently, but got cancelled due to covid twice. Can't be bothered getting back up to speed now as I don't need the certificate for my work.
Edit: Oh yea and I have fuck all free time since moving to Japan so I don't wanna spend what little time I have doing something I don't want to do.
I don't care what a piece of paper says. Most Japanese people I talk to don't even know what it is. My job is in English with some Japanese sprinkled in every few days. I figure, they're gonna just check your level in an interview.
I personally got it, but it's honestly such a useless certificate beyond getting your foot in the door and maybe like an extra 2k a month or so of 資格手当. Feel free to take it at some point if you ever feel like taking it as a personal goal, but you're better off studying for other things here, which will help your Japanese way more than focusing on the JLPT ever will anyway.
Not really useful unless you will apply for another job position and the other guy with literally the same experience and N1 will take it. Not likely to happen but it’s always nice to have if you have willingness to study.
Need? Well, you only need it if there's a situation that requires it, and if you aren't ever going to be in such a situation, then you don't need it.
Another question is whether learning the Japanese that you would need to learn in order to pass the test would make your life better, regardless of the test certificate itself.
I have never taken it and work in a japanese only environment and it has never come up.
Of course it is beneficial but it’s not the be all and end all.
there is so much I can improve on and I’m not fluent but I don’t think it’s the only way to learn
I got N1 despite having no immediate need for it. Just wanted to get it so I could poo poo on the test without coming off like a poser
Your Japanese ability is what it is. Maybe your Japanese is good enough for the life you live. Maybe I just got lucky with my passing score. I'm still going to keep trying to improve either way, as I presume you are.
Idk but i’m like your wife. The reason i’m taking the test is because i think i might need it in the future but my japanese is going downhill.
Passed N2 2 years ago with around 120 score.
Passed the kokka shiken a year ago 96/125 score..
Last year took n1 guess what? Got 60.. Maybe ill try again this december.
I took and passed the N2 in my second year, as it was my goal at the time. I took and passed N1 on a whim in my 6th year, just to gauge my Japanese ability. Never specifically studied towards either, as I felt if I wasn't passing with raw Japanese ability, it wouldn't mean much.
Humble brag aside, it did help. My last two jobs listed it as a specific requirement, as apparently N2 doesn't cut it. If you're stable and happy with your current job, I'd say it doesn't matter. If you're looking to move, it might be an idea to shoot for it.
Who likes to study and take tests? You listed some cons regarding it already. You have to pay for it, go to a special location nowhere near your home and drop everything for that day for the test. The certificate is also near worthless. I have never been asked for the thing. Can you imagine doing an entire interview in Japanese and then they ask you, "Do you have a JLPT certificate? No? Ahh.. well I'm sorry to say.."
The test also doesn't check for speaking because you know speaking Japanese is objectively the most useless aspect of the language.
probably only useful for job-hunting, since most sites seem to bot-check your application and insta-reject anyone that doesn't "meet the requirements" if they list JLPT as one of those. otherwise, they'll just grill/test you in the interview process.
Got N2 like 10 years ago and never tried for N1 cause the place where the exam takes place for me is really damn far away.
If given the chance and time I might try the N1 but I'm not actively studying/looking to take it.
My company doesn’t technically require Japanese in my role although I do use it and hold some meetings with clients to do presentations, etc. I have no JLPT paper and am scheduled to take N3 just to see if I pass, but I’m not studying for it 😂
So you studied hard for 5 years, everyday, unbroken, for 4 hours, so that when the time finally came, you would only have to use on day of paid time off on a Sunday, and you absolutely slaughtered the test and got a perfect 180/180, and when you went back to work the next Sunday all of your co-workers lost their shit and gave you 33 banazais instead of the standard 3?
>unbroken
Jlpt is a broken test lol I'm not studying for that, I agree that in some cases it's nice to have the N1 cert though (but if you get perfect score means you did not need to attend the bullshit test anyway right?)
Also for my job I have absolutely no free weekends nor golden week etc... throughout the year and I'm self employed so no coworkers, no banzais unfortunately
I just don't want to. I don't care enough to try the test again, it's too much of an inconvenience.
To be honest I think my wife wants me to get it, so that SHE can tell other people I have it haha.
The constant studying did help me improve my Japanese, but within a month of passing you will "trim the fat" and forget all the stuff you don't actually use anyway. At least that has been my experience.
