How to Prepare for JLPT N2

N2 expects you to operate comfortably with newspapers, formal notices, and layered arguments. Nuance and speed matter. Strategy here is about volume with structure: consistent reading, focused grammar refinement, and kanji consolidation.

What N2 expects

• 1,000+ kanji recognition and thousands of words (ballpark)
• Complex grammar in longer sentences and paragraphs
• Faster, denser listening with distractors

24–28 week plan

1. Grammar by discourse function (weeks 1–12)
   • Contrastive nuance drills; write minimal pairs to disambiguate forms (～にすぎない vs ～しかない; ～ものだ vs ～というものだ at N2 scope).
   • Build a small “connector catalog” (ところが、したがって、もっとも、とはいえ…).
2. Vocabulary depth (weeks 1–28)
   • 20–30/day with collocations and register notes (formal/casual).
   • Add example sentences from real reading to your cards.
3. Kanji consolidation (weeks 1–28)
   • 12–20/day. Group by phonetic components; write a handful daily.
   • Drill look‑alikes (際／済／剤, 認／忍) with stroke order.
4. Reading blocks (weeks 4–28)
   • 30–45 min/day. Skim → scan → read. Summaries in 1–2 sentences.
   • Alternate genres: editorials, announcements, explanations, short essays.
5. Listening patterns (weeks 1–28)
   • Predict, shadow, and note signpost words (しかし、つまり、いわゆる…).

Weekend: full timed mock + targeted repair session.

Week‑by‑week spine

• Weeks 1–2: Diagnostics and setup; create your connector and error logs.
• Weeks 3–6: Expand grammar families; add faster listening work.
• Weeks 7–12: First full mocks; focus on weak connector cues.
• Weeks 13–20: Volume and speed; more mixed‑genre reading.
• Weeks 21–28: Consolidate; taper mocks while keeping daily reviews.

Reading strategy for N2

• Read the question stem first and underline what’s requested.
• Label paragraph roles quickly (背景／主張／対比／具体例／結論).
• Track time and comprehension; aim for clean 1–2 sentence summaries.

Listening strategy for N2

• Predict answers from the setup before audio ends.
• Note distractors: words that echo but don’t answer the question.
• Shadow short fast segments to get used to connected speech.

Kanji throughput

• Organize by phonetic series to anticipate readings.
• Keep a small daily handwriting habit (2–3 items) with stroke order.
• Build compound families that recur in readings; review them as a group.

Metrics to track

• Unknown words per 1,000; steady decline beats spikes.
• Reading speed (chars/min) on level‑appropriate texts.
• Listening recall: correct before audio vs after first pass.
• Error‑fix closure rate per week.

Resources

• Official sample items; editorials/essays with transcripts
• Collocation decks and register notes from real input
• Kanji by phonetic series; stroke‑order references

How Kanji Koi helps at N2

• Component/phonetic grouping keeps kanji throughput high without confusion.
• Stroke‑order animations reduce interference among look‑alikes.
• Collocation‑friendly cards help you store verb+object phrases you actually read.
• Adaptive SRS maintains 20–30/day with controlled review load.
• Offline mode lets you squeeze reps during commutes.

Use Kanji Koi to attach your paragraph summaries to the cards you create—when you re‑see a compound, you’ll also recall where you read it and the gist of that paragraph. This improves retrieval on similar JLPT items.

FAQ

• Q: Is a full mock every week necessary?
  • A: From mid‑plan onward, 1 every 1–2 weeks; spend more time reviewing.
• Q: Should I memorize all connector nuances?
  • A: Learn the most frequent first; add nuance via contrastive examples.
• Q: How much handwriting?
  • A: A few per day is enough to stabilize form recognition.

If kanji density slows you down, 10 minutes of focused stroke‑order practice often boosts recognition and reading flow.