JFT-Basic — the complete guide

For Nepali speakers who want to work in Japan: what the test is, who needs it, how it is scored, and how to prepare — free.

What is the JFT-Basic?

The JFT-Basic (Japan Foundation Test for Basic Japanese) is a Japanese test made by the Japan Foundation. It measures whether you can handle basic, everyday Japanese — roughly A2 level on the international CEFR scale. In plain words: can you understand and respond in the Japanese you need for daily life and simple work in Japan?

For many Nepali speakers, this test matters for one big reason: the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) status of residence. To work in Japan under SSW, you must show basic Japanese ability — and the JFT-Basic is one of the two accepted ways to show it (the other is JLPT N4 or higher). If you already hold JLPT N4, you do not need the JFT-Basic for SSW. If you don't, the JFT-Basic is often the faster road, because it is held more often than the JLPT and focuses on daily-life Japanese.

How the test works

The JFT-Basic is a computer-based test taken at a test centre (in Japan and in other countries, including Nepal, through Prometric). It is offered in several test periods across the year — much more often than the twice-a-year JLPT — but seats and exact dates depend on the country and centre, so check the current schedule and book early; popular periods fill up.

The whole test takes about 60 minutes and has four sections:

1. Script and Vocabulary — Can you read hiragana, katakana, and basic kanji? Do you know everyday words?
2. Conversation and Expression — Can you choose the right expression for a real situation: at work, at a shop, making a request, apologising?
3. Listening Comprehension — Can you understand short, clear everyday conversations and announcements?
4. Reading Comprehension — Can you read short notices, messages, and texts from daily life?

Results are scored out of 250 points. You need 200 points to reach the level used for the SSW language requirement. Your result is shown on screen at the end of the test and an official result notification follows (normally within a few business days). One important rule: you cannot retake the test immediately — a waiting period (normally 30 days) applies between attempts, so prepare first, then book.

Fees, dates, ID rules, and the retake period differ by country and can change. Always confirm on the official JFT-Basic / Prometric page before you book.

What “A2 level” actually means in daily life

Forget the label. A2 Japanese means you can:

• Understand sentences about family, work, shopping, and your local area
• Handle simple, routine tasks — asking where something is, explaining you are sick, confirming a shift
• Read a short work note or a message from your supervisor and get the main point
• Say what you need in simple sentences, even if the grammar is not perfect

Notice what is not on this list: reading a newspaper, writing essays, or difficult kanji. The JFT-Basic rewards usable Japanese. That is good news if you already live and work in Japan — much of your daily life is already preparation, if you study it deliberately.

How to prepare — a practical plan

1. Lock down the scripts and core words. If your kana reading is slow, fix that first — every section depends on it. Most JFT-Basic vocabulary sits at JLPT N5–N4 level, so our N5 and N4 vocabulary and grammar are the right foundation.
2. Study situations, not only words. The Conversation and Expression section tests what you say in a situation. Practise with real scenes: the konbini, the station, a restaurant, and a job interview. Read the conversation, listen to the audio, then say your lines out loud.
3. Train listening at natural speed, in short pieces. Ten to fifteen minutes a day of short dialogues — pausing, repeating, shadowing the speaker — works better than long, passive listening.
4. Practise reading real things. Notices, shift schedules, text messages, simple instructions. In the test, read the question first, then scan the text for the answer.
5. Take practice questions under time. Sixty minutes passes quickly. In your last two weeks, practise in full timed sets so the pace feels normal on test day.

A simple 6-week preparation outline

• Weeks 1–2: Kana speed + N5 core vocabulary and grammar, one scene a day
• Weeks 3–4: N4 vocabulary and grammar, work and daily-life expressions, listening daily
• Week 5: Reading practice (notices, messages, short texts) + your weakest section, every day
• Week 6: Timed practice sets, review mistakes, light study only in the final two days

If you are starting from zero Japanese, give yourself more time — three to six months of steady daily study is realistic for most people. Steady beats intense: 40 minutes every day will take you further than five hours once a week.

JFT-Basic mistakes to avoid

• Booking the test before you are ready. Because of the waiting period between attempts, a rushed attempt can cost you a month.
• Studying only vocabulary lists. Two of the four sections are about using Japanese in situations and understanding speech. Scenes and listening are not extras — they are half the test.
• Ignoring kanji completely. You do not need many, but the Script section expects basic everyday kanji (days, times, places, work words).
• Waiting for a “perfect” time. Test periods fill. Once your practice scores feel close to the line, book your seat.