Strategies for JLPT N1 Sentence Composition (Bun no Kumitate)

Understanding the Format

The JLPT N1 Language Knowledge section contains 60 points, with a passing threshold of 19. Whether you are preparing for the December JLPT exam in Nepal or aiming high for your academic goals, mastering the Sentence Composition (文の組み立て) section consists of five items. Each item presents a sentence stem with four fragments, one of which is marked with a ★. Your task is to order the fragments so the sentence is grammatically correct and note which fragment fills the starred slot.

The Logical Approach

To solve these efficiently, do not attempt to read the fragments in order. Since Nepali shares SOV structure and postpositions with Japanese particles, use this natural word-order intuition to your advantage. Instead, identify the fixed components:

  1. Identify the Predicate: Look at the end of the stem. Does it end in a particle like 「を」 or a connective form? This dictates what must come before it.
  2. Look for Grammatical Pairs: Search for fixed patterns (e.g., 「～ことなしに」「～にかかわらず」「～を皮切りに」). These form internal blocks that cannot be separated.
  3. Test the ★ Position: Once you have a partial chain, verify which fragment lands in the ★ slot.

Worked Example

Stem: このプロジェクトは、＿＿　＿＿　★　＿＿　成功した。

Fragments:

  1. 困難を
  2. 乗り越えた
  3. チーム全員が
  4. ことで

Analysis:

  1. The stem ends in 「成功した」 (succeeded). This requires a cause or method, typically marked by 「ことで」.
  2. 「乗り越えた」 (overcame) needs an object: 「困難を」 (difficulties).
  3. The subject must be 「チーム全員が」.
  4. Combining these: 「チーム全員が」 + 「困難を」 + 「乗り越えた」 + 「ことで」.
  5. The sequence is: 「チーム全員が(1) 困難を(2) 乗り越えた(3) ことで(4)」.
  6. The starred slot is the third position, which is 「乗り越えた」.

Translation: This project succeeded because the entire team overcame the difficulties.

Avoiding Distractors

Test-makers often include fragments that are grammatically correct in isolation but fail to complete the sentence logically. For example, if you place 「困難を」 before 「チーム全員が」, the sentence becomes 「困難をチーム全員が乗り越えたことで」. While this is technically grammatical, it may not fit the preceding context if the prompt emphasizes the team's action. Always re-read the full sentence to ensure the nuance matches the stem.

Timing and Study Routine

With 180 minutes for the entire exam, especially with December approaching fast in Kathmandu, you should aim to complete these five questions in under 5 minutes. Spend no more than one minute per question; if you are stuck, flag it and move on.

This Week's Routine: