Certifying your Japanese level

If you are learning Japanese, you are probably going to want to have a certificate proving your attained level at a certain point in time. Just like TOEFL and IELTS in English and HSK and BCT for learners of Mandarin Chinese, there are dedicated exams to certify your Japanese level as well.

The two most relevant tests are the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) and the Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT). Let me quickly introduce each of them:

1. The JLPT

The JLPT is the most widely applied and accepted Japanese proficiency test. The test consists of 5 levels: N5 to N1, where N1 stands for the highest level of proficiency. Japan’s immigration applies JLPT results as a standard to judge whether long term residents have achieved a sufficient level of Japanese language proficiency.

For most purposes, you probably want to be certified in the JLPT, since it’s most widely recognized. Several Singapore language schools offer JLPT preparatory courses. For more background on the test itself, have a look at the Wikipedia article.

Every year, there are two test dates in Singapore, one in July and one in December. To register for the next exam, have a look at the website of the Japanese Cultural Society in Singapore, which organizes the test.

2. The BJT

Formerly known as the JETRO test, after Japan’s external trade agency, the BJT is specifically meant to measure your profiency in using Japanese in business situations. So if you are planning to look for employment in Japan or in Japanese companies, you might consider to sit for the BJT instead of (or on top of) the JLPT. More information about the BJT test contents in the relevant Wikipedia article.

Unfortunately, the test can only be taken in Japan itself and at a very limited number of locations outside Japan.

Hopefully, this gives you a clue as to what test you should be aiming for. If you are looking to learn more Japanese before engaging in any exam, check out the Japanese courses on yago.sg if you want to learn Japanese in Singapore.