JLPT: The Deadly 'Easy Points' Trap

As someone who has conquered the JLPT and lived in Japan for over 10 years, I've noticed a mistake many students, even advanced ones, make. It's not a knowledge error, but a time allocation strategy error.

The Sweet Trap 🤤

Every JLPT taker knows this feeling: The first part (文字・語彙・文法 - Vocabulary, Kanji, Grammar) seems full of easy questions! You feel confident and want to make sure you get every single one right to maximize your score.

👉 And this is the sweetest trap of all. You get bogged down perfecting each question, hesitating between two similar options, and spending 1-2 minutes on a single 1-point question.

The consequence? By the time you get to the Reading Comprehension (読解) section – the part with the most points that requires the most focus – the clock tells you there are only 30-40 minutes left.

Panic sets in! 😱

You start reading frantically, without enough time to think, and choose answers based on gut feeling. As a result, you lose points in the most crucial section.

The Strategy to Beat the Trap 🧠

Change your mindset: The first part isn't for 'scoring points'; it's for 'clearing quickly' to save time for the real battlefield.

1. Timebox the First Part:

   • Set a hard limit: Finish the entire Language Knowledge section (文字・語彙・文法) WITHIN 30-35 MINUTES. Practice at home with a timer to get used to this pressure.

2. The 30-Second Rule: If It's Hard, Skip It!

   • If you're still clueless about a grammar or vocabulary question after 30 seconds -> pick your best guess and MARK IT ON THE ANSWER SHEET IMMEDIATELY. Don't leave it blank intending to 'come back later,' because you won't have time.

3. Save Your Golden Time for Reading:

   • Your goal is to have at least 70-75 minutes for Reading Comprehension. This is when you need to be calm to analyze, find keywords, and read the long, tricky passages.

Conclusion: The JLPT tests not only your knowledge but also your time management and exam psychology. Don't let a few easy points at the beginning rob you of your N1/N2 certificate. Be a smart strategist, not just a diligent but misguided test-taker! 💪