Best Mock Test Review Books for JLPT N4 and N5

BOOKS FOR EXAM REVIEW. 

JLPT N5 - N4 EXAM PREPARATION (TEST PRACTICE AND STRATEGIES)

If you want a more focused study for the exam itself, after you've learned your Japanese, you can try the sample questions in the official JLPT trial exam books or here if you're in JAPAN.

If you prefer sample questions with explanations included in the answers, you can try one of the exam preparation books which have lots of drills and tips. Do you need an exam prep book? Maybe not, but it'd surely make things easier (at least for me, it was a big help).

You get very good practice from these books, getting you to a better prepared, more confident state.

• Nihongo Challenge Grammar Bunpo N4, Nihongo Challenge Vocabulary Kotoba N4, and the Nihongo Challenge Kanji N4-N5 - one book for each skill area. Try testing yourself in your weaker skill. Time yourself while answering the test questions. Good for testing yourself.

  

• Kanzen Master for N4 JLPT Grammar Bunpo - I've used the Kanzen master for N3 and really, really enjoyed it. It's a good thing there's a version for N4, lots of drills and explanations -- really useful for self-study. 

• JLPT Kanzen Moshi N5 and JLPT Kanzen Moshi N4 (99 pages), and the Tanki Master Nihongo Noryoku Shiken Drill - complete reviewer for grammar, reading, kanji, listening (with CD) JLPT N5 version and the Tanki Master JLPT N4 version (73 pages) - all complete exam drill bundled with CDs for listening. Use this as your final practice if you like a week before the test for some final brushing up. 

      

• And lastly, the Unicom series - these have had very good recommendations for years from a lot of people. However, it does not include listening CDs, but the reading selections are good, very much like the exam. There's the Preparatory Course for JLPT N5 Reading. the Preparatory Course for the JLPT N4 Character & Vocabulary & Grammar & Reading, 

• Go ahead and prepare yourself for the exam! :)

Recommended Books for JLPT N5 & N4 Exam Study Preparation (reviewers)

To make your Japanese / JLPT study more efficient,
I recommend using books for this purpose.

You learn faster; in less study time, while getting better test results.

The list below has been carefully picked from my personal experience -
these are books that helped me pass the exam, plus a few others having very good recommendations.

BOOKS FOR STUDY. 
LEARNING JAPANESE, APPLICABLE FOR N5 and N4:
(For EXAM REVIEW BOOKS, SCROLL DOWN)

• A Dictionary of Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Japanese Grammar (3 books) - covers all grammar from JLPT N5 to N1. For N5 to N4 level, just use the 1st book (basic). This series has the highest ratings of all grammar books on Amazon, as explanations are very clear and useful. Based on reviews, people who previously couldn't talk straight Japanese were able to apply the grammar points in the book successfully... Published by the Japan Times newspaper company which also provides the good Genki textbooks. 

• Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar (A Guide to Japanese Grammar: A Japanese approach to learning Japanese grammar) - The best basic Japanese grammar book hands down for beginners. For Useful for JLPT N5. I would suggest downloading the Tae Kim's Japanese Grammar text for free (it is under Creative Commons license) or using the Android app which contains the text and purchasing the above 'Dictionary of Basic Japanese Grammar" instead.  

• GENKI I, 2nd ed - Orange: For JLPT N5 and N4. The most recommended textbook for new Japanese learners. Comes with CD plus a separate workbook. Good for grammar, reading, listening, and vocabulary. Most people who've used this book like this a lot, and prefer it over the Minna no Nihongo.
• GENKI II, 2nd ed - Green. For JLPT N4. The 2nd book for more advanced learners wanting to take N4. 

  

• MINNA NO NIHONGO Bk 1 - For JLPT N5 and N4. Somewhat controversial, a lot of people prefer the Genki book over this. But I did use this book and it helped me pass the exam, as its coverage is really complete and you really have no choice but do dig into Japanese from page 1. There are no English explanations, you'd need the companion teacher's guide for that, probably the reason why Genki is preferred. For JLPT N5, you need to go until around the middle chapter. For N4, you can use this plus the Minna no Nihongo II. 
• MINNA NO NIHONGO Bk 1 - TRANSLATION BOOK - This is the partner book containing the English translation and grammatical notes, otherwise you could get lost in the Book 1, especially without a teacher.

   

• MINNA NO NIHONGO Book 2 - For JLPT N4. You'd need to read until about the middle chapter to learn the exam coverage. I also used this and it was very helpful in passing the exam. I still have to find the English translation, but you may or may not need that by this time. 

• FOR KANJI, I'd recommend any flashcard app, but if you take a liking, you can always use Heisig's formula - it works for some. It did work for me a bit, too, although this is a bit difference from your usual Kanji list. Here's Heisig's book, Remembering the Kanji. or the Kondansha which teaches you the 2300 Kanji you need to know, which is highly rated too. Check it out:

Tips for Passing JLPT N5 and N4 - Vocabulary Part

Edit: There's a part 2 for these tips...
PART 2: More tips are in this next article for studying for and passing the JLPT N5 and JLPT N4:
 
Part 1:
Next JLPT is fast approaching again. Meanwhile, here are some (hopefully) useful tips.

