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TOEIC vs JLPT

TOEIC or JLPT? It depends which language the job needs

They are not rivals. TOEIC certifies your English, the JLPT certifies your Japanese. Here is the real difference, the score or level employers actually ask for, and which one, or both, you need for your goal in Japan.

What are you trying to prove?

A guide, not official advice. Hiring, admission and immigration rules change, so always confirm the exact test and level your employer, school or visa requires.

TOEIC vs JLPT, side by side

The fastest way to see the difference is to notice that they test two different languages. One certifies your English, the other your Japanese.

TOEIC (L&R)JLPT
LanguageEnglishJapanese
Skills testedListening & Reading (Speaking & Writing is a separate test)Vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening (no speaking or writing)
Score / levels10–990Five levels, N5 (basic) to N1 (near-native), scored out of 180
Mainly used forProving English for jobs and promotion, especially in Japan and KoreaProving Japanese for jobs, visas and study in Japan
HeldMany times a year in Japan and KoreaTwice a year, July and December (once a year in some countries)
FormatMultiple choiceMultiple choice

Dates and formats can change; confirm the current details with ETS (TOEIC) and the official JLPT site.

What each one actually proves

Because they measure different languages, it is rarely a real either or. It is about which language your goal depends on.

TOEIC Your English

An English test. The Listening & Reading paper is scored 10 to 990 and is the standard hiring and promotion benchmark for Japanese and Korean employers, with common targets of 600, 730 and 800+. TOEIC Speaking & Writing (0 to 200 per skill) covers spoken and written English if a role needs it.

JLPT Your Japanese

A Japanese test with five levels, N5 (basic) to N1 (near-native). It checks vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening, with no speaking or writing. Employers, universities and immigration in Japan read it as proof of how much Japanese you can actually use.

JLPT levels: what N1 to N5 mean

If you are coming from TOEIC, the JLPT numbering runs the opposite way: N5 is the easiest and N1 is the hardest. Here is what each level signals and the pass mark.

LevelRoughly meansPass mark (of 180)Typical use
N1Near-native; complex, abstract Japanese100Specialised roles (law, medicine), top firms
N2Business level; complex texts and conversation90The common baseline for professional and office jobs
N3Intermediate; daily life and some workplace Japanese95Enough for some IT and technical roles
N4Basic everyday conversation90Study, entry level
N5Basic phrases, hiragana and katakana, elementary kanji80Beginner milestone

You also need to clear a minimum in each scoring section, at least 19 points, so you cannot pass on one strong section alone. Yes, the N3 pass mark (95) is higher than N2 (90): the levels weight the sections differently, so treat the pass mark as a per-level rule, not a difficulty ranking.

Which do employers actually want?

This is the real question, and the honest answer is that it depends on the language the role runs in. Here is how it usually breaks down.

Japanese-language role JLPT, N2

Day-to-day work happens in Japanese. Employers read the JLPT; N2 is the usual baseline, N3 for some IT and technical roles, N1 for specialised fields.

English-facing & 就活 TOEIC 600–800+

English-using or global-track roles, and 就活 at Japanese firms. TOEIC is the hiring and promotion benchmark, and 商社 tend to expect the high end.

International company TOEIC first

English-first workplaces care most about your English. A strong TOEIC does the heavy lifting, and the JLPT helps you settle in.

Bilingual, global-track Both

The strongest profiles carry both: JLPT N2+ to work in Japanese, and TOEIC 800+ for the English that makes you stand out.

A Japanese-language work environment

If the day-to-day work happens in Japanese, employers look at the JLPT. N2 is the widely accepted baseline for professional and office roles because it shows you can handle business-level Japanese; some IT and technical roles accept N3, and specialised fields such as law or medicine usually expect N1.

Visa note: under rules that took effect on 15 April 2026, the common Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services work visa asks for CEFR B2-level Japanese for roles that use Japanese, and JLPT N2 or higher (or a BJT score of 400+) is accepted proof. Graduates of Japanese schools and some employer categories are exempt. Immigration rules change, so confirm the current requirement for your specific visa and role.

English-facing and global-track roles, and 就活

If the role uses English, or you are a job-seeker going through 就活 at a Japanese company, TOEIC is the standard English benchmark for hiring and promotion. Trading companies (商社) and global departments tend to expect the higher end (often 800+). See what TOEIC score you need by job and company.

International companies in Japan

Many international and English-first workplaces care most about your English and treat Japanese as a plus. There, a strong TOEIC score (or clearly demonstrated English) does the heavy lifting, and the JLPT helps you settle in.

Bilingual and global-track careers

The strongest profiles carry both: the JLPT to prove you can work in Japanese, and TOEIC to prove the English that makes you stand out. A common target pairing is JLPT N2 or above with TOEIC 800+.

Do the levels line up?

