Overview
The Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT) measures the Japanese needed to communicate in business settings. It is run by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation. The test is not mainly about grammar, vocabulary or business knowledge, which it treats as assumed. It measures how well you process information and respond to it in a Japanese-language workplace, using text, diagrams and spoken input.
Who can apply
The foundation says the test is taken mainly by people who use Japanese at work and by students aiming to work at Japanese companies. Many Japanese businesses use it when recruiting foreign staff, and universities and Japanese language schools use it for career support and entrance-exam preparation. Japanese immigration authorities also refer to BJT scores, alongside JLPT levels, when assessing applications for student visas. No other eligibility rule is listed.
Exam pattern
The test has three parts, and every question is multiple choice with four options.
| Part | Content |
|---|---|
| I | Listening comprehension |
| II | Listening and reading comprehension |
| III | Reading comprehension |
The test is computer-based and cannot be taken on a phone or tablet. Sample questions for each part are on the BJT site.
Marking and results
Scores run from 0 to 800 and are not pass or fail. Raw scores are converted using item response theory, so a score reflects question difficulty. Scores fall into six levels.
| Level guide (points) | What it means |
|---|---|
| 600 to 800 (J1+) | Can communicate sufficiently in any business situation |
| 530 to 599 (J1) | Can communicate appropriately in a wide range of business situations |
| 420 to 529 (J2) | Can communicate appropriately in a limited range of situations |
| 320 to 419 (J3) | Some communication in a limited range of situations |
| 200 to 319 (J4) | Minimal communication in a limited range of situations |
| 0 to 199 (J5) | Virtually no ability to communicate in business Japanese |
Score reports are provided right after the test, and results can also be checked and downloaded as a certificate from the Pearson VUE website.
Important dates
The test is computer-based through Pearson VUE, so you can choose any day and time that your test centre offers. If you take it, you cannot retake it for three months. Test centres are in Japan and in many countries across Asia, Oceania, the Americas and Europe.
Fees
The foundation's April 2026 fee list gives the fee per country, for example 37 USD in India, 87 USD in the United States, England, France, Germany and Italy, 129 AUD in Australia and 98 SGD in Singapore. For Japan, the test page lists JPY 8,000 including tax. The same page also carries a notice of a fee revision effective 1 April 2026 and the fee list does not include Japan, so confirm the current Japan fee on the official site.
How to apply
Book online through the Pearson VUE reservation site linked from the BJT page. Group applications are handled separately. You can apply up to the day before the test, depending on the test centre.
Preparation tips
Practise listening to business conversations and reading emails and workplace documents in Japanese.
Try the official sample questions for each of the three parts.
Retake no sooner than three months, so use that time for targeted practice.
Is there a pass mark?
No. The result is a score from 0 to 800 shown as a level from J5 to J1+, and employers or schools set their own requirements.