BJT vs JLPT: how do the two Japanese tests compare?
The JLPT and the BJT side by side in six tables: who runs them, what they measure, the test day, scoring, booking in Japan, results and retakes.
Short answer
The JLPT, the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, is a paper test in five separate levels, N5 to N1, each passed or failed; the BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test is one computer test of business Japanese, scored 0–800 with no pass mark. In Japan the JLPT runs twice a year, in July and December, and in 2026 is in principle only for residents; BJT is held almost every day at Pearson VUE test centres. Which one to take for a visa is a separate question: see BJT or JLPT for your visa.
The Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT, 日本語能力試験) is run by the Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services (JEES); JEES runs it in Japan. The BJT Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJTビジネス日本語能力テスト) is run by the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation (Kanken) and taken on a computer at Pearson VUE test centres.
This page puts the two tests side by side, one table per topic, with facts checked against the JLPT, JEES, Kanken and Pearson VUE pages on 13 November 2026. It does not say which test to take; the last section points to articles that help with that.
Who runs each test and who can take it
Both tests are for people whose first language is not Japanese, but in Japan in 2026 the JLPT is in principle only for residents.
| JLPT | BJT | |
|---|---|---|
| Organiser | JLPT: Japan Foundation and JEES; JEES in Japan, local host institutions abroad | BJT: Kanken; JETRO created it in 1996, Kanken took over in 2009 |
| Format | JLPT: Paper: question booklets and a computer-scored answer sheet | BJT: Computer test at Pearson VUE test centres, since April 2017 |
| Who can take it | JLPT: Non-native speakers; in Japan in 2026, in principle residents only | BJT: All non-native Japanese speakers |
| Applicants | JLPT: About 1.9 million worldwide in 2025 | BJT: 8,178 in Kanken's 2025 financial year |
In JEES's words, "residents" are mid- to long-term residents and special permanent residents under Japan's residence management system. Kanken's FAQ states no residence condition for BJT. The applicant numbers cover different periods: a calendar year for the JLPT, a financial year for BJT.
What each test measures
The JLPT measures Japanese at five separate levels; BJT measures business Japanese on one scale.
| JLPT | BJT | |
|---|---|---|
| What it tests | JLPT: N1, N2: Japanese "used in a broad range of scenes in actual everyday life" | BJT: "Communicating in the Japanese language required in business settings" |
| Levels | JLPT: Five separate tests, N5 (easiest) to N1; you choose one | BJT: One test; the score places you in one of six levels, J5 to J1+ |
| Skills | JLPT: Vocabulary and grammar, reading, listening; no speaking or writing | BJT: Listening, listening and reading, reading; no speaking or writing part |
| Level descriptions | JLPT: A summary of reading and listening ability for each level | BJT: Kanken describes each level through work: meetings, phone calls, documents |
| Can-do surveys | JLPT: Self-evaluation by about 65,000 test takers, 2010–2011 | BJT: CAN DO Report: self-evaluation by 14,634 test takers of BJT sessions 8–15 |
Both surveys are test takers' own ratings, and the JLPT says its list "is not a syllabus" of the test. Kanken gives no year for its survey.
The test on the day
On the day, JLPT N1 and N2 are two timed blocks on paper; BJT is about two hours on a computer with no break. BJT's nine question types are explained in the BJT test format.
| JLPT N1 and N2 | BJT | |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | JLPT: Language knowledge and reading, then listening | BJT: Listening; listening and reading; reading |
| Time | JLPT: N1: 110 + 55 minutes. N2: 105 + 50 minutes of answering | BJT: Three parts of about 45, about 30 and 30 minutes |
| Questions | JLPT: No current count published; JLPT cut N1 listening questions in 2022 | BJT: 80: 25, 25 and 30 |
| Answer choices | JLPT: Four for most questions; three for some listening questions | BJT: Four |
| Break | JLPT: The 6 December 2026 timetable leaves 30 minutes before listening | BJT: No break |
| Going back to a question | JLPT: Not stated on the JLPT and JEES pages we checked | BJT: Not in Parts 1 and 2, which follow the audio; in Part 3, yes |
JLPT minutes are answer time: with instructions, N2 on 6 December 2026 runs from 9:10 to 12:50 and N1 from 9:10 to 13:00. Kanken's "about 2 hours" for BJT includes instructions and a questionnaire. In BJT Part 3 you can go back to a question while its 30 minutes last.
How the result is decided
The JLPT gives a pass or fail at one level and needs an overall mark plus a minimum in every section; BJT gives a score from 0 to 800 and no pass or fail.
| JLPT | BJT | |
|---|---|---|
| Result | JLPT: Pass or fail at the level you sat | BJT: A score from 0 to 800 and a level, J5 to J1+ |
| Overall mark needed | JLPT: N1: 100 of 180. N2: 90 of 180 | BJT: None: there is no pass or fail |
| Minimum in each section | JLPT: N1–N3: 19 of 60 in each section; one below it means fail | BJT: None. The level comes from the total score; the certificate also shows a rank of 1–7 for each part |
| How points are counted | JLPT: Scaled scores (item response theory), not the number of correct answers | BJT: Scaled scores (item response theory) that reflect each question's difficulty |
| Highly Skilled Professional points (ISA list, PDF) | JLPT: N1 (15 points); N2 (10 points) | BJT: 480 or higher (15 points); 400 or higher (10 points) |
At N4 and N5 the JLPT minimums are 38 of 120 for language knowledge and reading together, and 19 of 60 for listening. If you do not sit a JLPT section, you fail, and your Score Report shows no section scores. On Kanken's levels page, a score of 480 sits inside level J2 (420–529) and 400 inside J3 (320–419); ISA's list uses the score, not the level. How these points combine with other items is in How many Highly Skilled Professional points does Japanese give? BJT levels are explained in What your BJT score means, and what one score with no section minimum changes on test day is in JLPT vs BJT scoring: how do you pass BJT with no pass mark?
