If you are studying Japanese, it is highly recommended to aim for passing the JLPT N2. The test is hard, but there are many benefits to passing. Having a JLPT N2 certificate makes you linguistically competent to get jobs in Japan, and also grants access to enter a Japanese university! First and foremost, having a JLPT N2 certificate is excellent because it proves that your Japanese is sufficient for working in a Japanese company. A JLPT N2 certificate also grants you access to universities in Japan if you are pursuing higher education.

Even if you don’t pursue education or employment in Japan, having a passing grade in JLPT N2 on your CV proves that you are skilled at a high level in Japanese, and that should be something many employers find appealing. Another reason to take the JLPT N2 test is to have a goal to aim for. Especially in the intermediate and advanced levels, it is easy to lose track of your next objective. The JLPT provides a clear sketch of grammar points, kanji, and vocabulary you need to master, and is very helpful to use as a red line when studying Japanese. To pass the JLPT N2 test, you need to research for as long as it takes you to go from a complete beginner to JLPT N3. Reading a lot is very important because you need to get familiar with reading so you can do it almost fluently, because you don’t have much time during the reading section to stop and think about the meaning of a word. When you read, we recommend alternating between active reading and passive reading. On the one hand, it is crucial to look up unfamiliar words, but on the other hand, it is also essential to practice reading speed by reading constantly. Accordingly, many of the texts and listening comprehension passages test your ability to understand Japanese in a business environment.