JLPT to CEFR: is N1 equivalent to C2?
Last checked: 2026-11-06
No. The official JLPT chart stops at C1, and N1 shows either B2 or C1 depending on your total score. Since the December 2025 test, score reports show a CEFR level for people who pass. It is reference information only.
Official JLPT to CEFR chart
| Level | Total score | CEFR shown |
|---|---|---|
| N5 | 80 or higher | A1 |
| N4 | 90 or higher | A2 |
| N3 | 95 to 103 | A2 |
| 104 or higher | B1 | |
| N2 | 90 to 111 | B1 |
| 112 or higher | B2 | |
| N1 | 100 to 141 | B2 |
| 142 or higher | C1 |
How far above the pass mark you need to score
This is our own calculation from the chart and the official pass marks. It shows the extra points needed for the higher CEFR level.
| Level | Pass mark | Higher CEFR level | Score needed | Points above pass mark |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N3 | 95 | B1 | 104 | 9 |
| N2 | 90 | B2 | 112 | 22 |
| N1 | 100 | C1 | 142 | 42 |
So a bare pass at N1 and a good score at N2 can show the same CEFR level. These examples are our own reading of the chart:
- N1 pass with 120: B2.
- N2 pass with 120: B2.
- N3 pass with 100: A2, the same as any N4 pass.
- N1 total of 138 but below one section minimum: no pass, so the report shows an asterisk, not a level.
What the CEFR level does not show
- Speaking and writing. The level covers only reading and listening. The JLPT does not assess speaking or writing.
- An exact equivalent. The level is reference information only. The cut scores came from an expert standard-setting session held in October 2024.
If you took the test before December 2025
Your results stay valid, but they show no CEFR level. A duplicate certificate for a test in or before July 2025 shows an asterisk in that space. People who tested from 2010 to July 2025 can look up an approximate level in the reference table on the JLPT site, but a reissued certificate cannot include it.
Which level to aim for if you need a CEFR level
This is our own decision rule. Always check what the school or employer accepts.
- You need C1: only N1 with 142 or more gets you there.
- You need B2: N2 with 112 or more, or any N1 pass. Compare your weak sections before you choose, and look at the pass rates.
- You need A2: an N4 pass shows A2. The JFT-Basic also reports A2 and is usually held monthly.