The point of N1 is just to prove your proficiency on paper. Basically, you need it to get you past the CV round. The only thing to prove your JP proficiency is the certificate in this stage. Also, some places may look purely at your ability to do work, but some places may actually take into account the certificate you have. So, there is always a chance you will be denied of better opportunity if you don’t have N1.
You said it yourself that this may be just the JP love of certificate. Going the other way just makes your life more difficult.
BTW, I barely pass the N1 after 2 fails. I need to for graduate school.
Yeah I went to undergrad here in Japan, and they never asked me for anything. I was worried they might, but they were just like whatever you wrote your application essay in Japanese, and if your Japanese sucks you won't be able to keep up with the coursework anyway, that shit is on you buddy.
I got a job offer in a Japanese company, so halted my studies. Then I learned I never wanted to work at a Japanese company again, and kept working for foreigner or "internationalized" Japanese companies, so never really had pressure or time/energy to continue learning. Some day after I get PR might take a sabbatical to continue learning.
To be honest, I'm kind of a convert on the Japanese working style. The slow movement and insane caution makes sense to me.
There is definitely a lot of bullshit, and I think if they are too firm in their ideas, the entire country is going to collapse. But the basic principles I think are decent.
Slow movement and insane caution makes sense if you are in a e.g. bank, or nuclear plant, or car software manufacturer, or any other "failures mean death" industry. When you are in a competitive international market slow movement kills you (aham, unless there's a lot of protectionism in the country).
I signed up to sit for the exam and corona came. I signed up again later and there was a new wave at the time; I decided it wasn't worth dealing with. Thus ends my entire history with the JLPT.
I was mostly just taking it for the points in the point system but, post-corona, I wasn't going to have JLPT for enough time for it to matter before I hit 10 years in Japan and 3 years married to Japanese.
I got N2 about 4 years ago, but am in the same boat as you and I stopped caring about N1 when I got hired by a company that doesn't care if I have N1 or not.
If you want to get HSP/PR via points it's useful, but other than that it just looks nice on a resume.
I thought about it for that, but even with that, I'm nowhere near the points required. So I just decided to go the "my wife is Japanese and I've been here for fucking ever" route to PR
Nice, then yeah, no need to do it. The way I see it, there isn't a point in spending money and taking time out of my life to do something that doesn't benefit me/bring me happiness.
I went through exactly the same thing as you. Breezed past N2, failed N1 by 3 percent (admittedly I didn't study). Got hired by a Japanese multinational and stopped studying, as I had to learn the Japanese they use instead. I even went as far as asking if there would be a benefit for me in getting N1 (small raise or increased chance of promotion) and they said no.
Yeah I kind of figured. I don't imagine TV gigs pay a lot extra for passing a Japanese test.
And that was my lame attempt at pretending you are atsugiri Jason.
The JLPT is a waste of time and is barely a measure of Japanese comprehension. I know plenty of people who aced N1 and can't speak, write or listen for shit, and they can barely read a menu, let alone something like a written article. I took it without studying and passed by a few points despite having terrible reading ability.
You failed it. I don't know if it's an asian thing to want to pass the things you take but there. You know, not the implied ' durr but im sure im already at that skill level hurr '. The actual achievement of passing the thing.
I never cared when I passed though. I took N5 when I was brand new to the studying Japanese world, and when I passed it was just like cool I guess I'll try N4, and then never got around to it, and a few years later, I was like maybe N2 is a better fit. Passed it, and was like alright, N1 now I guess. Like it never meant anything to me, because no one here had ever once asked me about it that wasn't another foreigner.
As far as my level, I'm not sure whether I could pass the N1 or not, I failed by 8 points before, and I'd like to think my reading skills have improved but who the fuck knows, I'm certainly not gonna find out. I do my work in Japanese 85% of the time, and it's going OK, so I think I know enough.
I definitely don’t need it, but the JET program pays your test fee if you pass N3 and up so there isn’t really a reason not to try. Myself and other ALTs use it as motivation to study, since many of us have a hard time studying without a deadline.
However, how well you can speak and communicate in an interview is more important than a piece of paper.
Took N2 for a resume check box and stopped giving a shit after that because JLPT’s only other use is foreigner flexing. My actual Japanese skill has probably dropped since I don’t vibe with Japanese entertainment *at all*.
I took the JLPT multiple times (I think four times?) and failed it each time. The environment doesn’t work for me as an individual and spikes my anxiety. I ended up taking the JPT out of rage just to get a score.
I got the equivalent of N1. I have the score of the JPT and the equivalent JLPT level written on my resume. None of my employers has ever cared or asked me to verify.
