[01] page 01 of 8start / 入口

can I get into Japan's top design university

日本トップのデザイン大学に入れるかな

I'm Mado, 22, from Singapore. I'm trying to get into Tama Art University, and I'm learning Japanese in public on the way. the exam is on 2026.12.17, and nobody knows how it ends yet, including me.

door 1学ぶ

learn Japanese with me

N5N4N3N2N1

a free N5 to N1 course: flashcards, grammar, reading, PDFs >

door 2見守る

follow my journey to Tama

Instagram > TikTok > my story >

01.1

countdown

カウントダウン

days left: 68 · [Tama.068]
exam: Tama Art University · 2026.12.17
as of: 2026.10.10

01.2

who

わたし

name: Mado
from: Singapore
age: 22
Japanese: JLPT N2, learning since 2022
goal: Tama Art University, exam 2026.12.17
handle: @mado_japan · Instagram, TikTok

end of page 01 / 記録終了next page: [02] how to learn Japanese >

[02] page 02 of 8learn / 学ぶ

how to learn Japanese

the question I get asked the most. I'm answering it once, properly, here.

02.1

my answer

答え

the short answer:結論

learning Japanese is easier than you think. you need four things: vocabulary, grammar, speaking and listening. the rest is keeping it fun.

1
learn to read first
memorize hiragana and katakana, your own way. flashcards work well. don't wait until they're perfect: they get stronger as you learn.
2
learn sentences, not single words
a word sticks when you meet it in a sentence, and every sentence teaches you grammar too.
3
talk to people
use HelloTalk to make friends who are learning too. join the voice rooms, speak, and don't be shy. you're supposed to make mistakes. it's also how I trained my ears.
4
keep the motivation
if you can't read anything at the start, you'll give up. so romaji is fine for now, and it should be fun, not a chore.
5
lock in
30 minutes to 1 hour a day. that's about 3 months to N5.

my path: started in 2022, passed N3 in 2024.12 and N2 in 2025.12
start here: N5, from zero >

02.2

the five levels

五つのレベル

the JLPT has five levels. N5 is the first step and N1 is the highest. each level gets its own page with everything you need for it.

dashed = being made. it turns solid when it's ready.

previous: [01] start herenext page: [03] N5 >

[03] page 03 of 8learn / 学ぶ

N5

from knowing nothing to passing N5. everything is here, in the order to do it, at your own pace.

03.1

start here

はじめに

pace: your own. move on when you're ready, not by the calendar
a day: 30 minutes to 1 hour
how long: about 3 months if you lock in. my estimate
me: I studied N5 and N4 but didn't sit those exams. I went straight to N3. you can take each test, or skip ahead like I did

1
hiragana
the first alphabet. every Japanese sentence uses it.
move on when: you can read them, even slowly. they get stronger in sentences
> kana
2
katakana
the second alphabet, for foreign words like your name and food.
move on when: you can read them, even slowly. no need to be perfect
> kana
3
vocabulary
every N5 word, unit by unit. review the old ones first, then learn new ones, every day.
keep going: through every unit. review runs to the end
> vocabulary
4
grammar
after a unit's words, do the same unit's grammar, learned through sentences.
then: the next unit's vocabulary
> grammar
5
listening and speakingalongside steps 3 and 4
listen to everything before you read it. once you have some sentences, make friends on HelloTalk and have fun with it.
> listening and speaking
6
ready check
do the official sample under a timer. pass it, then book the test.
> ready check

03.2

kana

かな

how I learned them:わたしの方法

I just memorized them first. then every new sentence I learned made them stronger. so memorize them your own way, and don't wait until they're perfect to move on. flashcards work well.

tap any letter to hear it.

flashcardsgot it: 0 / 46

+ ten-ten and maru + combinations

あ

your progress stays on this device.

the sounds that trip beginners up 注意

long vowels: おばさん obasan aunt · おばあさん obaasan grandmother. in katakana, ー makes it long: コーヒー koohii coffee
small っ: a tiny pause that doubles the next sound: きって kitte stamp · きて kite come
small ゃゅょ: join the letter before into one sound: きゃ kya, not きや kiya
はへを: as particles they're read wa, e and o: わたしは watashi wa · がっこうへ gakkou e · みずを mizu o

romaji here follows the kana letter by letter, so おう is ou and ああ is aa.

move on when: you can read them, even slowly. they get stronger in vocabulary >

03.3

vocabulary

語彙

every N5 word, in 15 units by topic. words you'll also meet in the grammar sentences show that sentence too.

the JLPT hasn't published an official word list since 2010, so the words here follow the N5 lists most learners use.

