Prelude to Failure

[nokori3byo]

Here's the story of how I *could* fail １級 tomorrow. I never would have thought this until taking the listening section of the 2006 test this morning, but I've been neglecting listening to a potentially ruinous extent. I didn't buy a single listening practice book this time around and I think it's gonna cost me dearly in the long run.

So why did I let it slide this far? Partly, I suppose, because my results on the 2002 test, which I took some time agao, led me to believe reading would not be a problem. It seemed only slightly harder that what I was used to from ２級. This, in turn, seemed to reinforce something someone had mentioned to me before about the two levels being roughly the same in that respect. I wish I could get my hands on that SOB now, as １級 is significantly harder. Oh well, I won't make the same mistake next year.

If this is the last time I post before the test, good luck to everyone. I have the impression you'll all do fine.

[Applecart]

All the best to you too! There isn't much we can do now other than thinking POSITIVE and bribing someone fluent in Japanese to sit the exam for us

Good luck everyone! See you on the other side

[Tim]

I think you'll do fine in the listening section. I think you've been right in choosing to work on the other areas which are more difficult.

It is true that the listening section is harder than the level 2 one, but really it's mainly because it has all the level 1 grammar and vocab in it. If you know your grammar, vocab and know what kind of questions are asked, I think you can manage to do well in listening.

Pretty much the questions are similar to ones in the previous years in terms of format.

I too neglected to study for the listening section and i had bought the listening textbooks too! I still haven't even browsed through them.. haha! I found that doing the practice tests was sufficient.

At this stage, if i were to cram, I would work on getting used to the test format and take sample tests and learn from every mistake you make.

Good luck!

[nokori3byo]

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Tim. And thanks to everyone else who's posted here over the past year, sharing invaluable advice and useful suggestions gleaned from experience.

To wrap up my pre-test correspondance on a positive note, I just want to say it's been a real treat to be in contact with a such a positive and hard working group of people throughout this sometimes exhausting process.

最後の瞬間まで諦めないで、１級ファイト！

[maky]

nokori3byo, I'm sure you will do fine. Think of it this way- by doing the 2006 test, you've filled in some gaps in your vocab which might help you with the test tomorrow.
It is frustrating when the answer to a listening question is hinged on one keyword- & if you don't know it you're basically screwed! ;_; I hate that type of question. I've heard before that 1kyu is like a big vocabulary test & I'm beginning to think it's true..

But I think that we've all come a long way since last year. I've given up on worrying about the test, and now I'm looking at it as a challenge and as a "checkup" of my skills at the moment. It's also a learning experience, too (do you guys still remember the questions you missed last year? I don't think I'll ever forget the word 鉄橋!!).

This board has provided a lot of motivation, feedback, and support for me this year- thanks guys. I think we should all be proud of how far we've come.

Good luck tomorrow, everyone!!