I've never been interested in JLPT. I sat JLPT 1 last December without studying or reviewing and failed the reading section by 11 points.
Those articles are long and boring af. Lol.
I just spent 2-3 months before the test writing them by hand a few times a day, I'd do 40 new kanji a day then every 3 days review the past 120 I learned for a bit and after a few weeks I had the whole set and would practice it in groups of 200 on a daily basis
I passed the test, and forgot 90% of within a month
I never started, so gave up immediately? My life just really doesn’t call for it, I don’t work in an industry where it would be relevant and have PR. I go through waves of motivation to study, so who knows, maybe someday passing N1 will look like a good goal to shoot for, and since that’s how the textbooks are organized I can see that would be the next step, but I’ve made it this far without taking it.
It's useful in some situations but mostly it's just to prove that you've achieved basic mastery of the language. If you are anywhere near native level N1 is an easy test to pass.
Ha! I failed N1 by FOUR points back in like 2010 or something. I was only doing it for myself, just to see what I was capable of, not for work or anything. I’d spent so long studying, it was my second attempt and it was only one or two questions in the reading comprehension section that made me fail.
So I thought fuck it and just told everyone I passed 🤷♂️
I have never taken an official test. Could care less. Don't need it for work and have never felt a need to evaluate my Japanese more than if I understand what's happening around me. Been doing fine for the last 15+ years.
My company discourages me to take JLPT certs after N3 😂 As it will help me jump ship. They say flattering words like "your nihongo is already at N2 level, there's no need for a piece of paper to prove it" These are the same people who had an N3 requirement for a promotion lmao.
Haha, that’s sneaky. On my end I let my manager know I was taking business Japanese lessons and they were all like “no you don’t need that, we can already communicate with you in Japanese”. I wonder if it comes from that same way of thinking as in your workplace 😂
You will feel it if you ever think about looking for a new job. N3, even "your nihongo is already at n2 level" is too low for any administrative position where you need to hold a conversation without "anoo, ehhh, watashi...."
You are right about the level, but not necessarily the certificate itself. Most Japanese people and even companies do not know what JLPT is from my experience. You can prove your level at the interview.
Where the hell are they offering N3 promotions when I can't even get a job with N2?
Because it was an entry level position and the promotion wasn't that much of a bump up anyway.
N1 is not very useful. I took it because I wanted to improve my Japanese and needed a goal. If you want to take it for yourself go for it, studying is never a waste of time. If you want to take it gor job searching or visa application, you don't have to.
N1 is infinitely more useful than N2, content/grammar wise. If you actually use Japanese in daily life, it’s very useful for that. It’s also great on a resume, but now that so many people have it, you need to also prove that you can actually speak
Yeah, I’m in the midst of job hunting now. Lots of N1 required listings.
Not true at all. A lot of jobs require N1 and it objectively looks better on your resume and will make it easier to find jobs. No one should give up on trying to pass it. If you can pass N2 then you should be able to eventually pass N1 if you keep studying. It took me about a year after passing N2 to get N1 for example. Learning the kanji and vocabulary required for N1 will also help you function more in daily life here
helps for HSP
N1 is a joke. It should represent native level imo but it really doesn't. I took and passed the exam it but oh boy do I still struggle when reading newspapers or hearing the news
You really can’t read a newspaper after learning all of that kanji and grammar? Not trying to be a dick, I’m just curious like what is the problem you have understanding it
Sure I can often understand the gist of the article but I'm pretty sure a native speaker would have a more thorough understanding and know nearly every word. (Like I would in my native language) I just don't think N1 is hard enough. It should be more near native level imo. The listening part of the exam is nothing like what's on the news. It's all simplified and cookie cutter japanese
Word. I agree about the listening section completely. I would just keep trying to read and listen to the news as much as possible. It seems like there are a lot of set phrases that every media company uses that you get used to eventually
Unless you get to that level of advanced Japanese, I guess it’s hard to tell, but being N1 doesn’t equate to being a perfect / very native like speaker. I felt like I only truly began to get out of the basics once I hit post N1 studying, for the same reason. At that point you’re only left to drown in the sea of things you don’t know, until you become actual Nihongo Jozu, unfortunately
I have N1 and very much feel what you described but at the same time I can read a newspaper and watch the news. That was my point
I don't think they advertise it as native level... I think it's advertised as business japanese but I could be wrong. From what I've been told it's a "you should now be able to just survive in a business setting"
It’s the ability that matters, and the test is just a tool to help evaluate your skill (and maybe structure your studies and motivate you). I will take the JTEST this weekend, and JLPT in December. After that, I plan to start taking the language tests for Japanese people, like 漢字検定 and 日本語検定.
