Pros
- Learners who know their JLPT level and will finish grammar on paper
- People who want exam-format review after explanations
- Self-studiers who need English, Chinese, or Vietnamese notes
Cons
- You still need a first non-exam course
- You will not sit with a book and audio
- Official samples have not been opened yet
TRY! is ASK Publishing’s JLPT grammar series. The official series page lists START plus N5 through N1. Grammar is taught through posters, mail, essays, conversations, news, and other text types. Each item has explanation, examples, and practice. Review questions follow the exam’s grammar, reading, and listening formats. N4 and N5 include a full-format mock sitting.
Point counts on that page: N5 46, N4 100, N3 127, N2 149, N1 129. English editions are labeled 改訂版. Confirm the latest printing before you buy an old copy.
Who it fits
It fits people who already have a level and will do paper work. Start with official JLPT practice. Then pick TRY! or Shin Kanzen Master, not both in the same week. TRY! is grammar-led with mixed review. Shin Kanzen Master is one skill per book.
Limits
TRY! is not a beginner path. START exists for kana-first Japanese, but N5 still assumes you will study for the test. Audio is downloadable from ASK; CD editions were retired. Translations other than English, Chinese, and Vietnamese are limited. Confirm current volumes on ask-books.com/jlpt-try.
Sources checked
- ASK TRY! series page official publisher · Official series page for START plus N5 through N1, grammar-point counts per level, exam-format grammar, reading, and listening review, mock tests at N4 and N5, and current English, Chinese, and Vietnamese editions.