So, as the JLPT results came to light, many people made posts about their abnormal speed in passing the JLPT N1 in either a year or less than a year. Now, don't get me wrong, it is definitely an achievable thing if you have no responsibilities in life and can solely focus on learning for the JLPT, and there are a few who did it—I am sure of that. It is not impossible, but not for your average learner.
Now, coming back to these posts, many of them have this claim without any proof or screenshot of them actually having passed it. You can literally post a screenshot in 5 seconds easily if you really want to and would have the proof of having passed it and could back up your claims.
Second of all, many claim they did it without having studied a single textbook or having touched any book whatsoever, and they did it through immersion alone straight up. Is it doable? Yes, but not in 1 or 2 years… All who claim this are either full of B$ or learned the basics of grammar first and then went on with immersion, which is NOT learning through immersion alone…
So, for a summary of the recent posts:
https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnJapanese/comments/1ifkjov/how_i_got_179180_on_n1_in_17_months/ — Dude has a Chinese background…
https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnJapanese/comments/1ifugh8/how_i_passed_n1_on_30_minday_immersion_no_n1/ — Dude says he had no interest in books and that his "real" learning started when he found Matt vs. Japan, but he already had four Japanese classes behind him and finished both Genki books already—so much for "immersion alone" being the real starting point…
https://www.reddit.com/r/LearnJapanese/comments/1ifs3wk/n5_to_n1_in_13_months_with_0_grammar_study/ — Dude claims he has not done ANY grammar-related textbook or anything, only YouTube videos, no classes, no nothing…
The best part about all of these posts recently is, NONE OF THEM have ANY proof whatsoever. We are just supposed to take their word for it… Why not simply put a link with a screenshot as proof of you passing, then?
by BringerOfRainsn