The Japanese used when working in Japan is different from the Japanese used in everyday life, and unique words and expressions are used.
As a result, even among Japanese language learners who are able to have everyday conversations in Japanese, many have difficulty communicating in Japanese at work.
Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT) is an test that measures Japanese communication proficiency in business situations.
An increasing number of Japanese companies are viewing BJT as a useful test to consider when hiring foreign workers.
Additionally, an increasing number of companies are using BJT to evaluate employees, such as conditions for salary increases/promotions and for the payment of allowances.
BJT is recommended for those who want to check their Japanese language proficiency in business situations.
This page explains the overview of the BJT, target, difficulty, etc.
Overview
BJT is an test that measures Japanese communication proficiency in business situations.
BJT can objectively measure whether a person who has basic knowledge of Japanese vocabulary, grammar, etc. has the ability to appropriately process and respond to given information in a business situation.
Therefore, BJT can assess information processing ability and business skills.
BJT was launched in 1996 by the Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO) and has been hosted by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation since 2009.
BJT contains questions about a variety of situations that may occur in a Japanese business environment.
The test consists of three sections:
⚫︎ Listening
⚫︎ Reading
⚫︎ Listening and Reading
The test is conducted using the Computer-Based Testing (CBT) method, where candidates answer questions displayed on a computer screen or listen to audio questions played over headphones at testing sites.
there are no writing or speaking sections.
Target
Anyone can take BJT, but it is intended for people whose native language is not Japanese.
Test Date
BJT is held almost every day. However, there are some dates and times when you cannot take the test depending on seat availability.
Once you have taken the test, you will not be able to take it again for three months.
Difficulty
BJT evaluates Japanese communication ability in business situations into six levels: J1+, J1, J2, J3, J4 and J5 based on their test scores.
J1+ is the highest level and J5 is the lowest level.
All candidates take the same test.
The difficulty for each level is as follows:
J1+
This level allows you to communicate sufficiently in Japanese in any business situation.
⚫︎ Have accurate knowledge and proficiency in Japanese
⚫︎ Able to accurately understand any business conversation
⚫︎ Able to accurately understand what others say during meetings, business negotiations and telephone conversations
⚫︎ Able to use appropriate language expressions depending on interpersonal relationships
⚫︎ Able to accurately understand any internal or business document
⚫︎ Have a thorough understanding of Japanese business practices
J1
This level allows you to communicate appropriately in Japanese in a wide range of business situations.
⚫︎ Have some problems with knowledge and proficiency in Japanese, but able to communicate without any problems
⚫︎ Able to accurately understand a wide range of business conversations
⚫︎ Able to understand most of what others say during meetings, business negotiations and telephone conversations
⚫︎ Able to use different language expressions to a certain extent depending on interpersonal relationships
⚫︎ Able to accurately understand everyday internal and business documents
⚫︎ Have a understanding of most Japanese business practices
J2
This level allows you to communicate appropriately in Japanese in a limited range of business situations.
⚫︎ Have some problems with knowledge and proficiency in Japanese, and sometimes have difficulty communicating
⚫︎ Able to understand most everyday business conversations
⚫︎ Able to understand to some extent what others say during meetings, business negotiations and telephone conversations
⚫︎ Able to use slightly different language expressions depending on interpersonal relationships
⚫︎ Able to understand most everyday internal and business documents
⚫︎ Have some understanding of Japanese business practices
J3
This level allows you to achieve some degree of communication in Japanese in a limited range of business situations.
⚫︎ Have problems with knowledge and proficiency in Japanese, and often have difficulty communicating
⚫︎ Able to understand most everyday simple business conversations
⚫︎ Able to understand a little what others say during meetings, business negotiations and telephone conversations
⚫︎ Able to partially use slightly different language expressions depending on interpersonal relationships
⚫︎ Able to understand basic everyday internal and business documents to some extent
⚫︎ Have a little understanding of Japanese business practices
J4
This level allows you to achieve minimum degree of communication in Japanese in limited range of business situations.
⚫︎ Have many problems with knowledge and proficiency in Japanese, and have difficulty communicating
⚫︎ Able to understand most simple business conversations spoken slowly
⚫︎ Unable to use different language expressions depending on interpersonal relationships
⚫︎ Able to partially understand basic everyday internal and business documents
⚫︎ Have partial understanding of Japanese business practices
J5
This level indicates virtually no ability to communicate in Japanese in business situations
⚫︎ Only have partial knowledge of Japanese and proficiency in Japanese language is insufficient
⚫︎ Able to partially understand simple conversations spoken slowly
⚫︎ Unable to understand everyday internal or business documents
⚫︎ Have no understanding of Japanese business practices
Passing Criterion
When taking BJT, there is no pass/fail.
A score ranging from 0 to 800 points is calculated and candidates are assessed into six levels according to their score: J5, J4, J3, J2, J1 and J1+.
Levels are assessed according to the scores as follows:
| Level | Score |
|---|---|
| J1+ | 600-800 |
| J1 | 530-599 |
| J2 | 420-529 |
| J3 | 320-419 |
| J4 | 200-319 |
| J5 | 0-199 |
Candidates will be ranked according to their placement in each section as follows:
| Rank | Placement |
|---|---|
| 7 | Top 5% |
| 6 | 6%-10% |
| 5 | 11%-20% |
| 4 | 21%-40% |
| 3 | 41%-60% |
| 2 | 61%-80% |
| 1 | 81%-100% |
Pass Rate
The number of test takers and the number of people per level for 2023 are as follows:
2023
| Level | Test Takers （persons） | People per Level （persons） |
|---|---|---|
| J1+ | – | 197 |
| J1 | – | 595 |
| J2 | – | 1,781 |
| J3 | – | 2,593 |
| J4 | – | 632 |
| J5 | – | 222 |
| No Score | – | 10 |
| Total | 6,030 | 6,030 |
The majority of candidates are at J2 and J3 levels.
Procedure to Take the Test
The procedure to take the test is as follows:
1. Access the Pearson VUE website and register for a BJT account (if this is your first taking the CBT test. can be done at any time).
2. Log in with your registered account, register for the test and enter your payment information (before the test)
3. Receive test information by email (after registration)
4. Take the test (almost every day)
5. Receive your test results (on the day of the test)
6. A certificate is issued on the Pearson VUE website (3 days after the test)
Testing Site
The test is held at testing sites in approximately 50 cities across Japan.
You can choose your testing site when you register for the test.
You can also take the BJT overseas, and the test is held in the following countries and regions:
⚫︎ Australia
⚫︎ China
⚫︎ Hong Kong
⚫︎ South Korea
⚫︎ Taiwan
⚫︎ Indonesia
⚫︎ Malaysia
⚫︎ Myanmar
⚫︎ Philippines
⚫︎ Singapore
⚫︎ Thailand
⚫︎ Vietnam
⚫︎ India
⚫︎ Brazil
⚫︎ Mexico
⚫︎ United States of America
⚫︎ France
⚫︎ Germany
⚫︎ Italy
⚫︎ United Kingdom