What is the JFT-Basic Exam? A Complete Guide for Beginners (2026)

If someone has told you that you need to pass a Japanese test before you can work in Japan, the test they mean is almost certainly JFT-Basic. This guide explains exactly what it is, how it is structured, how it is scored, and what counts as a pass.

What JFT-Basic actually is

The Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese (JFT-Basic) is a computer-based Japanese language test run by the Japan Foundation. Its purpose is narrow and practical: it measures whether you have enough everyday Japanese to live and work in Japan. It is one of the two language qualifications accepted for the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) visa, alongside JLPT N4.

It is not an academic exam. It does not test essay writing, advanced kanji, or literary reading. It tests whether you can handle a conversation, read a notice, and follow an instruction.

The four sections

JFT-Basic has four sections, taken as a single 60-minute computer-based sitting of roughly 50 questions:

• Script and Vocabulary - hiragana, katakana, basic kanji, and the everyday words you need at work and in daily life.
• Conversation and Expression - choosing the natural thing to say in a given situation: greetings, requests, apologies, workplace exchanges.
• Listening Comprehension - short conversations, instructions and announcements at natural speed.
• Reading Comprehension - signs, notices, short messages and simple instructions.

You may see older guides describing a three-section exam. That is wrong, and it matters: if you prepare for three sections you will walk in unprepared for one of them.

How JFT-Basic is scored

Your result is a single total score from 10 to 250 points, not a separate mark per section. The score is scaled using an equating method, so results from different test dates are comparable.

The score bands are:

• 200-250 points - A2.2 (A2). This is the level that qualifies you for the SSW visa.
• 175-199 points - A2.1. Real progress, but not enough for the visa.
• 145-174 points - A1. Below the visa requirement.
• Below 145 points - no level is reported.

Important: what changed in August 2026

Until August 2026, JFT-Basic reported only whether you had reached A2.2. Since then it also reports A1 and A2.1.

This is genuinely useful - a result now tells you how far off you are instead of just "not yet" - but it creates a trap. Seeing a level on your result does not mean you passed. Only 200 points and above (A2.2) qualifies you for the SSW visa. An A2.1 result is a near miss, not a pass.

How long the test takes and when you get results

The test is 60 minutes. Because it is computer-based, you see your result on the day of the test, and the official notification of your assessment result is issued within 5 business days.

JFT-Basic results do not expire, so a pass stays usable for your visa application.

How often it is held, and where

JFT-Basic runs as a computer-based test monthly as a rule, in Japan and across Asia, rather than in a handful of fixed sittings per year. Booking is done through Prometric, which operates the test centres.

If you are in Nepal, our JFT Basic Nepal guide covers centres, booking and preparation specifically for Nepali candidates.

What the test costs

The fee is set per country and collected by Prometric; the Japan Foundation does not publish a single global price, and the amount changes over time. Figures quoted on third-party sites are frequently out of date. Check the current fee on the official Prometric booking site at the moment you register - that is the only source that is both authoritative and current.

JFT-Basic or JLPT N4?

Both satisfy the SSW visa language requirement. The practical differences:

• Frequency. JFT-Basic runs monthly as a rule; JLPT is held twice a year.
• Results speed. JFT-Basic gives you a result on test day; JLPT results take around two months.
• Focus. JFT-Basic tests practical, situational Japanese. JLPT N4 tests a broader base of grammar and vocabulary.

For most people whose goal is the SSW visa specifically, JFT-Basic is the faster route - mainly because you are not waiting months for a result or for the next sitting.

How to start preparing

The single most useful thing you can do early is sit a full-length timed paper, so you find out what the format actually feels like before it matters. You can take JFT Basic Mock Test Set 1 free, or browse all our mock test sets.

Practise all four sections. The one candidates most often neglect is Conversation and Expression, because it cannot be crammed from a vocabulary list - it rewards exposure to how people actually speak.

Frequently asked questions

Is JFT-Basic hard?

It is pitched at A2, roughly JLPT N4 level. For a complete beginner it takes real study, but it is a much smaller body of material than N4 - the vocabulary and kanji load is lighter and the focus is practical.

Can I retake it?

Yes. Because it runs monthly as a rule, retaking is realistic if you fall short.

Do I need to pass every section?

No. There is one total score across all four sections. You need 200 points overall - there is no separate per-section pass mark.

Does my result expire?

No. JFT-Basic results do not have an expiration date.