Booking and taking it in Japan
In Japan you can book BJT for almost any day, up to the evening before; the JLPT has two test days a year, each with one application window.
| JLPT | BJT | |
|---|---|---|
| Test days | JLPT: 2026: 5 July and 6 December. 2027 dates are not announced yet | BJT: Almost every day, if a seat is free |
| Applying | JLPT: December 2026: 24 August to 7 September; N1 and N2 closed on 31 August | BJT: Any time; book online until 23:59 the day before |
| Where | JLPT: Planned in all 47 prefectures; sites are tentative, and you may be placed in a neighbouring prefecture | BJT: Pearson VUE centres in 47 Japanese cities; check Pearson VUE's test centre search before you book |
| Fee in Japan | JLPT: ¥7,500 including tax | BJT: ¥8,000 including tax, for applications from 1 April 2026 |
JEES closed December 2026 applications for N1 and N2 at 12:00 on 31 August, a week early, and did not reopen them. The 47 cities are from Pearson VUE's BJT page on 13 November 2026, which says some sites may temporarily not be available. The BJT fee is from Kanken's notice of 6 January 2026.
Outside Japan, the Japan Foundation runs the JLPT with local host institutions, and some cities hold it only in July or only in December. BJT has Pearson VUE centres abroad too: see BJT fees and test dates and where to take BJT.
Results, certificate and retakes
BJT gives you a paper score report as you leave the test centre; for the December 2026 JLPT in Japan, JEES's schedule puts results online in late January 2027.
| JLPT in Japan, December 2026 | BJT | |
|---|---|---|
| First result | JLPT: Online on MyJLPT from late January 2027 | BJT: A paper score report when you leave the centre |
| Certificate | JLPT: By post in late February 2027, if you pass | BJT: You print it from your Pearson VUE account after 3 days |
| Expiry | JLPT: Never; employers and schools may set their own limit | BJT: Never |
| Retake | JLPT: The next session, in July or December; all sections every time | BJT: 3 months after your last attempt |
Every JLPT test taker gets a Score Report, and those who pass also get a Certificate of Proficiency. No JLPT or JEES page we checked sets a waiting time between attempts, so the next chance is the next session: about five months after July, about seven after December. Kanken does not post a paper certificate, so you print it yourself; more in When do you get your BJT result, and does it expire?
Where each one counts
Both tests appear in the Highly Skilled Professional points: ISA's list of Japanese ability names JLPT N1 and N2, and BJT 480 or higher and 400 or higher. A note on the JLPT site (PDF, read 13 November 2026) also points people who need a test for a residence status to BJT for four statuses: Business Manager, Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services, Highly Skilled Professional (points) and Designated Activities for graduates of Japanese universities. For Specified Skilled Worker (i), the note points to JFT-Basic, not BJT. Which score each rule accepts, and from when, is in Which Japanese tests count for the main Japan visa rules? What each result opens beyond visas, from schools to licence exams and employers, is in Is BJT better than JLPT?
Which differences matter for you
The tables say what each test is. For what to do next:
- You need a result soon, for a visa: BJT or JLPT for your visa.
- You wonder how hard BJT is: our founder scored 406 and writes about what was difficult in Is BJT hard?
- You hold N2 or N1: Is a BJT score of 400 the same as JLPT N2?
- You are choosing what to study: Studying for BJT vs JLPT; for a week-by-week plan, How to prepare for BJT in four weeks.
- You want more points on BJT: JLPT vs BJT scoring; to read a score, What your BJT score means.
What the official pages say, and what some other sites say (comparison pages we checked on 13 November 2026):
- Some pages say JETRO runs BJT. Kanken's FAQ says JETRO created it in 1996 and Kanken took it over from 2009.
- Some pages say BJT is held monthly or a few times a year. Kanken says almost every day; the 3-month figure is the gap a retake needs.
- Some pages say a BJT score is valid for two years. Kanken's FAQ says "the score certificate never expires".
- Some pages say BJT has speaking and writing parts. Kanken's brochure lists three parts: listening, listening and reading, and reading.
- Some pages give an older fee, such as ¥7,000. Kanken's notice of 6 January 2026 says ¥8,000 including tax in Japan, for applications from 1 April 2026.
- Some pages say anyone can sit the JLPT in Japan. JEES says the 2026 test is in principle for mid- to long-term residents and special permanent residents.
Questions people ask
Do JLPT and BJT test takers all sit the same test?
Not on the JLPT. Its questions differ by level, so N5, N4, N3, N2 and N1 are five different tests, and you choose the level you sit. On BJT, yes: everyone sits one test for all levels, and the score from 0 to 800 places you in a level from J5 to J1+.
Is the BJT on a computer and the JLPT on paper?
Yes. The JLPT uses question booklets and a multiple-choice, computer-scored answer sheet, and proctors count both after the test. BJT has been a computer test at Pearson VUE test centres since April 2017; you hear the audio on headphones and answer on screen.
Can native Japanese speakers take the BJT or the JLPT?
Not normally. The JLPT is open to non-native speakers; its FAQ notes exceptions where even native speakers are asked to take it, for example for a Japanese national licence examination. Kanken's FAQ says BJT is open to all non-native Japanese speakers. The JLPT adds that holders of Japanese citizenship are eligible, so a Japanese citizen whose first language is not Japanese can sit it; Kanken's FAQ does not mention citizenship.
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