The Practical Japanese Communication Exam (PJC) is a test designed for non-native Japanese speakers to measure their Japanese communication skills at a business conversation level, equivalent to JLPT N1-N2, which are necessary for employment in Japan.
By evaluating abilities such as conversation with superiors and colleagues, customer service skills, and understanding of business manner, it aims to contribute to the development of working capabilities in Japanese and the expansion of employment opportunities.
Many Japanese learners who aim to work in Japan take this test to measure their Japanese proficiency.
This page will provide a detailed explanation of the PJC’s overview, target, test content, difficulty, procedure to take the test, and more.
Overview
PJC is a test designed for non-native Japanese speakers to measure their Japanese communication skills at a business conversation level, equivalent to JLPT N1-N2, which are necessary for employment in Japan.
By evaluating abilities such as conversation with superiors and colleagues, customer service skills, and understanding of business manner, it aims to contribute to the development of working capabilities in Japanese and the expansion of employment opportunities.
The test includes questions designed for various business scenarios in Japanese companies, such as handling phone calls, dealing with complaints, and business visits.
Therefore, the PJC’s evaluation level can be directly utilized as an indicator of the business Japanese skills required for actual work.
The PJC is operated by the Certify Communication Examination Committee.
The PJC includes the following types of questions:
● Reading Comprehension
● Listening Comprehension
The test content focuses more on practical communication skills in business situations compared to the JLPT, measuring how effectively one can communicate using Japanese in real-life scenarios.
For the test format, you can choose between a mark sheet format or a web-based test.
Target
It is intended for non-native Japanese speakers, with no restrictions on academic background, age, etc.
Test Date
The PJC is administered once a year.
The exact timing varies each year.
Difficulty
The PJC is evaluated on a 10-level scale according to the score percentage: A+, A-, B+, B-, C+, C-, D+, D-, E+, E-.
PJC evaluates examinees on a 10-level scale – A+, A−, B+, B−, C+, C−, D+, D−, E+, and E− -based on their score percentage.
A
This is a level where one can communicate appropriately in all situations in business contexts using Japanese.
The following can be done perfectly without any issues:
● Knowledge of and application of Japanese business customs and practices
● Differentiating expressions according to the situation for building relationships and efficiently advancing work in business situations
● Understanding the other party’s intentions and responding appropriately in business situations
● Predicting, negotiating, proceeding with, and achieving objectives in business situations
This is equivalent to JLPT N1 in difficulty.
B
This is a level where one can generally communicate appropriately in all situations in business contexts using Japanese.
The following can be done without issues:
● Knowledge of and application of Japanese business customs and practices
● Differentiating expressions according to the situation for building relationships and efficiently advancing work in business situations
● Understanding the other party’s intentions and responding appropriately in business situations
● Predicting, negotiating, proceeding with, and achieving objectives in business situations
This is equivalent to JLPT N1-N2 in difficulty.
C
This is a level where one can communicate appropriately to some extent in limited situations in business contexts using Japanese.
The following can be done appropriately to some extent:
● Knowledge of and application of Japanese business customs and practices
● Differentiating expressions according to the situation for building relationships and efficiently advancing work in business situations
● Understanding the other party’s intentions and responding appropriately in business situations
● Predicting, negotiating, proceeding with, and achieving objectives in business situations
This is equivalent to JLPT N2 in difficulty.
D
This is a level where one can communicate partially in limited situations in business contexts using Japanese.
The following can be done partially:
● Knowledge of and application of Japanese business customs and practices
● Differentiating expressions according to the situation for building relationships and efficiently advancing work in business situations
● Understanding the other party’s intentions and responding appropriately in business situations
● Predicting, negotiating, proceeding with, and achieving objectives in business situations
This is equivalent to JLPT N3 or lower in difficulty.
E
This is a level where communication in business contexts using Japanese is infrequent.
The following are difficult to perform:
● Knowledge of and application of Japanese business customs and practices
● Differentiating expressions according to the situation for building relationships and efficiently advancing work in business situations
● Understanding the other party’s intentions and responding appropriately in business situations
● Predicting, negotiating, proceeding with, and achieving objectives in business situations
This is equivalent to JLPT N3 or lower in difficulty.
Passing Criterion
The PJC does not issue a pass/fail judgment; instead, it evaluates scores on a 10-level scale according to the percentage achieved: A+, A-, B+, B-, C+, C-, D+, D-, E+, E-.
At PJC, there is no pass/fail judgment; instead, examinees are evaluated on a 10-level scale – A+, A−, B+, B−, C+, C−, D+, D−, E+, and E− – based on their score percentage.
| Level | Score Percentage |
|---|---|
| A+ | 91% – 100% |
| A- | 81% – 90% |
| B+ | 71% – 80% |
| B- | 61% – 70% |
| C+ | 51% – 60% |
| C- | 41% – 50% |
| D+ | 31% – 40% |
| D- | 21% – 30% |
| E+ | 11% – 20% |
| E- | 0% – 10% |
Pass Rate
Information regarding the PJC’s test results is not publicly disclosed.
Procedure To Take the Test
Applying for the PJC follows these steps:
1. Click the ‘申し込み’ button on the PJC Official Website
2. Apply for the test and pay the examination fee through the dedicated website that appears after clicking the button
3. Receive your admission ticket (by one week before the test)
4. Take the test
5. Receive your test results (within approximately 3 weeks after the test)
For web-based tests, results can be confirmed immediately after taking the test.
Testing Site
The PJC is held in locations such as Tokyo, but confirmation is required for each test.