BJT test format: 3 parts, 9 question types, 80 questions, 105 minutes
What each part of the Business Japanese Proficiency Test asks you to do, how it differs from the JLPT N2 format, and what to practise for each question type.
Short answer
BJT is a computer test of 80 multiple-choice questions in three parts: listening (about 45 minutes), listening and reading (about 30 minutes) and reading (30 minutes). Each part has three question types, nine in total. The whole session takes about two hours, and you get one score from 0 to 800.
The three parts at a glance
Every question has four options. In Part 1 you only hear them, so you have to keep four spoken answers in mind before you choose. In Parts 2 and 3 they are written on screen. There is no writing and no speaking. The two parts with audio take 75 of the 105 test minutes, so listening decides a large share of your score.
The nine question types
| Type | What you do | What to practise |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 · Listening | ||
| 場面把握 Scene comprehension · 5 questions | Look at a photo of a work scene, then hear four descriptions and pick the one that matches. The options are only spoken, never shown. | Office vocabulary: meetings, reception, warehouses, shops. |
| 発言聴解 Utterance comprehension · 10 questions | See a photo and hear what is going on, then choose what a person should say, for example to a client or at a presentation. Four spoken options. | Keigo and set phrases for greetings, requests and apologies. |
| 総合聴解 Comprehensive listening · 10 questions | An illustration and a spoken task come first, then a longer conversation or talk. You pick the answer from four spoken options. | Taking short notes while listening; who decided what. |
| Part 2 · Listening and reading | ||
| 状況把握 Situation comprehension · 5 questions | Look at a photo, listen to a conversation on one topic and choose from four written options. | Linking what you hear to what you see, quickly. |
| 資料聴読解 Materials · 10 questions | A document, chart or ad is on screen while the audio asks about it. The answer is written on screen, sometimes as a part of the chart. | Numbers, percentages, dates and trend words: 増加, 減少, 横ばい. |
| 総合聴読解 Integrated · 10 questions | Look at a document or diagram, listen to a conversation or talk, and complete the task with the information from both. | Reading the question first, then listening for it. |
| Part 3 · Reading | ||
| 語彙・文法 Vocabulary and grammar · 10 questions | Choose the right word or form for a business sentence, for example 発注 (hatchū, placing an order) versus 納品 (nōhin, delivering the goods). | Near-synonyms and N2-level grammar in business sentences. |
| 表現読解 Expressions · 10 questions | Fill the gap in a sentence or short dialogue with the expression that suits the setting and the people involved, for example a polite invitation. | Keigo in emails and notices. |
| 総合読解 Comprehensive reading · 10 questions | Read an email, notice, report, schedule, chart or news article and answer questions about it. | Scanning for the one sentence that answers the question. |
What the situations are about
BJT does not check whether you memorised a kanji list. It checks whether you can get a work task done in Japanese. The organiser's own guide groups the content like this:
- Who you deal with. Inside the company: your boss, colleagues, people from other departments. Outside: clients and business partners.
- What is happening. Reporting and contacting, asking for advice, meetings, small talk and phone calls; reception and customer service; negotiations, explanations and contracts; talks and presentations.
- What you read. Emails, letters and faxes; signs and notices; ads and catalogues; reports, receipts, contracts and manuals; schedules, price lists and phone lists; charts; newspaper and magazine articles; maps, memos and screenshots.
- What you have to find. A specific item, a mistake to correct, what changed, what to prepare, how far a task has got; the person in charge; where to meet or where someone works.
Try one: an expression question
This is the kind of choice you make in 表現読解 and 発言聴解. Pick the best option.
取引先へのメール：「ご依頼の件、確かに承知＿＿＿。」
An email to a business partner: "Regarding your request, I have certainly understood it."
いたしました is the humble form for your own action. なさいました and されました honour the other person; くださいました describes a favour done for you.
How BJT compares with the JLPT N2 format
| JLPT N2 | BJT | |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | Language knowledge and reading; listening | Listening; listening and reading; reading |
| Test time | 155 minutes (105 + 50) | About 105 minutes |
| Medium | Paper and answer sheet | Computer |
| Result | Pass or fail. For N2: at least 90 of 180 overall and 19 of 60 in each section. Miss one section minimum and there is no certificate, not even for a lower level. | One score 0–800, no section minimum |
| Topics | Everyday and general topics, including newspaper articles and commentary | Work: calls, meetings, emails, charts, business news |
How it is scored
BJT uses item response theory: harder questions weigh more, and the same ability gives the same score on any test day. You also get a rank from 1 to 7 for each part, where 7 is the top 5% of past test takers. More in what your BJT score means.
Questions people ask
How many questions are on BJT?
80: 25 in listening, 25 in listening and reading, 30 in reading.
How long is BJT?
About 105 minutes of test time, about two hours including instructions and a short survey.
Is there speaking or writing?
No. All 80 questions are multiple choice with four options.
Can I try the test screen before the exam?
Yes. The organiser has an official computer test demo that shows how the screen works.
Practise all nine question types.
Try three business situations for free, or join the waitlist for full 80-question mock exams with a score forecast and explanations in your language.