each day: review the old words first, then learn new ones
how: read it, listen, say it out loud, then test yourself

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N5 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

51 pages · 15 units · 552 words · 180 sentences

03.4

grammar

文法

every N5 grammar point, learned through sentences. the same 15 units, with the grammar building from one unit to the next.

order: do a unit's vocabulary first, then its grammar
how: read the pattern, then the sentences. say each one out loud, then test yourself

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N5 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

51 pages · 15 units · 552 words · 180 sentences

03.5

listening and speaking

聴解と会話

listening 聴解

listening is a third of the N5 score, with its own pass mark, so don't skip it. it's something you train on your own: every word and sentence on this page has ▶, so listen before you read.

practise with: the official JLPT sample questions > free, with N5 listening audio, its script and the answers

how I trained my ears:わたしの方法

on HelloTalk. I just kept talking to people, Japanese people and people learning Japanese, and they replied in Japanese. most of my conversations were in Japanese, and that's what improved my listening.

speaking on HelloTalk 会話

the JLPT doesn't test speaking, but speaking is how you actually start using Japanese. most of mine came from HelloTalk >, the same place my listening came from.

use it to: make friends who are learning too, and learn together
not as: a study app. the key is to have fun
voice rooms: use them a lot. speak, and don't be shy
mistakes: you're supposed to make them
in time: you'll learn to hold a basic conversation
when: once you have some sentences to say

three friends posing with peace signs in three photo-booth style shots at a night event — people I've met through HelloTalk出会い

two friends at a restaurant counter, one giving a thumbs up — people I've met through HelloTalk出会い

03.6

ready check

腕試し

you're ready to book the test when you've done every unit's vocabulary and grammar, and you can pass the official sample in real test time.

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

open the official N5 sample > and use this timer. it runs the three parts in the same times as the real test.

vocabulary20:00

listening time can be a little different on the day, depending on the length of the recordings.

2. check your score 合格点

vocabulary, grammar, reading: at least 38 of 120
listening: at least 19 of 60
total: at least 80 of 180

you need all three. a high total with a low listening score is still a fail.

3. book the test 申し込み

when: twice a year, in July and December. some cities outside Japan only hold one of them
where: through the test's local host in your city. find yours on the JLPT site >
tip: registration closes well before test day, so check your city's dates early

want help before the test?レッスン

I can go through the sample with you and fix what's tripping you up. message me >

[04] page 04 of 8learn / 学ぶ

N4

after N5. plain forms, casual Japanese, and the grammar for everyday conversations.

04.1

start here

はじめに

pace: your own. move on when you're ready, not by the calendar
a day: about 2 hours
how long: about 3 months. that's how long it took me to study it
me: I didn't sit the N4 exam. I went straight to N3
romaji: off from here, since you can read kana now. switch it on any time

1
vocabulary
every N4 word, unit by unit. review the old ones first, then learn new ones, every day.
> vocabulary
2
grammar
after a unit's words, do the same unit's grammar, learned through sentences.
then: the next unit's vocabulary
> grammar
3
reading
every few units, read one passage and answer it. then check why each option is right or wrong.
> reading
4
listening and speakingalongside steps 1 and 2
keep talking on HelloTalk. with N4 grammar you can say a lot more.
> listening and speaking
5
ready check
do the official sample under a timer. pass it, then book the test.
> ready check

04.2

vocabulary

語彙

every N4 word, in 15 units by topic. from N4, verbs are shown in their dictionary form.

the JLPT hasn't published an official word list since 2010, so the words here follow the N4 lists most learners use.

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N4 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

51 pages · 15 units · 554 words · 180 sentences

the N4 test includes N5 too, so keep the N5 PDF.

04.3

grammar

文法

every N4 grammar point, learned through sentences. 15 units, building from one to the next.

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N4 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

51 pages · 15 units · 554 words · 180 sentences

the N4 test includes N5 too, so keep the N5 PDF.

04.4

reading

読解

the passages here are written the way the N4 reading questions are: short notes, longer essays and information search, where you find one fact in a timetable or price list.

me: I used Shin Kanzen Master (新完全マスター) a lot. my grammar and vocab book was written all in Japanese too, so just reading it was reading practice
every day: HelloTalk. my friends always reply in Japanese, so I read Japanese every day. it's great for daily conversation, but it won't give you textbook vocabulary, so do both

how to answer 解き方

read the question before the passage, so you know what you're looking for.
find the line in the passage it points to. in information search, read the ※ notes too. that's where the traps are.
check every option against that line, not against what sounds right. if it isn't written there, it isn't the answer.

after you answer, every option tells you why it's right or wrong, and the line that holds the answer turns lime.

