BJT exam-day guide
BJT · Prepare for the day ahead.
Your checklist
Photo identification that matches your registration name
Bring the original document, not a photocopy or a photo on your phone. Passport and residence card are the most commonly accepted forms for this test, but the accepted list and the exact name-match requirement are set by the provider - confirm with the provider before test day, especially if your registered name uses a different script or a shortened form.
Admission ticket or registration confirmation
Check whether your venue requires a printed ticket, a QR code on your phone, or nothing at all beyond your ID. If a printed ticket is required, print it 72 hours ahead so a printer or login problem cannot derail you on the morning. Confirm with the provider which format is accepted.
Venue address, room number, and travel plan
Look up the building entrance, not just the station. Large test sites often have several halls and the room assignment is only posted on site. Note the stated reporting time and add a buffer for security checks and bag storage, which can take longer than expected at big venues.
Confirmed reporting time and late-entry policy
Arrival cut-offs vary by venue and are strictly enforced once the listening section begins. Do not assume a 15-minute grace period: confirm with the provider what happens if you arrive after the doors close, and plan to be at the building at least 30 minutes before the stated time.
Pencils, eraser, and sharpener if required
Answer sheets for this test are machine-read, so use the writing instrument the instructions specify, typically an HB pencil rather than a pen. Bring two pencils and a good eraser; a smudged or double-marked bubble can cost you a point you actually earned.
A watch without smart features
Not every hall has a visible clock, and phones must be off and stored. A plain analogue or digital watch lets you pace the reading sections. Confirm with the provider whether wristwatches are permitted in your venue before relying on one.
Phone powered off and stowed before entering the room
An alarm or notification during the test can be treated as a conduct violation even if you never touched the device. Turn it fully off at the door, not to silent, and put it in your bag rather than a pocket.
Knowledge of the section structure and total time
The test mixes listening, listening-reading, and reading tasks in a fixed sequence with no going back once a section closes. Knowing the order and rough length of each part in advance stops you from over-investing in early items and running out of time on the reading passages. Confirm the current structure and timing with the provider, as formats are revised.
Familiarity with the scoring scale and level boundaries
Scores are reported on a wide point scale and mapped to descriptive levels, so the same raw performance can sit near a boundary. Check the current cut scores on the official site rather than relying on an old prep book; the mapping is a published policy you should not guess at.
Water and a light snack for before or after the test
The test runs long enough that hunger affects concentration on reading passages. Whether you may keep a bottle at your desk varies by venue, so plan to drink and eat outside the room rather than assuming, and confirm with the provider if you have a medical need.
Rest and normal hearing condition
The listening portions are played once at fixed speed. Avoid loud headphones, ear infections, or a late night in the 48 hours before the test. If you have a hearing or other access requirement, contact the provider well in advance - accommodations are rarely granted on the day.
A short list of business keigo and email phrasing to skim
One page of high-frequency honorific verbs, humble forms, and typical email openings is enough for the final day. This is a warm-up to activate recall, not new learning; keep it to material you already understand so it builds confidence instead of anxiety.
Plan the day
Sit one full timed practice run under real conditions: no pausing audio, no dictionary, single sitting. Score it, then write down the three question types that cost you the most time. Spend the remaining days only on those, because broad review at this point mostly burns attention you need on test day.
Finish logistics: verify the venue and room, confirm the reporting time, check that your ID is unexpired and that the name matches your registration, and print or download the ticket in whatever form the provider accepts. Resolve any mismatch now, while there is still time to contact the provider.
Do light review only: skim your keigo and email-phrase sheet, re-read notes on the section order and pacing, and stop by early evening. Do not attempt a new mock test or a new grammar topic; a late discovery of a weak area cannot be fixed in a day and only raises anxiety.
Pack the bag completely: ID, ticket, two pencils, eraser, sharpener, watch, water, and a printed one-page summary. Lay clothes out. Set two alarms plus a backup, and check the weather and any planned rail disruption on your route.
Eat a normal breakfast, avoid heavy caffeine if you are already nervous, and leave earlier than the map suggests. On arrival, find the room and the toilets first, then switch your phone fully off and stow it before you sit down.
Once seated, do not open any materials until instructed, and check that your desk has the correct answer sheet and that your name and registration number are filled in exactly as registered. A mislabelled sheet can invalidate an otherwise good performance.
Work in strict passes on the reading sections: answer the straightforward items first, flag anything that needs re-reading, and come back only if time allows. On listening items, commit to an answer and move on the moment the audio advances - a missed item is gone, and dwelling on it costs you the next two.
Transfer answers to the machine-read sheet at the end of each block rather than all at the end, and check for off-by-one slipping when filling a long series of bubbles. If wrong answers are not penalised, never leave a blank; confirm the penalty policy with the provider rather than assuming.
If you feel panic rising, put the pencil down, breathe slowly for ten seconds, and restart with the next item rather than rereading the one that stalled you. Keep to the proctor's clock signals and stop writing immediately when time is called.
Rules to check
Bring the original ID document used at registration, with the name matching exactly. Nicknames, photocopies, expired documents, and photos on a phone are commonly refused; confirm the accepted forms and the name-match rule with the provider before test day.
Arrive by the stated reporting time. Doors typically close before the listening portion begins and late arrivals are usually not admitted once audio has started, but the exact cut-off is venue-specific, so confirm with the provider rather than relying on a typical grace period.
All electronic devices must be switched off and stored out of reach for the whole session, including any scheduled break. A device that rings, vibrates, or is found on your person may be treated as misconduct regardless of whether you used it.
Follow the proctor's instructions on when you may open the booklet, write, and leave the room. Do not turn back to an earlier section once it has closed, and do not attempt to copy or photograph any part of the test material.
Ask the provider in advance about breaks and about leaving the room mid-test; do not assume you may step out during a section, and do not count on a scheduled break being long enough to eat a meal.
Results are reported as a point score mapped to descriptive proficiency levels. The cut scores and the validity period of a result are published policies - check the current table on the official site or confirm with the provider instead of relying on secondhand information.
If you have a disability, medical condition, or other access need, request any accommodation from the provider well ahead of the test date. Adjustments are generally arranged before the day and cannot be granted by the proctor on request.