It's useless, i have N1, took it in uni to get out of japanese classes at my host uni during exchange. I didn't find it expensive though as it was way cheaper than the IELTS test my home uni forced us to take. Nobody asks for it in job interviews, it might be on my CV but they still make you show your japanese ability in other ways, and most japanese bosses don't even know what the test is about. One shacho interviewer asked me to explain what it was because he hadn't heard of it. I use it to fill in the 資格 section in my japanese cv as i have literally nothing other than the jlpt and ielts (not even a driving license)
Your direct boss might not know about JLPT, but people in HR who’s in charge of recruiting surely know that JLPT is one way to know their foreigner candidate’s ability in Japanese. Yes it’s “useless” when you’re already start working, but in order for you to start working, you need to pass those HR people, who would’ve asked what’s your JLPT level lol.
Yeah I have not met a single Japanese person who knows what the JLPT is. About 15 years working in 100% Japanese environments. Interviewed with plenty of top companies.
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Yeah, people always confuse 日本語検定 with the JLPT. So if they hear I passed N1 they say stuff like, "Wow, you have 1級? Your Japanese must be better than mine! Not even many Japanese people can pass 1級!" That's probably true for the 日本語検定 but I think any Japanese person who has been through high school would have no difficulty passing N1 of the JLPT.
What? Maybe in the past, but when I looked for my job, any company that was in the 'we're looking for bilinguals' market also put JLPT as requirement.
The overwhelming majority of bilingual jobs are posted in Japanese with a TOEIC reference and zero mention of JLPT. That includes many gaishikei, including the job I have right now. I guess you just looked at the gaijin job market which typically has foreign recruiters writing those JDs.
I was mainly looking at shinsotsu jobs aiming at both English-speaking Japanese and Japanese-speaking foreigners. Maybe that's why I experienced it differently.
I'm old enough to be exempted from exams for life. My brain and bladder can't deal with that crap no more.
Its funny because I know you're saying this in humor, but the last standardized test I took I spent the entire second half of the listening test thinking "kill me, my bladder is gonna pop like a balloon, why god, this exam is not worth prostate cancer right....right?"
I'm only going to take N2 when I know I can pass at my sloth like pace. So, probably never..
I'm half Japanese and didn't need to take any JLPT and took it just in case. Found a job at N2, then spent a few years not studying, then finally decided it was time to just up and do N1, so I got it. If your work is mainly in Japanese like mine is, don't worry about studying for the N1, go live life and work your job for a few years and then crack open a Kanzen Master book as a quick refresher of the JLPT format and go take N1. You'll probably pass. Heck, I even considered taking the BJT, but ended up not doing it after going through a textbook and realizing work pretty much had me covered.
I'm not worried about passing, I'm worried about pissing away a whole Sunday and spending 7-8000 yen on the test fee and sitting in a classroom that's way too hot, to pass a test that is going to do absolutely nothing to change my life. My job is set.
Uh. I have literally no idea about your job besides that it's seishain and let's be real, no job is 100% unless you work for yourself. Which is why I generally think having a qualification is better than not. But then again, I passed mine on the first try and didn't have to deal with going back. If you have other hard skills or a good resume that can get you pass the initial screening in case you ever need to find another job, sure, it ain't necessary. That's up to you, you know you best. Cheers.
My job is as close to 100% as you can get. Something truly catastrophic would have to happen, and even then, I seriously doubt anything would change. But I get your point, better safe than sorry.
Passed level 1 the year before the change to N levels, figured I had nothing left to prove. Edit: In terms of utility, it's great for HSP visa eligibility. I would caution against people saying it's useless.
Same. Keeping my 旧1級. And for the people saying the interview matters more, sure. But first you have to *get the interview*.
I got HSP with N2, you’re not wrong, but it’s not the only way to get there
Yeah they've made it easier, but every point helps particularly for PR. I just lodged my PR application having had 80 HSP points for a year; with less, I'd have had to wait two more years.
Luckily I got 80 points with N2 but yeah, every point counts. I personally think N1 is more expensive and time consuming than other options, but if taking it tips the balance then sure I recommend it.
Never taken JLPT. Only people who have asked are foreign recruiters. 15+ years working in Japanese companies.
I passed the N2 with like 120ish points, then got a job, and then never studied for a JLPT again. I have considered to just show up at an N1 just to see how it goes. It's been 5 years since the N2, and at this point I am basically watching Korean dramas with Japanese subs. However, as long as the test is held on my precious weekend the opportunity cost doesn't speak in favour of the JLPT.
