Exam SenseiJFT-Basic & JLPT
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JFT-Basic & JLPT N5–N1

Free Japanese exam mock tests that tell you why you got it wrong

Sit a timed practice test, get scored instantly, and read a real explanation for every single question — including the ones you guessed right. No account, no paywall, nothing to install.

Start the JFT-Basic testBrowse all 6 tests
  • 97 questions with worked explanations
  • Timer, flagging and a question navigator, like the real CBT
  • Per-section breakdown, because both exams have sectional minimums
6Full mock tests
97Explained questions
6Levels covered
¥0Cost, permanently

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The score only means something if you take it under exam conditions the first time. Use practice mode for the second attempt, not the first.

JFT-BasicElementary

JFT-Basic Mock Test 1

Free 20-question JFT-Basic mock test covering script and vocabulary, conversation and expression, listening and reading. Instant scoring and full explanations.

Questions
20
Time
20 min
Pass mark
80%
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N5Beginner

JLPT N5 Practice Test 1

Free JLPT N5 practice test with 20 questions on kanji reading, vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening. Instant scoring and an explanation for every answer.

Questions
20
Time
20 min
Pass mark
55%
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N4Elementary

JLPT N4 Practice Test 1

Free JLPT N4 practice test with 20 questions covering kanji, vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening. Instant scoring with a full explanation for every question.

Questions
20
Time
25 min
Pass mark
60%
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Choosing

JFT-Basic or JLPT — which one do you actually need?

They are not competing versions of the same exam. They exist for different reasons, and the right answer depends entirely on what you need the certificate to do.

JFT-Basic

If you need a work visa soon

A single A2-level test built around daily-life and workplace Japanese. It runs on computer at Prometric centres many times a year, and a score of 200 out of 250 satisfies the language requirement for the Specified Skilled Worker visa. You see a provisional result the moment you finish.

  • about 50 questions in 60 minutes, on computer
  • Held frequently — you are rarely more than weeks away from a sitting
  • Since August 2026 it reports A1 and A2.1 as well as the A2.2 visa threshold
Read the JFT-Basic guide
JLPT

If you need a credential that lasts

Five levels from N5 to N1, held on paper twice a year in July and December. It is the qualification schools, universities and employers recognise, and N4 or above also satisfies the Specified Skilled Worker language requirement. Results take around two months.

  • N5 to N1, each scored out of 180 with its own pass mark
  • Sectional minimums apply — a weak section fails the whole paper
  • N2 is the level most Japanese job listings ask for
Compare the JLPT levels
The short versionIf a Specified Skilled Worker visa is the goal and you want it this year, take JFT-Basic — it runs far more often and the bar is clear. If you are building a qualification for study or a long career in Japan, work towards the JLPT and aim past N4.Full comparison →

JLPT levels

Find your level

Kanji, vocabulary and study-hour figures below are widely-used community estimates, not official specifications — the JLPT has not published a content list since 2010.

N5

The entry point. Hiragana, katakana, basic kanji and everyday classroom Japanese.

  • ~100 kanji
  • 150–250 hours
  • Pass mark 80/180
N4

Basic Japanese across familiar daily topics — and the JLPT level accepted for the Specified Skilled Worker visa.

  • ~300 kanji
  • 300–450 hours
  • Pass mark 90/180
N3

The bridge level. Everyday Japanese at near-natural speed, and the hardest jump for most learners.

  • ~650 kanji
  • 450–750 hours
  • Pass mark 95/180
N2

The level most Japanese employers ask for. Newspapers, business email and broadcast Japanese.

  • ~1,000 kanji
  • 600–1,000 hours
  • Pass mark 90/180
N1

Academic and abstract Japanese, read and heard at full native speed.

  • ~2,000 kanji
  • 900–1,700 hours
  • Pass mark 100/180

Study guides

Read before you book

Scoring rules, registration steps and study plans — the practical things that decide whether a sitting is worth the fee.

JFT-Basic

JFT-Basic Passing Score: 200, A2.1 and A1 Explained

How JFT-Basic scoring works: the 10–250 scale, the A1 and A2.1 bands added in August 2026, why 200 is the Specified Skilled Worker threshold, and what to do if you miss it.

6 min read JLPT

Which JLPT Level Should I Take? A Straight Answer

How to pick the right JLPT level: what each of N5 to N1 actually requires, why most people register one level too high, and a simple test for deciding.

7 min read Visa & work

Specified Skilled Worker Visa: Japanese Required

What Japanese you need for a Specified Skilled Worker visa: which tests are accepted, the scores required, who is exempt, and how the skills test fits in.

8 min read

All study guides →

FAQ

JFT-Basic and JLPT — the questions people actually ask

Short, direct answers. Longer treatments live in the study guides.

What is the difference between the JLPT and JFT-Basic?
The JLPT is a five-level proficiency ladder (N5 to N1) held twice a year on paper, and it is what schools, universities and most employers recognise. JFT-Basic is a single A2-level test held far more frequently on computer, and its main purpose is proving the Japanese ability needed for the Specified Skilled Worker visa. If you need a visa soon, JFT-Basic is usually the faster route; if you need a credential that grows with you, the JLPT is the one to build towards.
What changed in JFT-Basic in August 2026?
It began reporting two lower levels alongside the existing one: A1 at 145–174 and A2.1 at 175–199, with A2.2 (A2) still at 200–250. The Specified Skilled Worker threshold is unchanged at 200. The new bands exist so people working towards the Employment for Skill Development status can evidence a lower level.
Which Japanese test do I need for a Specified Skilled Worker visa?
Either JFT-Basic with a score of 200 or above, or JLPT N4 or higher. Both are accepted. You also need to pass the skills test for your specific industry — the language test alone is not enough.
Are the mock tests on Exam Sensei free?
Yes, completely. Every question, explanation and score breakdown is free with no account and no email address. We do not have a paid tier to upsell you to.
How long does it take to pass the JLPT N5?
Community estimates put N5 at roughly 150 to 250 hours of study for a learner without prior kanji knowledge, and rather less for someone who already reads Chinese characters. The JLPT does not publish official study-hour figures, so treat any number you see — including ours — as a rough planning guide rather than a promise.
Do I have to pass every section of the JLPT separately?
Yes, and this catches people out. As well as the overall pass mark, you must score at least 19 out of 60 in each scoring section (or 38 out of 120 in the combined Language Knowledge · Reading section at N4 and N5). A candidate can clear the overall total and still fail on one weak section.
Can I take the JFT-Basic test more than once?
If you scored 199 or below, yes — after a 45-day wait, counted from the day after your sitting. Once you have scored 200 or above you cannot sit it again, because you have met the A2.2 requirement. Confirm current rules and local scheduling on the official Japan Foundation site before you book.

Stop guessing where you stand

Twenty minutes and a cold, timed mock test will tell you more than another week of flashcards.

JFT-Basic testJLPT N5 testJLPT N3 test