04.5

listening and speaking

聴解と会話

the same as N5: keep talking on HelloTalk, in the voice rooms too. people reply in Japanese, and that trains your ears. with N4 grammar you can say a lot more, so use it. my HelloTalk tips >

practise with: the official JLPT sample questions > free, with N4 listening audio, its script and the answers

04.6

ready check

腕試し

you're ready to book the test when you've done every unit's vocabulary and grammar and the reading passages, and you can pass the official sample in real test time.

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

open the official N4 sample > and use this timer. it runs the three parts in the same times as the real test.

vocabulary25:00

listening time can be a little different on the day, depending on the length of the recordings.

2. check your score 合格点

vocabulary, grammar, reading: at least 38 of 120
listening: at least 19 of 60
total: at least 90 of 180

you need all three. the total for N4 is higher than N5's.

3. book the test 申し込み

the same as N5: July and December, through your city's local host. N5 details >

want help before the test?レッスン

I can go through the sample with you and fix what's tripping you up. message me >

[05] page 05 of 8learn / 学ぶ

N3

the bridge between textbook Japanese and real Japanese. the first level where you read the news, follow work talk, and say what you think.

05.1

start here

はじめに

pace: your own. move on when you're ready, not by the calendar
a day: about 2 hours
how long: about 3 months. that's how long it took me to study it
me: N3 was my first JLPT. I passed it in 2024.12
romaji: none from here. furigana stays on every kanji, so you can still read it all

N3 has a lot more grammar than N4, so it's split into 20 units instead of 15.

1
vocabulary
the N3 words, unit by unit. review the old ones first, then learn new ones, every day.
> vocabulary
2
grammar
after a unit's words, do the same unit's grammar, learned through sentences.
then: the next unit's vocabulary
> grammar
3
reading
every few units, read one passage and answer it. then check why each option is right or wrong.
> reading
4
listening and speakingalongside steps 1 and 2
keep talking on HelloTalk. at N3 you can start giving your opinion, not just facts.
> listening and speaking
5
ready check
do the official sample under a timer. pass it, then book the test.
> ready check

05.2

vocabulary

語彙

633 N3 words, in 20 units by topic. none of them repeat N5 or N4.

the JLPT hasn't published an official word list since 2010, so the words here follow the N3 lists most learners use.

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N3 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

62 pages · 20 units · 633 words · 240 sentences

the N3 test includes N5 and N4 too, so keep those PDFs.

05.3

grammar

文法

the N3 grammar, learned through sentences. 20 units, 240 sentences, building from one to the next.

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N3 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

62 pages · 20 units · 633 words · 240 sentences

the N3 test includes N5 and N4 too, so keep those PDFs.

05.4

reading

読解

the passages here are written the way the N3 reading questions are: short notes, longer essays, long passages and information search, where you find one fact in a timetable or price list.

me: I used Shin Kanzen Master (新完全マスター) a lot. my grammar and vocab book was written all in Japanese too, so just reading it was reading practice
every day: HelloTalk. my friends always reply in Japanese, so I read Japanese every day. it's great for daily conversation, but it won't give you textbook vocabulary, so do both

how to answer 解き方

read the question before the passage, so you know what you're looking for.
find the line in the passage it points to. in information search, read the ※ notes too. that's where the traps are.
check every option against that line, not against what sounds right. if it isn't written there, it isn't the answer.

after you answer, every option tells you why it's right or wrong, and the line that holds the answer turns lime.

05.5

listening and speaking

聴解と会話

the same as before: keep talking on HelloTalk, in the voice rooms too. at N3 people talk at normal speed with you, so let them. you'll catch more each week. my HelloTalk tips >

practise with: the official JLPT sample questions > free, with N3 listening audio, its script and the answers

05.6

ready check

腕試し

you're ready to book the test when you've done every unit's vocabulary and grammar and the reading passages, and you can pass the official sample in real test time.

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

open the official N3 sample > and use this timer. it runs the three parts in the same times as the real test.

vocabulary30:00

listening time can be a little different on the day, depending on the length of the recordings.

2. check your score 合格点

vocabulary and grammar: at least 19 of 60
reading: at least 19 of 60
listening: at least 19 of 60
total: at least 95 of 180

you need all four. from N3, reading is scored on its own, so a weak reading score can fail you even with a good total.