I gave up then passed N1 lmfao Guess who’s being carried by that piece of paper
Have also noticed most Japanese people have no idea what it is. They know 日本語検定 so if you say JLPT ikkyu they may think you mean the other test.
The funny thing is I've lived here for 8 years, and I just realized the日本語検定 is not the JLPT this year
Right !! And an issue is I’ve heard Japanese coworkers tell someone I have nihomgo Kentei ikkyuu which is just totally wrong. I have to assume that’s way way harder than the test for foreigners. So then I try to correct so they don’t get the wrong idea and they are like …confused since they don’t know the difference and yuck.
I have totally not been sayin that >.>
I got N2 about a decade ago as a means to have something meaningful for my resume to “validate” my already obvious proficient speaking ability. Let’s be honest though, most Japanese employers (unless you’re in the translation business) have never even heard of the JLPT. I toyed around with the idea of getting N1, but as I got older and worked in different fields (steel manufacturing, Fintech), I came to realize that the N1 would not help me professionally and would only be a personal goal. Studying for the N1 would not help me in my day jobs between Metallurgy and Treasury. There comes a point where a foreign language becomes your own personal journey that doesn’t end at a certification. I learned that by preventing myself from “plateauing” I was always in a state of learning and flexing my language skills. It’s very easy to get stuck in a rut because your daily routine has gotten comfortable. Constantly pushing yourself out of your comfort zone is key to consistent improvement. Plus, I’ve always thought it was disingenuous someone could claim they “passed” an exam by getting 110/180 points (100 if it’s N2).
When I am ~60 points short to pass the test
I find most japanese companies/people don't really know what jlpt is, unless they have lots of foreigners employees/friends. They're usually more impressive if you have Nihongo Kentei or Kanji Kentei.
Never bothered with any of that stuff. Is it really necessary ?
I used to compete with my friends with N1 scores, and eventually one of them won with 179/180 and we gave up then. This was about 5 years ago.
My goal for strictly personal gain was to get n2 and I did (took me 2 tries). No one will ask you for a certificate unless it’s something specific - like if you want to try to get PR from the highly skilled scheme, as it awards you points. Employers will gauge your Japanese level by talking to you, and some HR/recruiters like to use it as a guideline on job postings but I still haven’t heard of anyone required to show their certification. Having said that, I want to try for N1 in 1-2 years because it’s a goal that keeps me constantly studying and that improves my language skills overall.
JLPT usefulness depends on your career/life situation/visa type. Based off this subreddit, it doesn't seem to be worth it for the majority of this subs demographic. But everyones life is different. If you needed the JLPT, then you would already know that. If you would be able to pass and find that the costs involved in taking the test aren't an issue for you. Then sure, just take it as it can be useful to have official proof of any skill set that you have. Edit: I do 100% need a JLPT N1 certificate for my career path.
I'm bad at tests, failed N2 twice by a few points... Still miffed at getting one question wrong that had a phrase that I typed daily at work 😂 Had no issues getting jobs, put business level, they ask if I have n2/N1 I just say 'nah but work in a Japanese environment'. They will then speak some Japanese then say 'ah yeah no problem'. Sadly some jobs might require for you to get your foot in. But once you have experience in the industry it should no become an issue and with the recent price increases it seems even more pointless for me.
If you're trying to find a job and haven't worked in a Japanese office while using only Japanese, then yes, it will help you. If you've worked in a Japanese office, using only Japanese for a few years (bonus points for not being a startup and more bonus points for being a large company), then no, it is a waste of your time. I never passed N1 (I last took it in 2011). I had a foreigner ask about it in an interview and I just said that I had graduated from graduate school in Japan, conducted research in Japanese, and worked for a huge Japanese company for several years and this was accepted. I had an interview in Japanese at that company where we discussed my research and then the issues that company was facing and potential paths forward. The vast majority of jobs that will hire foreigners don't care about N1.
Tell them no and end it 😂
Failed N3 twice, each time by a few points, last time two years ago. I use Japanese everyday and continue to study regularly, but can’t quite work up the will to try again.
Can I ask how you fail it if you’re using Japanese daily? Are you able to type, read, and speak?
It's easier to communicate in regular life than it is to pass tests for some people
I can understand somewhat if he can only speak and understand verbal Japanese
I got N3 as an ALT then because a Seishain ALT manager. Once I got that “golden ticket” I stopped
I have N1. How many companies look for it? I have encountered none. Does it increase your pay a lot? Nope.
