8.4 Three-Month Study Plan and Final Review

8.4 Three-Month Study Plan and Final Review

Assume test day is T minus 90 days. The plan below splits the 12 weeks into four phases that move from foundation to skills to integration to mock tests.

Phase 1 — Foundation (Weeks 1–4)

The goal of Phase 1 is to make the keigo decision (尊敬語, 謙譲語, 丁寧語) automatic. Drill with short role-play prompts: 「取引先の部長が来社する. 何と言う?」 Repeat each prompt family until you no longer hesitate on verb choice.

Phase 2 — Skills (Weeks 5–8)

Phase 2 builds the per-skill speed. Listening drills should be done with audio at full speed, not slowed down. Reading drills should be timed: aim for 60 seconds per question by the end of week 8.

Phase 3 — Integration (Weeks 9–10)

Phase 3 is where candidates practice multitasking. For Part 2, practice reading the chart before the audio starts. For Part 3, practice the skim-locate-infer rhythm in 60 seconds per question.

Phase 4 — Mock Tests (Weeks 11–12)

Take two full-length timed mock tests per week and review every mistake. Rebuild weak areas immediately after identifying them; do not save the review for later in the week.

• Mock 1: end of week 11, untimed review of every wrong answer.
• Mock 2: beginning of week 12, timed, with focus on flagged weaknesses.
• Mock 3: mid week 12, timed, with focus on pacing.
• Mock 4: end of week 12, timed, at the same time of day as the real test.

Daily Practice Budget by Starting Level

N3-level candidates should over-invest in keigo because it appears in every part. N1-level candidates can focus on the integration parts where speed matters most.

Resources to Pair With This Guide

• OpenExamPrep free BJT practice question bank — 114 questions covering all three parts.
• Official BJT sample questions at kanken.or.jp/bjt/sample/ — three sections of free samples that mirror the real test interface.
• Pearson VUE CBT demo at kanken.or.jp/bjt — practice the CBT interface so the buttons and timer do not surprise you on test day.
• JLPT N2 and N1 past papers — for general listening and reading reinforcement. The BJT is harder than N1 in business contexts, but JLPT materials build baseline stamina.
• Business Japanese textbooks: BJT公式問題集 (official problem book), 日本語コミュニケーション・ビジネス編 (business communication textbook).

Score-Band Target Advice

If you need J1+ for immigration under the 高度人材ポイント制 (480+ required), plan for the J1+ trajectory from week 1 — the inferential skills needed for 530+ take more than a month to develop.

Final-Week Checklist (T-7 Days)

• Confirm test center address and arrival time.
• Verify ID documents match registration exactly.
• Take one final full-length mock at the same time of day as the real test.
• Light review of keigo tables and grammar patterns. No new material.
• Sleep 7+ hours per night; avoid alcohol; eat a light meal before the test.
• Pack a sweater and your confirmation printout the night before.

Test-Day Checklist

• Arrive 30 minutes early.
• Two forms of ID (primary photo ID + secondary ID).
• Pearson VUE confirmation email and appointment number.
• Sweater or light jacket.
• Comfortable clothing in layers.
• Water bottle only if the center permits it (most do not allow it in the test room).

After the Test

• Scores are sent approximately three weeks after the test date through Pearson VUE.
• A printable score certificate is available once scores are released.
• The six BJT levels (J5, J4, J3, J2, J1, J1+) and the IRT-scaled 0–800 score are reported together.
• Retake is allowed on or after the 3-month mark from your test date. For example, if you test on April 1, the next available test date is July 1 or later.
• Absentees must also wait 3 months before retaking.
• Using a different account to retake within 3 months voids the results and suspends the account.

Three-Month Retake Plan

If your score is below your target, identify the weakest part from the reported sub-scores (if available) and rebuild that area:

• Part 1 weak: rebuild listening stamina and phonetic discrimination using official samples and JLPT N1 listening drills.
• Part 2 weak: rebuild chart-reading speed and pre-reading skills; practice with two-chart documents.
• Part 3 weak: rebuild skim-locate-infer speed and trap recognition; drill keigo and polarity-flip patterns.

A structured plan is the single best predictor of BJT success. The exam tests breadth of business Japanese under time pressure, and only a phased plan that moves from foundation to integration to timed mocks can deliver that breadth in 90 days.