Shin Kanzen Master N2: Grammar

I used this book specifically for N2 grammar preparation after completing Tobira, dedicating 3 months (June-August 2021) to working through all chapters. The organization by grammar function rather than difficulty felt counterintuitive initially—Chapter 1 mixes basic and advanced patterns under "Expressing Contrast and Conditions." However, this functional grouping helped me understand nuanced differences; pages 24-31 comparing similar conditional forms (なら, ば, たら, と) finally clarified when to use each. The drill sections are extensive—each grammar point has 10-15 practice sentences, which felt tedious but proved effective for retention. I created a study routine: read explanation (15 min), complete practice exercises (30 min), review mistakes (15 min) per subsection. The weekly mock tests at chapter ends accurately predicted my actual N2 grammar performance. I supplemented with "A Dictionary of Intermediate Japanese Grammar" when explanations felt insufficient. The purely Japanese explanations initially slowed my progress, but forced deeper engagement with each pattern. After completing all 7 chapters and the mock tests, I scored 42/60 on the actual N2 grammar section (December 2021).