Improve JLPT Grammar Score: The Power of Reviewing Mistakes

Improving your JLPT grammar score can feel daunting, especially with the complexity of the grammar section. What is the best way to improve JLPT grammar? Through my studies, I realized that one of the most effective methods was reviewing mistakes during practice exams. By focusing on the questions I got wrong, I identified patterns and corrected misunderstandings. This approach gradually helped boost my grammar score.

In this post, I’ll share my journey and the strategies that turned my mistakes into valuable learning opportunities. These techniques not only improved my JLPT grammar score but also made my study sessions more effective and rewarding.

My JLPT Grammar Journey

When I began preparing for the JLPT, the grammar section felt particularly overwhelming. In my first practice exam, I scored only 12 out of 22 points, which left me feeling frustrated. I realized that if I wanted to improve my JLPT grammar score, I needed to change my study approach.

To address this, I shifted my focus to reviewing the questions I had answered incorrectly. I revisited the grammar book I was using and carefully went over the explanations for each wrong answer. Through this process, I discovered that I had been missing some key concepts and failing to grasp the nuances of certain grammar points.

Taking the time to understand why my answers were wrong allowed me to deepen my understanding of Japanese grammar. I started noting difficult grammar points and revisiting them regularly during my study sessions.

What Are Common Grammar Mistakes in JLPT Exams?

Many JLPT test-takers struggle with grammar due to subtle nuances, tricky particles, and confusing sentence structures. Here are some of the most common mistakes learners make on the exam and how to avoid them:

1. Misusing Particles (は vs. が, に vs. で)
   • Example Mistake: 彼は日本に行きますが、彼が東京に住んでいます。
   • Correction: 彼は日本に行きますが、彼は東京に住んでいます。
   • Why? は is used for contrast or general topics, while が emphasizes the subject of the sentence.
2. Incorrect Verb Conjugation (Casual vs. Formal Forms)
   • Example Mistake: 先生に話しましたか？ (Did you talk to the teacher?)
   • Correction: 先生にお話ししましたか？
   • Why? 敬語 (Keigo) or polite forms are required when speaking about or to someone of higher status.
3. Confusing Similar Grammar Structures (～られる vs. ～させる)
   • Example Mistake: 先生が学生を読ませた。(The teacher read the student.)
   • Correction: 先生が学生を読ませた。(The teacher made the student read.)
   • Why? ～させる is the causative form, meaning “to make someone do something,” whereas ～られる is passive.
4. Using the Wrong Conditional Form (と vs. ば vs. たら)
   • Example Mistake: 雨が降ると、試験は中止になります。(If it rains, the test will be canceled.)
   • Correction: 雨が降ったら、試験は中止になります。
   • Why? と is for natural consequences, while たら is used for one-time events or specific situations.
5. Overusing Direct Translations from English
   • Example Mistake: 私は昼ごはんを食べたあとで、図書館に行きます。(After I ate lunch, I will go to the library.)
   • Correction: 私は昼ごはんを食べてから、図書館に行きます。
   • Why? ～たあとで implies sequential actions but is unnatural in this case. ～てから is the correct form for “after doing” something.

How to Avoid JLPT Grammar Mistakes?

Here are some tips that I found very helpful in improving my grammar skills. If you’re looking to boost your JLPT grammar score, give these strategies a try:

Use a Comprehensive Grammar Book

Choosing the right grammar book is essential for improving your JLPT grammar score. A well-structured book not only explains grammar rules but also provides contextual examples, practice exercises, and common usage pitfalls. Look for books that categorize grammar points based on JLPT levels, as this will help you focus on relevant material.

In addition to textbooks, supplement your studies with online resources such as Bunpro, an SRS-based JLPT grammar learning platform, or Nihongo no Mori’s grammar videos, which provide detailed explanations and examples. Another useful resource is JLPT Sensei, which offers grammar explanations, example sentences, and study tips tailored for JLPT preparation. The combination of structured books and interactive digital resources can create a well-rounded approach to mastering grammar for the JLPT.

Take Detailed Notes

As you review your mistakes, take notes on the grammar points that you find challenging. Create a personalized study guide where you can jot down explanations, examples, and even your own sentences using those grammar points. Incorporating color-coding or highlighting key points can make your notes more visually engaging and easier to navigate.

Additionally, consider creating a digital version of your study guide using apps like Notion. This allows you to add links to external resources, create interactive flashcards, and track your progress over time. Reviewing these notes regularly, rather than just before an exam, will reinforce your understanding and help you retain information more effectively. This guide will serve as a valuable resource that you can refer back to throughout your study sessions, gradually strengthening your grasp of complex grammar rules.

Revisit and Practice Regularly

Regularly revisit the grammar points that you struggled with and practice applying the correct concepts in different contexts. This could mean writing sentences, doing additional practice questions, or even using flashcards to reinforce your understanding. Try incorporating these grammar points into daily conversations, journaling, or online language exchanges to make them more natural in your communication.