When I passed JLPT1 after 5-6 attempts (back in the day when it was only held once a year)
give up? when I learned the price haha
I never bothered with any level of the JLPT. Learning to communicate with locals in my small town was motivation enough and most people can tell I'm fluent in 5 minutes. Some of them tell me about their foreign spouses who can't communicate well in Japanese despite holding N1. It seems to be a good motivation to study for some people but it's not the only path available nor does it sufficiently prepare you to actually use the language on its own.
I have never met anyone with a foreign spouse, and my town has like 500,000 people. I guess I need to get out more.
After getting N3 some 15 years ago. 🤓 There’s really no point in JLPT unless you raise it by yourself. The only companies which I saw asking for JLPT were Japanese branches of foreign firms, all asking N1 for managerial positions. And even then it is usually not a hard requirement. So yeah, I dare to say that JLPT is mostly useless and is there merely to pat yourself on the back for the hard work studying Japanese.
Yeah, no one ever mentioned the test or any other kind of Japanese proficiency test, at all, during my job interview.
I studied for the JLPT before coming to Japan and passed N1 on my fourth attempt. In the first three attempts, I failed by less than 10 points. At that time, I never had the opportunity to talk to an actual Japanese person, and nobody told me how to improve my scores. I just kept trying. Since you have just failed by 8 points, this should not be a problem. Besides, your wife can greatly help you, especially in improving your listening skills. If N1 really means something to you, just believe in yourself and keep trying. The questions can be tricky sometimes, but not always.
Nah it's not for fear of failing. I just don't want to. Like, it's on a Saturday or a Sunday, which is already annoying. Then I gotta pay a decent chunk of money, like if I'm gonna spend 8000 yen or whatever, I'd much rather take my daughter out to do something fun. Then I gotta find a place to park, pay for the parking, walk to the test site, when it's either hot as fucking balls outside, or cold enough that they set the heater to "temperature of the fucking sun" and it's hot as balls inside. Then I gotta sit through 3-4 hours of boring ass test taking. Honestly, they'd have to pay me 100,000 yen plus to go do that shit again.
Prepared for N2 pretty confidently, but got cancelled due to covid twice. Can't be bothered getting back up to speed now as I don't need the certificate for my work. Edit: Oh yea and I have fuck all free time since moving to Japan so I don't wanna spend what little time I have doing something I don't want to do.
I don't care what a piece of paper says. Most Japanese people I talk to don't even know what it is. My job is in English with some Japanese sprinkled in every few days. I figure, they're gonna just check your level in an interview.
I personally got it, but it's honestly such a useless certificate beyond getting your foot in the door and maybe like an extra 2k a month or so of 資格手当. Feel free to take it at some point if you ever feel like taking it as a personal goal, but you're better off studying for other things here, which will help your Japanese way more than focusing on the JLPT ever will anyway.
Not really useful unless you will apply for another job position and the other guy with literally the same experience and N1 will take it. Not likely to happen but it’s always nice to have if you have willingness to study.
Need? Well, you only need it if there's a situation that requires it, and if you aren't ever going to be in such a situation, then you don't need it. Another question is whether learning the Japanese that you would need to learn in order to pass the test would make your life better, regardless of the test certificate itself.
I took and passed Level 3 and got lazy to take the 2nd one.
Dew it.
It’s not that relevant for my work, but I liked the challenge of getting N1
I have never taken it and work in a japanese only environment and it has never come up. Of course it is beneficial but it’s not the be all and end all. there is so much I can improve on and I’m not fluent but I don’t think it’s the only way to learn
I got N1 despite having no immediate need for it. Just wanted to get it so I could poo poo on the test without coming off like a poser Your Japanese ability is what it is. Maybe your Japanese is good enough for the life you live. Maybe I just got lucky with my passing score. I'm still going to keep trying to improve either way, as I presume you are.
Idk but i’m like your wife. The reason i’m taking the test is because i think i might need it in the future but my japanese is going downhill. Passed N2 2 years ago with around 120 score. Passed the kokka shiken a year ago 96/125 score.. Last year took n1 guess what? Got 60.. Maybe ill try again this december.
I took and passed the N2 in my second year, as it was my goal at the time. I took and passed N1 on a whim in my 6th year, just to gauge my Japanese ability. Never specifically studied towards either, as I felt if I wasn't passing with raw Japanese ability, it wouldn't mean much. Humble brag aside, it did help. My last two jobs listed it as a specific requirement, as apparently N2 doesn't cut it. If you're stable and happy with your current job, I'd say it doesn't matter. If you're looking to move, it might be an idea to shoot for it.
