What your BJT score means: J levels, 400 and 480
BJT has no pass or fail. You get a number from 0 to 800. Here is how to read it, and which numbers matter for visas.
Short answer
Your score places you in one of six levels. 400 is treated like JLPT N2. 480 is treated like JLPT N1. Note that 400 is at the top of J3, not in J2. For visas the number matters, not the level name.
Six levels on one scale
Your score places you in one of six levels. The share column shows how the 7,630 people who received a level in the 2025 fiscal year (April 2025 to March 2026) were spread.
| Level | Score | What it means | Share, FY2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| J1+ | 600–800 | Communicates well in any business situation | |
| J1 | 530–599 | Communicates appropriately in a wide range of business situations | |
| J2 | 420–529 | Communicates appropriately in limited business situations. 480 sits here | |
| J3 | 320–419 | Communicates to some extent in limited situations. 400 sits here | |
| J4 | 200–319 | Minimal communication in limited situations | |
| J5 | 0–199 | Almost no business communication in Japanese |
The average score that year was 420: 434 among people who sat in Japan and 395 among those who sat abroad. Most people land between 320 and 529, which is exactly where the visa thresholds are.
The two numbers for visas
- 400 is treated like JLPT N2. It gives 10 Highly Skilled Professional points, meets the Japanese requirement of the Business Manager visa, is recognised for the Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services visa, and is enough for university admission.
- 480 is treated like JLPT N1. It gives 15 Highly Skilled Professional points and meets the requirement of the Designated Activities visa for graduates of Japanese universities.
Note that 400 is at the top of J3, not in J2. For visas the number matters, not the level name.
Why your score is not "percent correct"
BJT uses item response theory. Harder questions count for more, and the score is adjusted so that the same ability gives the same score on any test day. You cannot turn a score into a number of correct answers, and two people with the same number of correct answers can get different scores.
The rank for each part
Your certificate also shows a rank from 1 to 7 for listening, listening and reading, and reading. The rank compares you with past test takers: 7 means the top 5%, 1 means the bottom 20%. It tells you which part to work on before a retake.
Planning your target
- Start with your weakest part. The part ranks on a certificate, or the section breakdown of a mock exam, show where you lose points.
- Give listening real practice time. The two parts with audio take about 75 of the 105 test minutes.
- Take a full mock exam before you book. If your forecast is far below your target, plan for a first attempt and a retake three months later.
Find out how far you are from 400 or 480.
Dojo Journal mock exams give you a forecast on the 0–800 scale and show which part costs you the most points.