1) Memorize the hiragana and katakana immediately since the test will be entirely in ひらがな, カタカナ, 漢字。

• Use these hiragana practice writing worksheets
  
• print a complete list of hiragana and katakana for use anywhere
  
• study how to write and read gya, gyu, gyo, and use of small tsu
• use hiragana / katakana memorization software - for desktop or mobile
• set your computer desktop wallpaper to a hiragana chart such as this
• try reading words or texts in hiragana / katakana such as this:

[あばなかかばさなぱらあこ！」

2) Know exactly what you have to study. There is no official list, but an approximate one can be found in the JLPT resource page for N5. Meguro Language Center (MLC) also has a good list that is ready for printout that includes vocabulary, kanji, and grammar points in one pdf.

• ~700+ vocabulary words
• ~120+ grammar points
• ~100 kanji

• (MLC) also has a good list of verbs you should know
  
• and adjectives you should know
  

3) Knowing what to study, break it down into daily chunks.

• subscribe to the yookoso mailing list - this will send you a grammar-a-day (sentences) and a kanji-a-day email for your selected level

• Vocabulary is KING - study vocabulary daily using renshuu.org. (renshuu means practice) Create a user account, and create a daily schedule, selecting JLPT Level N5. The advantage of using this over paper-based memorization is the spaced repetition - you will be quizzed more on the words you get incorrectly, at the "right time"
• If your computer has no Internet connection, you may use Anki - a flashcard-type software (anki means memorization). Make sure to download the cards also.
  
• Given 70 days to study, memorize 25 vocabulary per day (finished in 40 days), 3 kanji per day (finished in 33 days), 3 grammar points per day and allot the rest of the days for REVIEW.
  

3) Check out the exam format and try it out:

• The official JLPT page has a test guide. The 3 parts of the test are vocabulary, grammar (reading), and listening. To pass the exam, you must pass ALL 3 parts. The passing score is not yet fixed, I think (probably statistically determined).
  
• check the sample jlpt questions on the official jlpt website
  
• check out past exams (sorted by year - click on the left side) from this JLPT StudyPage
• You can also purchase the complete and official sample exams (or the official book trial examination questions) here with CD for listening: 

                

• JLPT N5 official book
• JLPT N4 official book 
• JLPT N3 official book

• JLPT REVIEW AND STRATEGY BOOKS Highly recommended for a more focused and efficient review. Please check out this very useful list of Japanese study and review books that have worked for me really well and for many others.  A sampling of recommendations in the list is below:

     

4) Use all your resources and gadgets aside from the websites and reviewers mentioned

• Use your phone's capacity to play music - load JLPT listening MP3 files, Japanese podcasts - iTunes has a lot of these, spoken vocabulary files, easy Japanese songs, and Minna no Nihongo conversations (recommended) and listen on your way to work in the bus, in the bedroom, in the bathroom...
• Better yet, if you have an Android / iPhone, load JLPT apps into it and memorize vocabulary flashcards while listening to your Japanese MP3s. I noticed that even if an app is a paid app, its JLPT N5 reviewer is usually free. My favorite apps: Obenkyo and HumanJapanese. 
• For Obenkyo, you can write hiragana / katakana / kanji, can quiz on vocabulary, can see the stroke order, quiz on kanji for your JLPT level. Free for all JLPT levels. 

PART 2: More tips are in this next article for studying for and passing the JLPT N5 and JLPT N4:
http://jlptdekiru.blogspot.com/2014/12/even-more-tips-for-passing-jlpt-n5-and.html

Even More Tips for Passing the JLPT - N5, N4, N3, N2, and N1

0) Use ALL the study time you can use - 
Note: just before sleeping is the most effective time to memorize stuff
When you wake up, is also a good time. In the bathroom, in the bedroom, in the
train / bus / commute. Use all your senses - your eyes, your ears, get creative
where you post your notes. 


1) Try a daily email subscription list - select your JLPT level, enter your email address and it'll send you one kanji a day and one grammar point per day for the rest of your life until you unsubscribe. Click here for the list details.

2) Try online study sites
The two recommended study sites are....... 

JLPT N3: Books I Used to Pass the Test

Review Books are a great way to ensure success in the test.
The review books and mock tests are a good way to measure what's lacking in your current knowledge.

I used review books a lot during my review, and I really think I COULDN'T have passed the test without using them, given the short 4-month review period on self-study during weekends.

I'm including the affiliate links to Amazon if you'd like to buy these recommended,
tried and tested review books.

1)  JLPT N3 mock tests and strategies. A very good book, I just answered all the sample test questions and read all the answers and explanations. make sure to answer the 1st mock test at the start of your review, and the second one near the end of your review to gauge improvement.
Great practice, I can even say THIS IS THE book that made me pass the exam.



2) JLPT Kanzen Moshi N3 w/CDs [Japanese Language Proficiency Test- If you can
answer the questions here with at least an 80% score, I'd say you're practically guaranteed to pass!




The next book, or book series is....