どうやってN1に合格した？N1合格者に勉強法を聞いてみた！【🇳🇵ネパール出身・Sudip Bhattaraiさん】

Overview

Sudip Bhattarai, originally from Nepal, discussed how he prepared for the JLPT. He scored 113 on N2 and 125 on N1. He studied for about a year and a half before passing N2, then passed N1 in a later July exam after roughly two and a half years of study.

He lives in Chiba, has been in Japan for about three and a half years, and attends a vocational school specializing in hotel management. He began learning Japanese because he was drawn to Japan’s safety and culture and wanted to develop himself there.

Study Methods That Worked for Him

• Study when time is available rather than relying on a fixed daily schedule. Sudip studied during work breaks, on days off, and in the time left after chores. Some days he studied for five to ten hours; on others, he did not study.
• Prioritize vocabulary and kanji. Vocabulary was the area he worked on most. Learning the kanji that appeared with words also helped him read kanji more comfortably.
• Use several methods to learn words. He studied vocabulary handouts from school and a vocabulary book, reread words, and made example sentences to help remember them.
• Put new learning to use quickly. He tried to use newly learned vocabulary and grammar at work, with school friends, and when speaking with teachers. Practicing in real situations helped him remember how expressions were used.
• Review repeatedly. He kept the books and materials he had studied and returned to them from time to time to reinforce difficult vocabulary and grammar.

Practice Exams and Correcting Mistakes

• His school provided mock exams about one or two months before the actual test, which he completed and reviewed at home.
• He treated mistakes as a normal part of studying and tried to understand why an answer was wrong rather than simply moving on.
• To clarify errors, he used ChatGPT, watched videos from Professor Mori, and asked teachers to explain questions or meanings he had misunderstood.
• His key lesson was to make sure mistakes were understood and corrected rather than left unresolved.

JLPT Test-Taking Strategies

Reading

To save time, Sudip recommended first identifying the passage’s topic, then reading the questions and answer choices. Use them to determine what information to look for, and focus on the relevant parts of the passage rather than reading every line with equal attention.

The interviewer noted that vocabulary knowledge is essential for understanding the text in the first place. If time remains, review the passage and answers.

Listening

If a question is unclear, do not keep thinking about it while the next audio plays. Make your best guess, mark an answer, and move on.

Time Management

Do not spend too long on an unfamiliar kanji, word, or question. Skip it and continue, then return to it if time remains. Sudip said this approach left him with a little extra time.

Advice for Learners With Little Time Left

For a test about a month away, Sudip recommended:

• Memorizing and reviewing as much vocabulary as possible.
• Finding and completing practice tests and past questions online.
• Watching Professor Mori’s JLPT videos and livestreams.
• Reviewing previously studied material and using practice questions to identify weak areas.

He also mentioned that a long video on important N1 grammar by Professor Mori had been especially helpful. His broader advice was to study seriously when time is available, build vocabulary, and use opportunities at school or work to practice what has been learned.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Sudip Bhattarai — the Nepalese N1/N2 passer interviewed in the video. The subtitles render his name inconsistently in one place.
• Otani Airi — interviewer from Nihongo no Mori.
• Professor Mori / Nihongo no Mori — cited as a source of JLPT videos, grammar lessons, and livestreams; not presented as an interview speaker in these subtitles.