Another effective method is shadowing—listening to Japanese sentences using target grammar and repeating them aloud. This helps internalize structures and improves both comprehension and speaking skills. Additionally, keeping a grammar mistake log where you track incorrect answers and write corrected versions can be useful for long-term retention.

The key is repetition and diversification of practice—by consistently practicing in varied ways, you’ll solidify your knowledge and be better prepared for the exam.

Apply Grammar in Writing and Speaking

Practicing grammar concepts beyond textbooks can help reinforce them. Try writing journal entries or sentences using the grammar points you found difficult. If possible, use them in conversation with language partners to ensure they become part of your active language skills. Another effective technique is to engage in self-talk, where you verbalize thoughts using target grammar structures, helping to reinforce their usage naturally.

Additionally, immerse yourself in native content such as novels, articles, or podcasts that frequently use JLPT-related grammar. Take notes on how grammar points appear in context and try to replicate similar sentence structures in your own writing. Practicing grammar through diverse mediums will deepen your understanding and make it easier to recall and apply during the exam.

Be Patient and Celebrate Progress

Mastering a language is a long-term commitment, much like running a marathon. It’s important to be patient with yourself and celebrate small achievements along the way. Improving your JLPT grammar score doesn’t happen overnight—it requires steady effort over time. Keeping track of progress, such as recognizing a challenging grammar structure in a reading passage or successfully using it in conversation, helps maintain motivation and reinforces learning.

Internalizing grammar structures takes consistent practice and realistic goal-setting. Rather than expecting immediate results, focus on gradual improvement by studying daily, even in short sessions. Reviewing mistakes, applying grammar in writing and speaking, and revisiting difficult points regularly are essential for long-term success. Each small step forward, whether mastering a tricky grammar rule or answering one more question correctly, builds confidence and brings you closer to your goal. By maintaining persistence and a positive mindset, you’ll develop the resilience needed to tackle even the toughest JLPT grammar concepts.

How Does Reviewing Mistakes Help?

It Highlights Weaknesses

Many learners study grammar in a broad sense, but reviewing mistakes pinpoints the exact areas that need improvement. By analyzing wrong answers, you can see which grammar patterns or rules you consistently struggle with.

It Reinforces Learning

Revisiting mistakes ensures that you don’t forget grammar rules. The more you expose yourself to previously misunderstood concepts, the more likely they will become second nature. Consistently reviewing mistakes allows you to develop a deeper understanding of how certain grammar structures function and why certain answers are incorrect.

Moreover, re-examining past errors in various contexts—such as reading, listening, writing, and speaking—ensures that you truly internalize these grammar rules. Try explaining the mistakes to yourself or someone else, as teaching a concept often reinforces your own learning. This continuous cycle of reviewing, correcting, and applying knowledge builds a solid foundation for long-term language retention and fluency.

It Builds Test-Taking Confidence

Seeing improvement through mistake analysis provides a confidence boost. Instead of feeling lost during the test, you’ll recognize grammar patterns and apply the correct rules. Over time, repeated exposure to corrected mistakes reinforces learning, making it easier to recall concepts during high-pressure situations like the actual JLPT exam. Additionally, as you become more familiar with common grammatical structures, you will develop a sense of intuition for choosing the right answers even for tricky questions. This growing confidence not only helps improve your test performance but also enhances your overall language proficiency, making Japanese grammar feel more natural in both writing and conversation.

How Reviewing Mistakes Improved My Score

After dedicating time to reviewing my mistakes and targeting my weaknesses, I took another practice exam. This time, I scored 18 out of 22 points in the grammar section – a significant improvement from my initial score of 12 out of 22.

This experience showed me the power of reviewing mistakes while studying for the JLPT grammar section. By identifying my weak areas and actively working on them, I was able to make meaningful progress in a relatively short period.

The Power of Reviewing Mistakes

Reviewing the answers you got wrong in the JLPT grammar section is a powerful strategy for improving your score. Rather than simply marking incorrect answers and moving on, taking the time to analyze and understand your mistakes leads to a deeper grasp of grammar concepts. This process helps you identify recurring patterns in your errors and address weak areas systematically.

One of the most effective ways to review mistakes is to rework incorrect questions by writing out correct versions and explaining why the right answer is correct. Additionally, you can keep a mistake journal where you log each grammar mistake, its explanation, and example sentences for reinforcement. Over time, this log will become a valuable reference for tracking improvement and identifying persistent problem areas.

Beyond individual study, discussing mistakes with language partners or teachers can provide alternative explanations and new perspectives that enhance understanding. Engaging in active recall by testing yourself on previously made mistakes ensures that the concepts stick long-term.

Everyone’s language learning journey is different, so don’t be discouraged by initial setbacks. Progress takes time, and consistent effort in reviewing mistakes will result in noticeable improvements. With persistence and a commitment to learning from your errors, you can achieve your goal of mastering Japanese grammar. Keep refining your study methods, and you’ll see steady progress in your JLPT grammar score.