Speaking levels
Japanese speaking levels:
what CEFR A1 to C2 sound like
One scale used to describe Japanese speaking levels is the CEFR, with six levels from A1 to C2. The Japan Foundation’s JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education and the Japanese government’s Reference Framework for Japanese-Language Education both use these six levels. JLPT levels N5 to N1 are not speaking levels.
The main scales for speaking
Two scales are commonly used to describe how well someone speaks Japanese.
| CEFR | A framework for describing foreign language ability, published by the Council of Europe in 2001. Six levels: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1 and C2, with C2 the highest. Each level is described by “can do” statements |
|---|---|
| ACTFL | The scale of ACTFL, a US organisation. Five major levels: Novice, Intermediate, Advanced, Superior and Distinguished. The first three are each divided into Low, Mid and High |
Two frameworks for Japanese are based on the CEFR: the Japan Foundation’s JF Standard for Japanese-Language Education (page in Japanese), and the Reference Framework for Japanese-Language Education (in Japanese), released by Japan’s Agency for Cultural Affairs in October 2021. Both use the same A1 to C2 levels as the CEFR.
The CEFR and the Reference Framework both split speaking in two: spoken interaction and spoken production. Taking part in a conversation and speaking at length on your own are looked at separately.
What A1 to C2 sound like
This is a short summary of what the CEFR self-assessment grid says about speaking.
| Level | Interaction | Speaking on your own |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Can answer simple questions on very familiar things, if the other person speaks slowly, rephrases and helps | Can say where they live and describe people they know in simple phrases |
| A2 | Can handle short, routine exchanges of information on familiar topics. Keeping a conversation going is still hard | Can describe family, work and education in a series of simple sentences |
| B1 | Can join a conversation without preparation on familiar topics such as family, hobbies, work and travel | Can connect sentences to talk about experiences, events and hopes, and briefly give reasons for opinions and plans |
| B2 | Can interact naturally with native speakers. Can take part in discussions on familiar matters and explain their views | Can give clear, detailed descriptions on a wide range of topics in their field of interest, and explain a viewpoint with its pros and cons |
| C1 | Can speak without much visible searching for words, and choose language that fits social and professional settings | Can talk about complex subjects in detail, bring in related points and round off with a conclusion |
| C2 | Can take part in any conversation or discussion without effort, and convey fine shades of meaning | Can give a clear, smoothly flowing description or argument in a style that fits the setting, with a logical structure that helps the listener notice and remember the main points |
The original wording is in the CEFR self-assessment grid; a Japanese translation is on the JF Standard site (PDF, in Japanese). The table above is AUN’s own summary, not the official text.
JLPT levels N5 to N1 are not speaking levels
The JLPT tests language knowledge, reading and listening. It has no speaking test (see Does the JLPT have a speaking test?).
Since the December 2025 test, JLPT score reports show a CEFR level for reference. It is shown only to those who pass, and depends on the total score.
| N5 | 80 points or more: A1 |
|---|---|
| N4 | 90 points or more: A2 |
| N3 | 95 to 103 points: A2 / 104 or more: B1 |
| N2 | 90 to 111 points: B1 / 112 or more: B2 |
| N1 | 100 to 141 points: B2 / 142 or more: C1 |
This reference level covers what the JLPT measures: language knowledge, reading and listening. The official site says it does not include speaking, writing or interaction (JLPT official site, Indication of the CEFR Level for Reference, checked 13 November 2026). A score report that says B2 does not mean your speaking is B2.
ACTFL levels
ACTFL levels are used in ACTFL tests such as the OPI. The tests measure from Novice to Superior. For speaking, the levels are described like this.
| Novice | Gives short answers about things that affect them directly, using memorised words and set phrases |
|---|---|
| Intermediate | Can talk about familiar everyday topics by recombining what they have learned, and ask simple questions |
| Advanced | Can narrate and describe past, present and future events, and deal with an unexpected complication |
| Superior | Can speak accurately and fluently on a wide range of topics, and present a structured argument |
Summarised by AUN from the ACTFL Proficiency Scale page of LTI, which runs the tests. The CEFR and ACTFL are separate scales, and this article does not map one onto the other.
How to find out your own speaking level
There are three ways.
1. Rate yourself on the self-assessment grid
Read the CEFR self-assessment grid and choose the level that fits you. It is free and takes a few minutes. Because you are rating yourself, the result can come out higher or lower than your real level.
2. Take a speaking test that gives a level
If a school or an employer needs a result, take the test they ask for. The ACTFL OPI, for example, is a conversation with a certified tester and gives an ACTFL level. Check first which test the school or employer accepts.
3. Ask a teacher
If you take lessons, you can ask your teacher where you are now and what your weak points are.
If you care less about the name of the level and more about which parts of your speaking get across and which do not, you can have someone listen to a recording. AUN is a test for that.
How AUN’s 0 to 5 relates to these levels
AUN is a Japanese speaking test that takes about 10 minutes on a phone. If you ask after the test, a Japanese listener hears your recording and scores six skills (content, organisation, fluency, grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation) from 0 to 5. You can ask once a week, and the result usually takes a few days.
AUN scores are not CEFR or ACTFL levels. The level descriptions were written with the CEFR speaking descriptors as a reference, but AUN does not claim that, say, a 3 equals B1. The scores do not correspond to JLPT levels either.
For now there is one listener (Namba, who runs AUN), and keigo and two-way interaction are not measured. The result is a guide, not an official certificate. What each score from 0 to 5 sounds like is described in How AUN results are decided.
AUN is run by 1900 Co., Ltd. It is not affiliated with the Council of Europe, the Japan Foundation, the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the organisers of the JLPT, or ACTFL. The level descriptions were checked on the official sites on 13 November 2026 and summarised by AUN. Please check the official sites for the exact wording.
Frequently asked questions
What CEFR level is JLPT N2?
A total score of 90 to 111 is shown as B1, and 112 or more as B2 (since the December 2025 test, for those who pass). This covers language knowledge, reading and listening. It does not include speaking.
What is the difference between B1 and B2 speaking?
In the CEFR self-assessment grid, B1 means you can join a conversation on familiar topics without preparation. B2 means you can interact naturally with native speakers and explain your views in a discussion.
Are JF Standard levels the same as CEFR levels?
They are the same six levels, A1 to C2. The Japan Foundation says the JF Standard was developed on the basis of the CEFR.
Do AUN scores correspond to CEFR levels?
No. AUN’s 0 to 5 is AUN’s own scale. It is not mapped to CEFR, ACTFL or JLPT levels.