<p>I'm independent-studying AP Japanese this year, and the kanji is obviously the most daunting portion. I just ran through the list and (after three years of high school and scattered self instruction) I can reliably write 196 of them and recognize 240. That leaves over 200 kanji I wouldn't know if I stared at them all day. </p>
<p>Should I spend the majority of my time trying to approach 350/400/all of the kanji tested on the exam? Or should I focus on polishing my composition and speaking skills? I've looked over the practice tests, and I'm not sure which would benefit me more. My teacher's new to our school and hasn't had an AP Japanese student before, so she's figuring this out just like me.</p>
<p>My Japanese professor at Indiana University was Ito Watt (female). She has a Phd. from Columbia in New York and is still at IU last time I checked. Find her at IU(indiana.edu), East Asian Languages and Cultures and she may be able to give you some insight or steer you on to the “right people”.</p>
<p>hi
tho im a junior and im taking the Ap japanese exam next year.
I personally think you should focus on your writing skills instead of kanjis.
im not saying just dont look at kanjis at all.
but since AP language exams on taken on computers
one advantage u have is that if you press the space bar kanjis will jump out instantly
so i think just spend some time in making urself capable to recognize the kanjis on the list and it will be enough.</p>
<p>hopefully its helpful and not many people are taking japanese so yeah</p>