Short answer: there is no conversion between a JLPT level and a TOEIC score, because they measure different languages. The JLPT also has no official CEFR mapping. The one bridge that exists today is on the visa side, where JLPT N2 is treated as CEFR B2. On the English side, CEFR B2 is roughly TOEIC 785+, so you can loosely anchor the two through the same B2 rung.

Common barEnglish sideJapanese side
CEFR B2TOEIC L&R about 785+JLPT N2 (per 2026 visa rule)

Treat this as a rough anchor, not a formula. For the full English mapping, see our TOEIC to CEFR converter.

The honest bottom line

Choose by the language your goal needs, not by which test looks easier. To prove English to a Japanese employer or during 就活, take TOEIC. To work or study in a Japanese-language environment, take the JLPT, where N2 is the usual bar. Many careers in Japan reward both: enough Japanese to work day to day, and enough English to stand out.

Whichever you need, the way to raise the score is the same: full-length practice in the real format, honest scoring, and review by error type. Our free TOEIC mocks and AI coach handle the English side for you.

Practise the TOEIC free

If TOEIC is the side you need, start with a timed mock in the current official format and an instant score estimate. Everything here is free:

Full mock (L&R)A timed 10–990 practice test with an instant score estimate. What score you needTOEIC targets by job, company and goal in Japan and Korea. TOEIC to CEFRSee what your score means on the global CEFR scale. TOEIC vs TOEFL vs IELTSThe other comparison: which English test for which goal.
Take a free TOEIC mock →
Questions, answered

TOEIC vs JLPT, straight answers

The questions job seekers and students in Japan search for most.

What is the difference between TOEIC and JLPT?
They test different languages. TOEIC measures your English and is scored 10 to 990 on the Listening & Reading test. The JLPT (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test) measures your Japanese across five levels, N5 (basic) to N1 (near-native). So it is rarely a choice between them: TOEIC proves your English, the JLPT proves your Japanese, and which you need depends on the language the job or school requires.
Do I need JLPT or TOEIC to work in Japan?
It depends on the role. For a Japanese-language work environment, employers look at the JLPT, and N2 is the widely accepted baseline for professional and office jobs (some IT and technical roles accept N3). For English-facing or global-track roles at Japanese companies, and for 就活 in general, TOEIC is the standard English benchmark. Many strong candidates hold both.
What JLPT level do employers want?
N2 is the common baseline for professional and office roles in Japan, because it shows you can handle business-level Japanese. N3 can be enough for some IT and technical positions, while specialised fields such as law or medicine usually expect N1. Always check the specific job posting, because requirements vary by company and role.
Is a JLPT level equal to a TOEIC score?
No. There is no conversion between a JLPT level and a TOEIC score, because they measure different languages. The only rough bridge is that Japan's 2026 work-visa rules treat JLPT N2 as CEFR B2 level, and on the English side CEFR B2 is roughly TOEIC 785+. Use that as a loose anchor, not a formula.
Does the JLPT test speaking or writing?
No. The JLPT only tests vocabulary, grammar, reading and listening. There is no speaking or writing section. If a role needs spoken or written English instead, that is where TOEIC Speaking & Writing comes in, which is a separate English test scored 0 to 200 per skill.
What is the JLPT pass mark?
The JLPT is scored out of 180 points. The overall pass marks are N1 100, N2 90, N3 95, N4 90 and N5 80. You must also clear a minimum in each scoring section (at least 19 points), so a strong total alone is not enough if one section is too low.
Which is harder, TOEIC or JLPT?
They are not comparable, because they test different languages. How hard each feels depends on your first language and how much you have studied English versus Japanese. A better question is which language your goal needs: prove that one, and pick the test that certifies it.
Do Japanese companies actually use TOEIC?
Yes. TOEIC Listening & Reading is the standard way Japanese companies measure English for hiring, 就活 and promotion, with common target scores of 600, 730 and 800+. Trading companies (商社) and global departments tend to expect the higher end.
Can the JLPT help with a Japanese work visa?
It can. Under rules that took effect on 15 April 2026, the common Engineer / Specialist in Humanities / International Services work visa asks for CEFR B2-level Japanese for roles that use Japanese, and JLPT N2 or higher (or a BJT score of 400+) is accepted proof. Graduates of Japanese schools and some employer categories are exempt. Immigration rules change, so always confirm the current requirement for your specific visa and role.
How often can I take each test?
The JLPT is held twice a year, in July and December, in most countries (some countries offer it only once a year). TOEIC is offered many times a year in Japan and Korea, so it is usually easier to schedule and retake.
Should I take both TOEIC and JLPT?
If you want to build a career in Japan and stand out globally, yes. The JLPT shows you can work in Japanese day to day, and TOEIC shows the English that sets you apart. A common strong profile is JLPT N2 or above together with TOEIC 800+.
Does the JLPT expire like a TOEIC score?
The JLPT certificate does not officially expire, although some employers prefer a recent result. TOEIC scores are usually treated as current for about two years, which is why people retake TOEIC more often. See our TOEIC score validity guide for the details.