Why exam prep is different from conversational learning
Exams like the JLPT (Japanese), DELE (Spanish), and similar CEFR-aligned certifications test specific, gradeable skills: a fixed vocabulary and kanji/grammar list per level, listening comprehension under time pressure, and formal reading and writing. Conversational fluency and exam readiness overlap but are not the same thing — you can hold a decent conversation and still fail a grammar-heavy written exam, and vice versa.
Most mainstream apps optimize for the former. None of the apps in this ranking are built specifically as exam-prep tools, so the right approach is to use general apps for the skills they cover well and fill the gaps deliberately.
Vocabulary and kanji: Anki
The JLPT in particular is a memorization bottleneck — N5 through N1 require cumulative knowledge of hundreds to over two thousand kanji and thousands of vocabulary items. Anki's spaced repetition is the standard tool serious JLPT candidates use, largely because community-built decks exist for every JLPT level and let you drill exactly the tested vocabulary rather than whatever a general course happens to introduce.
Grammar foundations: Babbel
For DELE preparation specifically, Babbel's explicit grammar teaching in Spanish maps well onto what the exam actually tests — verb conjugation, subjunctive use, and formal register — better than apps that teach grammar implicitly. It will not cover exam-specific question formats, but it builds the underlying competence the exam checks.
Speaking and writing feedback: italki and Busuu
Both the JLPT (at higher levels) and DELE include free-response writing, and DELE includes a spoken interview. italki tutors can run mock interviews and correct formal writing directly, which is the closest simulation of the actual exam format available outside a classroom. Busuu's community writing correction is a free-adjacent alternative for regular practice between tutor sessions.
A practical prep plan
Roughly three to four months out from an exam: build an Anki deck for the exact vocabulary/kanji list of your target level and review it daily; use Babbel or an equivalent structured course to shore up grammar gaps; and book weekly italki sessions focused on past exam papers and mock interviews as the exam approaches.
Frequently asked questions
Can Duolingo prepare me for the JLPT or DELE?
Not directly — it does not follow the exams' specific vocabulary or grammar lists. It can build general foundation, but dedicated tools are needed closer to the exam.
Is Anki enough on its own for JLPT vocabulary?
It is the best tool for memorization, but should be paired with grammar study and reading practice — vocabulary alone does not cover the exam's grammar and reading sections.
How much does a tutor help with exam prep?
Significantly for the speaking and writing sections, which are hard to self-assess. A tutor who has seen the exam format can also flag common mistakes graders penalize.
