JFT-Basic result: when it arrives, how to read it, and what to do next

When do JFT-Basic results come out?

You get your JFT-Basic result in two steps.

1. On the day, on screen. When you finish the last section, the computer shows your total score and your level. There is no waiting for weeks, as with the JLPT. You leave the test centre already knowing whether you reached 200.

2. The official notification, online. Within 5 business days, the official result notification appears on Prometric's site. You log in to My Page, view it, and print it if you need a paper copy.

"Business days" means working days, not counting weekends and public holidays. A test on a Friday may take until the following Friday or later, especially around holidays.

How do I check my JFT-Basic result online?

1. Go to Prometric's JFT-Basic page

   Open the JFT-Basic page on the Prometric Japan site (linked in the sources below). It is the same site where you booked the test.

2. Log in to My Page

   Use the Prometric ID and the password you created when you registered. If you have forgotten them, use the reset links on the login page. The Japan Foundation does not handle Prometric accounts.

3. Open the result notification

   Prometric asks candidates to log in and check the notification within 5 business days of the test.

4. Save and print it

   Save it as a PDF and print a few copies. Prometric publishes a help page on printing with Google Chrome, linked from its JFT-Basic page. If the printout looks wrong, try that browser.

If nothing has appeared after 5 business days, contact Prometric's customer service. The Japan Foundation's FAQ says booking and site questions go to Prometric.

How do I read the JFT-Basic score report?

According to the Japan Foundation, the official notification shows three things:

1. Your total score, between 10 and 250.
2. Your level: A2.2 (A2), A2.1, A1, or ＊ for no level.
3. The percentage of correct answers in each section: Script and Vocabulary, Conversation and Expression, Listening Comprehension and Reading Comprehension.

The second page of the notification explains how to read the Japanese-language level.

The total score and the level

The level comes only from the total score. There are no section minimums. For the Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa, the line is 200 (A2.2). For what A1 and A2.1 can be used for, see the score and pass mark guide.

The total is a scaled score calculated by equating. It is not the number of correct answers, so you cannot turn it back into "I got 38 right". To see where any total sits on the level bands, use our score calculator.

The section percentages

The section percentages are the most useful part of the report if you plan to retake. They are not scored separately and do not decide your level. They show where you lost points.

How to use them:

• Find your lowest section. That is where extra study pays back fastest, because every correct answer adds to the same total.
• Compare listening and reading. A low listening percentage often means you need more audio practice at test speed, not more vocabulary.
• Compare across attempts. If you retake, put the two notifications side by side to see which sections moved.

Is there a JFT-Basic certificate?

The official pages describe a result notification that you view and print from Prometric's site. They do not mention a separate certificate posted to you. In practice, "JFT-Basic certificate" means this printed notification. That is what employers, sending agencies and visa applications ask for.

Does the JFT-Basic result expire?

No. The Japan Foundation's FAQ says the result has no expiry date. A result from 2024 is as valid as one from last week.

There is one catch: the result data stays on the registration website for 5 years. After that you may not be able to log in and print it. So:

• Save the PDF to your phone, email and a cloud drive.
• Keep a few printed copies.
• Do it in the first week, not years later.

A result from before August 2026 is still valid. A score of 200 or more from that time shows A2.2 (A2). Older results do not get A1 or A2.1 added, though.

Can an employer or school check my result?

Yes. The Japan Foundation answers inquiries about result notifications from government bodies, educational institutions and organisations that have a proper reason, through the inquiry form on the JFT-Basic site. It does not answer by phone. Never alter a result notification: it can be checked.

What to do after scoring 200 or more

Congratulations: you have the Japanese-language level for the Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa. Here is what comes next.

1. Print and save your notification as described above.
2. You cannot retake the JFT-Basic. The rule applies to every score of 200 or more. Your result stands as it is.
3. Pass the skills test for your field. The Japanese test is only half of the SSW (i) requirement. Each field has its own skills test, and Nursing Care also has a separate care-sector Japanese test. See the SSW fields guide.
4. Find an employer and apply. A result does not guarantee a visa or a residence status, as Prometric's page points out. The full process is in the JFT-Basic and SSW visa guide.
5. Keep studying. The JFT-Basic certifies A2. Daily life and work in Japan will ask for more, and the Japan Foundation notes that some industries may require a higher level.

What to do if you scored below 200

A score below 200 is not wasted. You now know exactly how the test feels, and your notification tells you which sections to work on.

First, check what your level is good for

Since August 2026, scores below 200 can still show a level:

• 175–199 (A2.1): mainly for a voluntary change of employer under Employment for Skill Development.
• 145–174 (A1): for Employment for Skill Development and for Student status at a Japanese language school.
• Below 145 (＊): no level.

If your goal is SSW (i), you still need 200.

When can I retake the JFT-Basic?

The retake rule, from the Japan Foundation's FAQ and Prometric's JFT-Basic page:

• Only candidates with a total of 199 or lower may retake.
• You must wait 45 days. Prometric counts them from the day after your test date. Your new test date must come after those 45 days.
• Example: a test on 1 June blocks 2 June to 16 July. The earliest new test date is 17 July.

Enter your test date below to get your earliest retake date.

Plan the booking around that date. Bookings close a few business days before each test (see the registration guide), and popular centres can fill up, so check seats on the test dates page as soon as your waiting period is known.

Use the 45 days well

Forty-five days is enough to move a score meaningfully, if you study with a plan:

1. Week 1: go through your section percentages. Pick the lowest one or two sections as your focus.
2. Weeks 2–5: study those sections daily. For vocabulary and kanji, use the vocabulary and kanji list. For listening, practise every day with audio and the two-play limit.
3. Weeks 5–6: sit a full 60-minute mock test under real conditions, then another a week later. Aim comfortably above 200, not just at it, because a mock score is only an estimate.

The JFT-Basic study plan has a full schedule you can follow.