So, I’ve been living in Japan for about 20 years now. I already have N2, and I’m actually taking the Kanji Kentei Pre-2 next weekend. I’m fairly confident I can pass it.
The next big goal for me is finally tackling N1. I’ve taken it several times before, but this was maybe 6 or 7 years ago, and back then my weakest area was… basically everything. So I’m not really sure where I currently stand or how I’ve improved since then.
I already have a ton of study materials. For example, I downloaded books, vocab lists, and grammar resources. But they’ve all been mixed into my big Anki deck over the years, so it’s kind of a mess. I don’t really know where to begin or how to test what I should focus on first.
Should I just pick up a novel and start reading? Or should I get a fresh set of N1 grammar books to rebuild my foundation?
My current plan was something like:
- Read one novel a month (to build stamina and vocabulary)
- Watch more movies/anime (since I don’t get much listening practice other than from work or my wife)
- For textbooks, continue where I left off in the Dictionary of Advanced Japanese Grammar
If anyone’s been in a similar position. Someone who’s not a beginner but kind of restarting the N1 journey. How did you structure your study? Did you start with reading, listening, or grammar drills first?
by AdUnfair558