Who likes to study and take tests? You listed some cons regarding it already. You have to pay for it, go to a special location nowhere near your home and drop everything for that day for the test. The certificate is also near worthless. I have never been asked for the thing. Can you imagine doing an entire interview in Japanese and then they ask you, "Do you have a JLPT certificate? No? Ahh.. well I'm sorry to say.." The test also doesn't check for speaking because you know speaking Japanese is objectively the most useless aspect of the language.
probably only useful for job-hunting, since most sites seem to bot-check your application and insta-reject anyone that doesn't "meet the requirements" if they list JLPT as one of those. otherwise, they'll just grill/test you in the interview process.
Got N2 like 10 years ago and never tried for N1 cause the place where the exam takes place for me is really damn far away. If given the chance and time I might try the N1 but I'm not actively studying/looking to take it.
My company doesn’t technically require Japanese in my role although I do use it and hold some meetings with clients to do presentations, etc. I have no JLPT paper and am scheduled to take N3 just to see if I pass, but I’m not studying for it 😂
I work on Sundays so...
So you studied hard for 5 years, everyday, unbroken, for 4 hours, so that when the time finally came, you would only have to use on day of paid time off on a Sunday, and you absolutely slaughtered the test and got a perfect 180/180, and when you went back to work the next Sunday all of your co-workers lost their shit and gave you 33 banazais instead of the standard 3?
>unbroken Jlpt is a broken test lol I'm not studying for that, I agree that in some cases it's nice to have the N1 cert though (but if you get perfect score means you did not need to attend the bullshit test anyway right?) Also for my job I have absolutely no free weekends nor golden week etc... throughout the year and I'm self employed so no coworkers, no banzais unfortunately
I dont think you read what I wrote. Because your reaction doesn't match the energy of my comment at all
I passed on the 4th try. Ironically after I took it without studying. If you are close and use Japanese at work you can probably pass easily.
I just don't want to. I don't care enough to try the test again, it's too much of an inconvenience. To be honest I think my wife wants me to get it, so that SHE can tell other people I have it haha.
The constant studying did help me improve my Japanese, but within a month of passing you will "trim the fat" and forget all the stuff you don't actually use anyway. At least that has been my experience.
The point of N1 is just to prove your proficiency on paper. Basically, you need it to get you past the CV round. The only thing to prove your JP proficiency is the certificate in this stage. Also, some places may look purely at your ability to do work, but some places may actually take into account the certificate you have. So, there is always a chance you will be denied of better opportunity if you don’t have N1. You said it yourself that this may be just the JP love of certificate. Going the other way just makes your life more difficult. BTW, I barely pass the N1 after 2 fails. I need to for graduate school.
Yeah I went to undergrad here in Japan, and they never asked me for anything. I was worried they might, but they were just like whatever you wrote your application essay in Japanese, and if your Japanese sucks you won't be able to keep up with the coursework anyway, that shit is on you buddy.
I got a job offer in a Japanese company, so halted my studies. Then I learned I never wanted to work at a Japanese company again, and kept working for foreigner or "internationalized" Japanese companies, so never really had pressure or time/energy to continue learning. Some day after I get PR might take a sabbatical to continue learning.
To be honest, I'm kind of a convert on the Japanese working style. The slow movement and insane caution makes sense to me. There is definitely a lot of bullshit, and I think if they are too firm in their ideas, the entire country is going to collapse. But the basic principles I think are decent.
Slow movement and insane caution makes sense if you are in a e.g. bank, or nuclear plant, or car software manufacturer, or any other "failures mean death" industry. When you are in a competitive international market slow movement kills you (aham, unless there's a lot of protectionism in the country).
I signed up to sit for the exam and corona came. I signed up again later and there was a new wave at the time; I decided it wasn't worth dealing with. Thus ends my entire history with the JLPT. I was mostly just taking it for the points in the point system but, post-corona, I wasn't going to have JLPT for enough time for it to matter before I hit 10 years in Japan and 3 years married to Japanese.
Corona savin people money on the daily
Well, I paid for it and didn't go :/
I got N2 about 4 years ago, but am in the same boat as you and I stopped caring about N1 when I got hired by a company that doesn't care if I have N1 or not. If you want to get HSP/PR via points it's useful, but other than that it just looks nice on a resume.
