JFT-Basic score and pass mark: what 200 out of 250 really means

The short answer

• Your JFT-Basic result is one total score between 10 and 250.
• The total is turned into a level: ＊ (no level), A1, A2.1 or A2.2 (A2).
• 200 or more gives A2.2 (A2). That is the Japanese level the government uses for the Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa.
• There is no minimum per section. A weak section can be balanced by a strong one.

What are the JFT-Basic score bands?

Since August 2026, every result falls into one of four bands:

The Japan Foundation describes A2.1 as a level between the two: the candidate "has reached A1 and is progressing toward A2.2 (A2)". It is not a weak pass of A2.

What do A1 and A2 mean in practice?

The levels come from the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages), the JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education and Japan's own reference framework. In plain words:

• A1: you can understand and use familiar everyday expressions and very basic phrases, introduce yourself, and answer simple questions about where you live and what you have, if the other person speaks slowly and is helpful.
• A2: you can understand sentences and common expressions about daily needs such as family, shopping, the local area and work. You can handle simple, routine exchanges and describe your background and surroundings in simple terms.

In the test, that means A2 candidates can read a shop notice or a short message from a co-worker, follow a clear station announcement, and choose a natural reply in an everyday conversation.

How is the JFT-Basic scored?

The JFT-Basic total is a scaled score, not the number of questions you got right. The Japan Foundation says it is calculated using a statistical method called equating.

Why equate? Every candidate does not get exactly the same set of questions. Some test forms are a little harder than others. Equating adjusts for that, so that a score of 200 means the same level of Japanese whichever form you sat and whichever month you took it.

What this means for you:

• There is no fixed "number of correct answers" for 200. Any website that says "you need 40 out of 50" is guessing. The Japan Foundation does not publish a conversion table.
• Harder questions are not simply worth "more points" on a list you can see. The method is not published in detail, so do not try to game it. Answer every question as well as you can.
• Your mock-test score is an estimate. A good mock test gives you a useful signal, but only the real test gives an equated score.

Is there a minimum score for each section?

No. The official FAQ is clear: there is no minimum score per section, and your level is measured across all four sections together.

This is very different from the JLPT, where you must pass each section group as well as the total. For the JFT-Basic it means:

• A candidate who is strong in vocabulary and reading but weak in listening can still reach 200.
• Every question in every section adds to the same total. One more correct answer in your best section helps exactly as much as one in your worst section.
• A blank answer is simply lost. Never leave a question empty.

Some prep websites still claim the JFT-Basic has section minimums. That is wrong, according to the Japan Foundation's FAQ.

What about the section percentages on the result?

Your official result notification shows the percentage of correct answers in each section, as well as the total and the level. These percentages are feedback, not pass marks. Use them to decide what to study if you need to retake. The result guide explains how to read them.

Is 200 the JFT-Basic pass mark?

Officially, the JFT-Basic has no "pass" or "fail". It assesses a level. In daily speech, though, "passing JFT-Basic" almost always means reaching 200, because that is the line for the Specified Skilled Worker (i) visa.

The Japan Foundation adds one warning: some industries may require a higher Japanese level. If you are aiming at a particular field, check its requirements as well. For example, Nursing Care also requires a separate care-sector Japanese test. Our SSW fields guide lists the fields.

What does each JFT-Basic level unlock?

According to the Japan Foundation, the JFT-Basic result can support applications for three residence statuses:

A few clarifications:

• Employment for Skill Development is the new system replacing the Technical Intern Training programme. The Japan Foundation's August 2026 press release says it launches in April 2027.
• Higher levels include the lower ones. An A2.2 result also shows that you have reached A1 and A2.1.
• The JFT-Basic is not accepted for other residence statuses at present, according to the official FAQ. For other uses, check with the employer or school.
• A level is not a visa. Prometric's JFT-Basic page states that a result does not guarantee a residence status or a visa. For SSW you also need the skills test for your field. See the JFT-Basic and SSW visa guide.

Can I use the JLPT instead?

Yes, for SSW (i). The official SSW site lists both the JFT-Basic and the JLPT as accepted Japanese tests, and Prometric's JFT-Basic page says a JLPT N4 or higher means you do not need the JFT-Basic for SSW. The JFT-Basic vs JLPT N4 guide compares the two.

What changed in August 2026?

Until July 2026, the JFT-Basic judged only one level: A2 (200 or more). Anything below 200 had no level.

From tests taken in August 2026, the result also shows A1 and A2.1. The reason is the new Employment for Skill Development system, which uses A1 and A2.1 at different stages.

What did not change, as far as the official pages show:

• The scale is still 10–250, and A2 still starts at 200.
• The four sections, the 60-minute time and the question types in the official test description are the same.
• Old results keep their value. A 200+ result from before August 2026 is still A2.2 (A2).
• A1 and A2.1 are not added retrospectively. If you scored 180 in June 2026, your old notification shows no level.

Your score and retaking the test

The level decides whether you can sit the test again:

• 199 or lower: you may retake, after a waiting period of 45 days counted from the day after your test.
• 200 or more: you cannot retake the JFT-Basic. Your A2.2 result stands.

Note what this means for candidates with A1 or A2.1: you can retake to reach A2.2 later, and your earlier, lower result also remains on record. The retake date calculator works out your earliest date.

How close are you to 200?

The fastest way to find out is to sit a full, timed practice test and look at your section results:

1. Take the free 12-question practice test for a quick first estimate.
2. Then sit the full 60-minute mock test under real conditions.
3. Put most of your study time into your weakest section. With no section minimum, it is the cheapest place to gain points.

Already have a number, from a mock test or a real attempt? The JFT-Basic score calculator shows which level it falls in and how far you are from the SSW line.

Remember that any practice score is an estimate, not an equated score. Aim comfortably above 200 in practice, not just at it.