JLPT Score to CEFR
Check a JLPT total against the pass mark and read the official CEFR correspondence.
115 of 180 clears the 90-point overall requirement. Sectional minimums must also be met — they are not included here.
The JLPT reports this for passing candidates. It describes reading and listening only — the test does not assess speaking or writing.
Passing also requires a minimum in each section, so a high total does not guarantee a pass on its own. The CEFR figure is published only for candidates who passed.
The JLPT publishes a CEFR level for candidates who pass, and it depends on the score rather than the level alone. N2 at 90–111 is B1 but 112 or above is B2; N1 at 100–141 is B2 and 142 or above is C1. A 115 on N2 is therefore B2.
Two thresholds, not one
Most people treat the JLPT as five fixed levels, but the official CEFR correspondence works differently: within a single level, the score decides which CEFR band you land in. Passing N2 with 90 points and passing it with 130 both earn the same certificate, yet the first corresponds to B1 and the second to B2.
This matters when an institution asks for a CEFR level rather than a JLPT level. Two people holding the same N2 certificate can legitimately claim different CEFR levels, and the score on the result notification is what settles it.
What the correspondence covers
The JLPT states plainly that its CEFR mapping describes reception — reading and listening — because those are the only skills the test measures. There is no speaking section and no writing section. An N1 certificate says nothing directly about whether the holder can hold a conversation or write a report, which is why some employers pair it with an interview or a separate production test.
Worked example: N2 with a total of 115
Check the pass mark first, then the CEFR threshold:
- 1 Find your total score. The result notification shows a total out of 180 — 115 in this example.
- 2 Check the pass mark for the level. N2 requires 90 points overall. 115 clears it.
- 3 Check the sectional minimums too. Each section carries its own minimum, so a high total alone does not guarantee a pass.
- 4 Apply the CEFR threshold. For N2, 90–111 corresponds to B1 and 112 or above to B2. A total of 115 is B2.
- 5 Report it with the level. Write it as “JLPT N2, 115/180 (CEFR B2, reception only)” so the reader can see what it covers.
JLPT pass marks and CEFR correspondence
Overall pass marks and the score-based CEFR levels the JLPT publishes for successful candidates. Every level is scored out of 180.
| Level | Pass mark | CEFR correspondence |
|---|---|---|
| N1 | 100 | 100–141 → B2 · 142 and above → C1 |
| N2 | 90 | 90–111 → B1 · 112 and above → B2 |
| N3 | 95 | 95–103 → A2 · 104 and above → B1 |
| N4 | 90 | 90 and above → A2 |
| N5 | 80 | 80 and above → A1 |
Sectional minimums are separate
Passing the JLPT requires two things at once: the overall pass mark, and a minimum in each section. A candidate who scores heavily in reading and very poorly in listening can exceed the overall threshold and still fail. This calculator checks the overall figure only, so read the sectional results on your notification alongside it.
N1, N2 and N3 have three scored sections; N4 and N5 combine language knowledge with reading into one, leaving two. The sectional minimums are printed on the official score report, and the certificate is issued only when both conditions are met.
One practical note for applications: because the CEFR figure is published only for passing candidates, there is no official CEFR level attached to a failed attempt, however high the total.