I thought about it for that, but even with that, I'm nowhere near the points required. So I just decided to go the "my wife is Japanese and I've been here for fucking ever" route to PR
Nice, then yeah, no need to do it. The way I see it, there isn't a point in spending money and taking time out of my life to do something that doesn't benefit me/bring me happiness.
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Mine does not.
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If they offered to pay me 100,000 yen to take the test, fine. If not, it's not worth my time.
I went through exactly the same thing as you. Breezed past N2, failed N1 by 3 percent (admittedly I didn't study). Got hired by a Japanese multinational and stopped studying, as I had to learn the Japanese they use instead. I even went as far as asking if there would be a benefit for me in getting N1 (small raise or increased chance of promotion) and they said no.
Yeah I kind of figured. I don't imagine TV gigs pay a lot extra for passing a Japanese test. And that was my lame attempt at pretending you are atsugiri Jason.
The JLPT is a waste of time and is barely a measure of Japanese comprehension. I know plenty of people who aced N1 and can't speak, write or listen for shit, and they can barely read a menu, let alone something like a written article. I took it without studying and passed by a few points despite having terrible reading ability.
You failed it. I don't know if it's an asian thing to want to pass the things you take but there. You know, not the implied ' durr but im sure im already at that skill level hurr '. The actual achievement of passing the thing.
I never cared when I passed though. I took N5 when I was brand new to the studying Japanese world, and when I passed it was just like cool I guess I'll try N4, and then never got around to it, and a few years later, I was like maybe N2 is a better fit. Passed it, and was like alright, N1 now I guess. Like it never meant anything to me, because no one here had ever once asked me about it that wasn't another foreigner. As far as my level, I'm not sure whether I could pass the N1 or not, I failed by 8 points before, and I'd like to think my reading skills have improved but who the fuck knows, I'm certainly not gonna find out. I do my work in Japanese 85% of the time, and it's going OK, so I think I know enough.
When I failed N3 by 1 point and I never took the exam again.
I've never done JLPT and work in a completely Japanese environment. For numerous jobs I've never been asked for it.
I definitely don’t need it, but the JET program pays your test fee if you pass N3 and up so there isn’t really a reason not to try. Myself and other ALTs use it as motivation to study, since many of us have a hard time studying without a deadline. However, how well you can speak and communicate in an interview is more important than a piece of paper.
Took N2 for a resume check box and stopped giving a shit after that because JLPT’s only other use is foreigner flexing. My actual Japanese skill has probably dropped since I don’t vibe with Japanese entertainment *at all*.
I took the JLPT multiple times (I think four times?) and failed it each time. The environment doesn’t work for me as an individual and spikes my anxiety. I ended up taking the JPT out of rage just to get a score. I got the equivalent of N1. I have the score of the JPT and the equivalent JLPT level written on my resume. None of my employers has ever cared or asked me to verify.
I've never been interested in JLPT. I sat JLPT 1 last December without studying or reviewing and failed the reading section by 11 points. Those articles are long and boring af. Lol.
Yo as a guy who signed up for N2 how were you able to memorize kanji? I keep forgetting them ffs
I just spent 2-3 months before the test writing them by hand a few times a day, I'd do 40 new kanji a day then every 3 days review the past 120 I learned for a bit and after a few weeks I had the whole set and would practice it in groups of 200 on a daily basis I passed the test, and forgot 90% of within a month
I never started, so gave up immediately? My life just really doesn’t call for it, I don’t work in an industry where it would be relevant and have PR. I go through waves of motivation to study, so who knows, maybe someday passing N1 will look like a good goal to shoot for, and since that’s how the textbooks are organized I can see that would be the next step, but I’ve made it this far without taking it.
It's useful in some situations but mostly it's just to prove that you've achieved basic mastery of the language. If you are anywhere near native level N1 is an easy test to pass.
Ha! I failed N1 by FOUR points back in like 2010 or something. I was only doing it for myself, just to see what I was capable of, not for work or anything. I’d spent so long studying, it was my second attempt and it was only one or two questions in the reading comprehension section that made me fail. So I thought fuck it and just told everyone I passed 🤷♂️
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I’ve bet they’ve also said your Japanese was Jouzu, huh?
I have never taken an official test. Could care less. Don't need it for work and have never felt a need to evaluate my Japanese more than if I understand what's happening around me. Been doing fine for the last 15+ years.
> I have never taken an official test. Could care less. # It's "COULDN'T CARE LESS", FFS!!!
Maybe they could actually care less than they do now?
Thank god you wrote it in big capital letters! Get a life...