3. book the test 申し込み

the same as N5: July and December, through your city's local host. N5 details >

want help before the test?レッスン

I passed N3 myself. I can go through the sample with you and fix what's tripping you up. message me >

[06] page 06 of 8learn / 学ぶ

N2

the level many jobs and universities in Japan ask for. the news, work, and the Japanese people actually use every day.

06.1

start here

はじめに

pace: your own. move on when you're ready, not by the calendar
me: I only studied about a week for N2, because I was rushing, and I passed in 2025.12. I used Shin Kanzen Master again
how long: I wouldn't recommend it, but you can pass N2 in one week. I did
focus: vocabulary. there were a lot of words in the exam I couldn't read. if I'd built my vocabulary first, it would have been easy

that's why this level is built around words: 20 units, each with more words than at N3.

1
vocabulary
the big one. the N2 words, unit by unit. review the old ones first, then learn new ones, every day.
> vocabulary
2
grammar
after a unit's words, do the same unit's grammar, learned through sentences.
then: the next unit's vocabulary
> grammar
3
reading
every few units, read one passage and answer it. then check why each option is right or wrong.
> reading
4
listening and speakingalongside steps 1 and 2
keep talking on HelloTalk. at N2, try explaining things and arguing a point, not just chatting.
> listening and speaking
5
ready check
do the official sample under a timer. pass it, then book the test.
> ready check

06.2

vocabulary

語彙

770 N2 words, in 20 units by topic. none of them repeat N5, N4 or N3. this is the part to spend the most time on.

the JLPT hasn't published an official word list since 2010, so the words here follow the N2 lists most learners use.

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N2 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

66 pages · 20 units · 770 words · 240 sentences

the N2 test includes N5 to N3 too, so keep those PDFs.

06.3

grammar

文法

the N2 grammar, learned through sentences. 20 units, 120 grammar points, 240 sentences.

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N2 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

66 pages · 20 units · 770 words · 240 sentences

the N2 test includes N5 to N3 too, so keep those PDFs.

06.4

reading

読解

the passages here are written the way the N2 reading questions are: short notes, longer essays, long passages, two opinions to compare, and information search, where you find one fact in a timetable or price list.

me: I used Shin Kanzen Master (新完全マスター) a lot. my grammar and vocab book was written all in Japanese too, so just reading it was reading practice
every day: HelloTalk. my friends always reply in Japanese, so I read Japanese every day. it's great for daily conversation, but it won't give you textbook vocabulary, so do both

how to answer 解き方

read the question before the passage, so you know what you're looking for.
find the line in the passage it points to. in information search, read the ※ notes too. that's where the traps are.
check every option against that line, not against what sounds right. if it isn't written there, it isn't the answer.

after you answer, every option tells you why it's right or wrong, and the line that holds the answer turns lime.

06.5

listening and speaking

聴解と会話

the same as before: keep talking on HelloTalk, in the voice rooms too. N2 listening is fast and full of everyday Japanese, so real conversations are the best practice there is. my HelloTalk tips >

practise with: the official JLPT sample questions > free, with N2 listening audio, its script and the answers

06.6

ready check

腕試し

you're ready to book the test when you've done every unit's vocabulary and grammar and the reading passages, and you can pass the official sample in real test time.

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

open the official N2 sample > and use this timer. it runs the two parts in the same times as the real test.

vocabulary, grammar and reading105:00

listening time can be a little different on the day, depending on the length of the recordings.

2. check your score 合格点

vocabulary and grammar: at least 19 of 60
reading: at least 19 of 60
listening: at least 19 of 60
total: at least 90 of 180

you need all four. the total pass mark is lower than N3's 95, but the questions are much harder.

3. book the test 申し込み

the same as N5: July and December, through your city's local host. N5 details >

want help before the test?レッスン

I passed N2 myself. I can go through the sample with you and fix what's tripping you up. message me >

[07] page 07 of 8learn / 学ぶ

N1

the highest level. newspapers, essays, lectures, and Japanese at its most formal.

07.1

start here

はじめに

pace: your own. move on when you're ready, not by the calendar
me: I haven't taken N1 yet

the biggest level: 20 units, 770 new words and 120 grammar points, all past N2.

1
vocabulary
the N1 words, unit by unit. review the old ones first, then learn new ones, every day.
> vocabulary
2
grammar
after a unit's words, do the same unit's grammar, learned through sentences.
then: the next unit's vocabulary
> grammar
3
reading
every few units, read one passage and answer it. then check why each option is right or wrong.
> reading
4
listening and speakingalongside steps 1 and 2
keep talking on HelloTalk. at N1, talk about the news and your opinions, the things you'd normally only write about.
> listening and speaking
5
ready check
do the official sample under a timer. pass it, then book the test.
> ready check

07.2

vocabulary

語彙

770 N1 words, in 20 units by topic: politics, law, business, the arts, four-character idioms and more. none of them repeat N5 to N2.

the JLPT hasn't published an official word list since 2010, so the words here follow the N1 lists most learners use.

