Hi all, what I read about JLPT word counts is that you’ll have to know about 10.000 words at N1. however, when I add up all the words here in renshuu for N5-N1, I only arrive at like 8.000 words.
It seems like there are missing words at every stage, as each level has lower word counts than they are supposed to have (800, 1.500, 3.000, 6.000, 10.000).
Does anyone know why that is? That seems like a huge discrepancy. I am not studying for any test, but if I were I would feel a bit concerned. and of course I would like to know where I am at in comparison.
There are no official JLPT word lists for the current versions of the tests. Any lists or estimates you find (including on Renshuu) are based on the feedback of previous test-takers and are in no way complete representations of what has appeared in past tests or can be expected to appear in future tests.
Which is to say, neither those word count estimates, nor the Renshuu vocab lists, nor any lists you find elsewhere, can be expected to be 100% accurate to the test you will take. Renshuu's are at least updated regularly, so they may be more helpful than older ones, but no list can promise to teach you every word that will appear on the test; it's not an insufficiency on Renshuu's part, it's just the nature of prep for a test that changes every year.
Oh I didn’t know that, good to know. I actually thought there were official vocab lists as there are official lists for the Kanji. I also have these (seemingly) official books at home with the required grammar for each JLPT level. So what they are saying is just „learn a lot of Japanese and try to take N1“. Good thing I don’t have to take the tests then ;)
I am also expanding the lists as I go. You'll see the Japanese Basics and Beginner Japanese, which cover through n5 grammar, are now well over 1000 words. I expect to keep expanding our lists as we work on our Japanese lessons throughout this year and next.
Haha I am not at 8000 words. I wish. I am maybe at something like 3000 or so. But I am a completionist and like to know that I didn’t miss anything (important). Also that I can confidently say I know all there is to know about N3 or N2 at some point :)
Good to know you are working on expanding and adapting the lists. Of course not only the number is important, more so the good translations of the words and leaving out useless words. Renshuu is already really good and I am looking forward to its further development :)
