This is Yuko’s administrative assistant certificate (and accompanying wallet card) that she earned when she worked in the office of the president of Matsuyama University. It’s officially the 秘書検定, and is the Japanese equivalent of the CPS exam (which I didn’t even know existed until today).
It tests a variety of theoretical and practical skills useful to administrative assistants, including the stylized manner of serving tea that should be used when receiving high-ranked guests.
Here’s a picture of my test voucher enabling me to sit for level N4 of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test today. Though they sound different, it’s the same difficulty as the level 3 test I failed last year, due to the system being reorganized.
The JLPT tests applicants’ knowledge of vocabulary, kanji, and grammar through listening comprehension and reading comprehension in Japanese. The hardest section for me (and most of my friends who’ve taken the test) is the grammar section, mostly because Japanese particles are a serious PITA.
I passed the former level 4 test (the current N5 test) two years ago, but this one is (of course) harder. N5 tests your knowledge of about 100 kanji and 800 words, while N4 tests your knowledge of about 300 kanji and 1500 words, so you can definitely see the difficulty ramp up.
Anyway, I think I passed, but not by a huge margin. I’d been taking practice tests with my Japanese teachers and regularly passing them, but the actual test seemed noticeably harder. Having now spent Â¥12,000 (~$145) just for this level (Â¥6000 each for last year and this), I certainly hope I passed this time.
I’d like to know soon, but because this is Japan and only the trains are efficient here, applicants don’t get the results of this scantron test for two months. Keep your fingers crossed. (^_^)