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Japanese exam level comparison (CEFR)

Where each exam’s levels and scores fall on the international CEFR scale (the Japanese-language Reference Framework) — listing only officially published correspondences.

Only published correspondences are listed We list only correspondences published by each exam’s organizer or by public authorities. Exams measure different skills (reading, listening, etc.), so the same CEFR level does not mean the same ability. This is not a table for directly equating one exam’s level with another’s.

Correspondence by CEFR level

Official Official announcement by the organizerGuide Guideline given by the organizerISA deemed Treated as “equivalent” by the Immigration Services Agency in screening
ExamA1BasicA2BasicB1IndependentB2IndependentC1ProficientC2Proficient
Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)Source: jlpt.jp “CEFR reference” (checked 2026-09-28)
  • N5Total score 80+ pointsOfficial
  • N490+ pointsOfficial
  • N395–103 pointsOfficial
  • N3104+ pointsOfficial
  • N290–111 pointsOfficial
  • N2112+ pointsOfficial
  • N1100–141 pointsOfficial
  • N2 or higher“Business Manager” standardISA deemed
  • N1142+ pointsOfficial
—
Japanese NAT-TESTSource: nat-test.jp “CEFR” (checked 2026-09-28)—
JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese)A2.1 175–199 points — A1 reached, progressing toward A2 (not placed in a CEFR column) OfficialSource: jpf.go.jp (judgment from Aug 2026) (checked 2026-09-28)
  • A1145–174 pointsOfficial
  • A2.2200–250 pointsOfficial
————
J-cert Japanese Test for Daily Life and WorkSource: J-cert (test organizer) (checked 2026-09-07)
  • EntryOfficial
  • BeginnerOfficial
  • Pre-IntermediateOfficial
  • IntermediateOfficial
  • Upper-IntermediateOfficial
  • AdvancedOfficial
—
Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT)No official CEFR correspondence published · basis: Immigration Services Agency (checked 2026-09-28)
  • 300+ pointsAdmission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
——
  • 400+ points“Business Manager” standardISA deemed
——
Test of Practical Japanese (J.TEST)Source: j-test.jp (checked 2026-09-29)
  • Level F / FG 250+Admission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
  • Level F / 250+F-G level test (out of 350)Guide
  • Level E / 350+D-E level test (out of 700)Guide
  • Level D / 500+D-E level test (out of 700)Guide
  • Level C / 600+A-C level test (out of 1000)Guide
  • Level Pre-B / 700+A-C level test (out of 1000)Guide
  • Level A / 900+A-C level test (out of 1000)Guide
STBJ (Standard Test for Business Japanese)Source: ajlea.net (checked 2026-09-29)
  • 350+ pointsAdmission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
  • BJ4Official
————
TOPJ (Test of Practical Japanese)Source: topj-test.org “Certified ability” (checked 2026-10-02)
  • Elementary AAdmission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
  • Beginner A-5Official
JLCT (Japanese Language Certification Test)Source: jlct.jp (checked 2026-09-29)
  • JCT5Admission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
  • JCT5Guide
  • JCT4Guide
  • JCT3Guide
  • JCT2Guide
  • JCT1Guide
—
PJC Bridge (Practical Japanese Communication — Bridge)No official CEFR correspondence published · basis: Immigration Services Agency (checked 2026-09-28)
  • C-Admission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
—————
JPT (Japanese Proficiency Test)No official CEFR correspondence published · basis: Immigration Services Agency (checked 2026-09-28)
  • 315+ / Elementary 68+Admission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
—————
Japanese Online Test (JOT)No official CEFR correspondence published · basis: Immigration Services Agency (checked 2026-09-28)
  • JT5Admission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
—————
S-JEP (Sundai Japanese Examination for Proficiency, formerly JPET)Source: s-jep.jp (checked 2026-09-29)
  • 300+ pointsAdmission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
  • Reading & listening 300–349 pointsOfficial
  • Reading & listening 350–429 pointsOfficial
  • Reading & listening 600–779 pointsOfficial
  • Reading & listening 780–889 pointsOfficial
  • Reading & listening 890–939 pointsOfficial
  • Reading & listening 940–1000 pointsOfficial

Test of Practical Japanese (J.TEST)

A1
  • Level F / FG 250+Admission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
  • Level F / 250+F-G level test (out of 350)Guide
A2
  • Level E / 350+D-E level test (out of 700)Guide
B1
  • Level D / 500+D-E level test (out of 700)Guide
B2
  • Level C / 600+A-C level test (out of 1000)Guide
C1
  • Level Pre-B / 700+A-C level test (out of 1000)Guide
C2
  • Level A / 900+A-C level test (out of 1000)Guide

Source: j-test.jp (checked 2026-09-29)

S-JEP (Sundai Japanese Examination for Proficiency, formerly JPET)

A1
  • 300+ pointsAdmission to Japanese language schoolsISA deemed
  • Reading & listening 300–349 pointsOfficial
A2
  • Reading & listening 350–429 pointsOfficial
B1
  • Reading & listening 600–779 pointsOfficial
B2
  • Reading & listening 780–889 pointsOfficial
C1
  • Reading & listening 890–939 pointsOfficial
C2
  • Reading & listening 940–1000 pointsOfficial

Source: s-jep.jp (checked 2026-09-29)

Exams with no official correspondence

The organizers of the following exams have not published a CEFR correspondence (checked 2026-10-02).

FAQ

Which JLPT levels are at the same CEFR level as JFT-Basic A2?

CEFR A2 corresponds to passing JLPT N4 (total score 90 or higher) and passing N3 with 95–103 points.

What CEFR level does passing JLPT N2 mean?

A total score of 90–111 is B1 and 112 or higher is B2. In residence-status screening (e.g. Engineer/Humanities/International Services), N2 or higher is treated as “equivalent to B2”.

Which exams does immigration accept as “equivalent to B2”?

In screening for Engineer/Humanities/International Services and Business Manager, JLPT N2 or higher or BJT 400 or higher is treated as equivalent to B2.

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Want to know the level your residence status requires?

Check the exams and levels required for each purpose, such as Specified Skilled Worker, Engineer/Humanities/International Services and study.

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