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N1 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

64 pages · 20 units · 770 words · 240 sentences

the N1 test includes N5 to N2 too, so keep those PDFs.

07.3

grammar

文法

the N1 grammar, learned through sentences. 20 units, 120 grammar points, 240 sentences.

everything in one file:ダウンロード

all N1 vocabulary and grammar, as a PDF

64 pages · 20 units · 770 words · 240 sentences

the N1 test includes N5 to N2 too, so keep those PDFs.

07.4

reading

読解

the passages here are written the way the N1 reading questions are: short notes, longer essays, long passages, two opinions to compare, and information search, where you find one fact in a timetable or price list.

me: I used Shin Kanzen Master (新完全マスター) a lot. my grammar and vocab book was written all in Japanese too, so just reading it was reading practice
every day: HelloTalk. my friends always reply in Japanese, so I read Japanese every day. it's great for daily conversation, but it won't give you textbook vocabulary, so do both

how to answer 解き方

read the question before the passage, so you know what you're looking for.
find the line in the passage it points to. in information search, read the ※ notes too. that's where the traps are.
check every option against that line, not against what sounds right. if it isn't written there, it isn't the answer.

after you answer, every option tells you why it's right or wrong, and the line that holds the answer turns lime.

07.5

listening and speaking

聴解と会話

the same as before: keep talking on HelloTalk, in the voice rooms too. N1 listening is natural speed: lectures, discussions, and people who don't say what they mean straight out. real conversations are the best practice there is. my HelloTalk tips >

practise with: the official JLPT sample questions > free, with N1 listening audio, its script and the answers

07.6

ready check

腕試し

you're ready to book the test when you've done every unit's vocabulary and grammar and the reading passages, and you can pass the official sample in real test time.

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

open the official N1 sample > and use this timer. it runs the two parts in the same times as the real test.

vocabulary, grammar and reading110:00

listening time can be a little different on the day, depending on the length of the recordings.

2. check your score 合格点

vocabulary and grammar: at least 19 of 60
reading: at least 19 of 60
listening: at least 19 of 60
total: at least 100 of 180

you need all four. at 100, N1 has the highest total pass mark of all five levels.

3. book the test 申し込み

the same as N5: July and December, through your city's local host. N5 details >

want help before the test?レッスン

we can go through the sample together and work out what's tripping you up. message me >

[08] page 08 of 8journey / 道のり

my story

why a Singaporean designer is trying to study in Japan, and where I am on the way.

08.1

how it started

はじまり

I have a friend, a Singaporean designer, who studied at a school in Japan. I've always loved his work. watching him made me realize that design in Japan could be so much more. it isn't just about being pretty. there's a reason behind everything. and when I speak Japanese, I feel more confident. I want to know so much more about Japan, and one day I want to express my own designs in Japanese

08.2

why I post

なぜ

why: I believe there's so much more to learn from Japan
how: I learn in public. I journal every step of getting into one of Japan's top design universities, including the hard parts
what: the journey, the real feelings, fun Japanese, Japanese events in Singapore, the places I love

08.3

the path

道のり

journey pathas of 2026.10.10

previous: [07] N1back to: [01] start here >

can I get into Japan's top design university_

countdown

who

how to learn Japanese_

my answer

the five levels

N5_

start here

kana

the sounds that trip beginners up 注意

vocabulary

grammar

listening and speaking

listening 聴解

speaking on HelloTalk 会話

ready check

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

2. check your score 合格点

3. book the test 申し込み

N4_

start here

vocabulary

grammar

reading

how to answer 解き方

listening and speaking

ready check

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

2. check your score 合格点

3. book the test 申し込み

N3_

start here

vocabulary

grammar

reading

how to answer 解き方

listening and speaking

ready check

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

2. check your score 合格点

3. book the test 申し込み

N2_

start here

vocabulary

grammar

reading

how to answer 解き方

listening and speaking

ready check

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

2. check your score 合格点

3. book the test 申し込み

N1_

start here

vocabulary

grammar

reading

how to answer 解き方

listening and speaking

ready check

1. the official sample, timed 模擬試験

2. check your score 合格点

3. book the test 申し込み

my story_

how it started

why I post

the path

can I get into Japan's top design university

how to learn Japanese

N5

N4

N3

N2

N1

my story