About the STBJ Exam

What is STBJ? (STBJ とは何ですか?)

STBJ stands for the Standard Test for Business Japanese, developed and managed by the Association for Japanese Language Education & Acquisition (AJLEA).

This exam is designed to assess Japanese language proficiency in practical workplace settings comprehensively at a basic level, especially in-house Japanese (社内日本語) – including communication, reporting, emailing, and handling office or business-specific scenarios. It’s worthwhile for job-seekers targeting Japanese companies and students hoping to study in Japan.

Why Choose STBJ? (STBJを選ぶ理由)

As more Japanese companies emphasize practical communication and cultural understanding in the workplace, Japanese language learning is increasingly shifting from theory to real-world application.

Among officially recognized language proficiency exams, STBJ stands out for its well-rounded evaluation criteria:

It not only assesses the ability to use Japanese in professional environments but also focuses specifically on internal corporate communication (社内日本語) – a skill area often overlooked by other exams.

STBJ offers a flexible testing structure that caters to a wide range of proficiency levels – from beginner to advanced – with no requirement for prior certification.

Key Advantages (主な利点)

Strong Legal Recognition (強力な法的承認)

STBJ is officially recognized by:

The Ministry of Justice of Japan
The Immigration Services Agency of Japan
The Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam

In addition, many educational institutions use STBJ as a graduation or course completion requirement. The exam is also widely acknowledged by employers.

No Pass/Fail System

STBJ results are presented on a scale of up to 1000 points across 60 questions, offering an accurate reflection of actual proficiency without a fixed pass/fail threshold, which makes the exam suitable for various learner groups and goals.

JLPT and CEFR Alignment

STBJ proficiency levels correspond to N5–N1 (JLPT) and A1–C1 (CEFR).

Candidates can use STBJ results for academic or professional purposes without needing to take the JLPT.

Beginner-Friendly

No entry-level requirement. Beginners are welcome to take the test and assess their progress at any stage.

Fast Result Turnaround

Results are available 2.5 weeks after the exam, and official certificates are issued within 4–5 weeks.

Comprehensive Assessment

Beyond language ability, STBJ evaluates candidates' understanding of Japanese corporate culture, preparing them for real-life workplace settings.

Wide Availability

STBJ is held regularly in Japan and many other countries, including Vietnam, and is especially widely adopted in China.

What is the purpose of STBJ?

It measures practical business Japanese skills, not just general language proficiency.
It serves as a reference for the employment of foreign workers in Japanese enterprises and for the admission of international students to Japanese universities.

What does the STBJ test assess?

The test evaluates several key business Japanese abilities:

· Business Vocabulary & Expressions (ビジネス用語と表現:):

The ability to correctly use vocabulary and phrases is essential for corporate activities.

· Understanding Business Intentions (ビジネス意図を理解する):

The skill to grasp the true meaning behind Japanese expressions used in a business context.

· Honorifics & Respect (敬語と敬意):

Proficiency in using proper honorific expressions and etiquette is crucial for business interactions.

· Euphemistic Expressions ( 婉曲表現):

Knowledge of how to understand and respond to unique euphemisms and sensitive expressions in Japanese business.

· Business Etiquette (ビジネスエチケット):

Understanding and applying indispensable business practices and customs.

STBJ Syllabus and Format ( STBJシラバスとフォーマット)

The STBJ syllabus covers words, sentences, and grammar related to business. As a result, it suits those who want to improve their Japanese skills in the workplace, trade, and business.

The Immigration Services Agency recognizes this test as proof of Japanese skills for entering Japanese learning centers. As per Japanese institutions, a score of 350 or higher equals a CEFR A2.

The STBJ test format has 7 parts:

two types of listening comprehension,
two types of reading and listening, speech, reading, and vocabulary tests.

There are 60 questions in total.

STBJ level scale from 0 to 1000.

You get BJ5 for 0 to 249, BJ4 for 250 to 449, BJ3 for 450 to 649, BJ2 for 650 to 849, and BJ1 for 850 to 1000.