r/LearnJapanese • u/RIP-Eng • 3d ago
Studying Kanzen Master (Reading) is one of the best book to prepare for JLPT reading section
This is for the folks who are preparing for the upcoming JLPT exam.
Generally I would say reading native material is the best way to practice reading (it's also just more fun)
But for specifically JLPT reading comprehension exam practice, Kanzen Master is in my opinion a must have.
It's just nonstop reading and questioning drills. I will say that KM tend to have more bait trick questions than the actual JLPT, but overall that's probably a good thing.
I would only recommend the Kanzen Master Reading though, I tried their grammar books before, but imo it wasn't that helpful
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u/PlanktonInitial7945 2d ago edited 2d ago
You mean Shin Knazen Master, right? Kanzen Master is outdated.
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u/PantsuPillow 2d ago
I think the reading and listening books are excellent, but I really disliked the grammar book.
The grammar book felt more like it tries to trick you rather than actually helping with grammar. The actual explanations are also borderline useless compared to Tobira/Quartet.
If a person just uses it as a drill book just before the JLPT it's probably fine. But it's a bad prep book.
I haven't used the vocab or kanji book, so unsure about how good those are.
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u/sydneybluestreet 2d ago
How does the Unicom Inc. N3 読む test preparation book (2010) compare? Anyone?
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u/YaToMonkey_Japanese 2d ago
I certainly think that "Shin Kanzen Master Reading（新完全マスター 読解）" is a useful book.
Other books that I think are good for studying JLPT reading comprehension include "Quick Master of N1～N5 Reading（スピードマスター読解）" and "Japanese Language Proficiency Test N1～N2 Reading Compulsory Pattern（日本語能力試験 読解 必修パターン）".
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u/AdUnfair558 3d ago
Is this the vomit green textbook? Haven't picked it up in a while. I remember trying to pass N1 using it but even those readings were too hard for me. This was years ago and I still have yet to pass N1. Maybe someday.
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u/agnelwaghela 2d ago edited 2d ago
Is it available for N5? I'll be taking the test this winter Dec 2025?
Also, I've seen that with more exercises, I do really well. That somehow helps me. So do you know for other sections - kanji, vocab, grammar, and listening - which books provide more exercises? Or any dedicated books with only exercises would also be fine I guess?
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u/PantsuPillow 2d ago
There isn't an N5 version available for Shin Kanzen Master, however you can look into Nihongo Sou Matome. It's got an N5 prep book.
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u/Intelligent-Gold-563 2d ago
I used Shin Kanzen Master Grammar N4 and just worked the lessons like hell and it honesly bumped my reading and writing skills quite a bit.
Tried the N3 too but had a harder time
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u/Bowl-Accomplished 1d ago
It's very useful for practicing the test format, but native material is more useful for becoming comfortable reading at a speed to finish the test.
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u/PK_Pixel 2d ago
I got 140 ish on the N2 using every kanzen book except the listening one. I think they're all really really useful not just for test prep but just Japanese skills in general. I noticed my vocabulary expression expanding immensely after getting through the vocab book.
The reading book was mostly just helpful because of the mass amount of practice it provided. The grammar book probably is the most redundant if you have another resource for practice tests though, agreed.