JFT-Basic: test format and assessment bands
JFT-Basic is a computer-based test of about 50 questions in 60 minutes across 4 sections, with a total score from 10 to 250; a score of 200–250 is assessed as A2.2 (A2).
The four sections
- Script and Vocabulary
- Conversation and Expression
- Listening Comprehension
- Reading Comprehension
Scores and assessment
| Total score | Assessment |
|---|---|
| 145–174 | A1 |
| 175–199 | A2.1 |
| 200–250 | A2.2 (A2) |
- For scores below 145, no assessment result is displayed.
- The total score is a scaled score, not the number of correct answers.
- Until July 2026 the test measured only A2.2 (A2); since August 2026 it has also measured A1 and A2.1.
- No section has its own time limit, but once you move to the next section you cannot return to the previous one.
- The test is administered by the Japan Foundation.
Frequently asked questions
- How many questions are in JFT-Basic and how long is it?
- About 50 questions in 60 minutes, in 4 sections, taken on a computer.
- What score is assessed as A2 on JFT-Basic?
- A score of 200 to 250 is assessed as A2.2 (A2), on a scale of 10–250.
- Does JFT-Basic assess levels below A2?
- Yes, since August 2026: 145–174 is assessed as A1 and 175–199 as A2.1.