IELTS

IELTS (International English Language Testing System)

British Council, IDP and Cambridge (run in Japan by the Eiken Foundation and JSAF-IELTS) · EN tests English

UpcomingOfficial site ↗

Taken on a computer at a test centre; book a date that suits you.

Dates are from the organisation's official announcements. Always confirm on the official site before you apply.

Taking the test

Fee: ¥29,700 (Academic or General Training, tax included, for applications from 1 September 2026). IELTS for UK visas (UKVI): ¥31,900.
How often: Computer-delivered only in Japan: the paper test ended in August 2026. Many test dates in Tokyo, Yokohama, Nagoya, Osaka, Fukuoka and other cities; book up to three days before. Results come online in 1–5 days.
Format: About 2 hours 45 minutes, all on one day in Japan. Listening (about 30 minutes, 40 questions), Reading (60 minutes, 40 questions) and Writing (60 minutes, two tasks of about 150 and 250 words) are on a computer; Speaking (11–14 minutes) is a face-to-face interview with an examiner.
Run by: British Council, IDP and Cambridge (run in Japan by the Eiken Foundation and JSAF-IELTS)
Apply: Official site ↗

Scores and CEFR

CEFR	Band score
C2	8.5–9.0
C1	7.0–8.0
B2	5.5–6.5
B1	4.0–5.0

From the Eiken Foundation's comparison table, based on Japan's Ministry of Education (MEXT) figures. Scores below 4.0 aren't matched to a CEFR level there. The overall band is the average of the four skills, rounded to the nearest half band (6.25 becomes 6.5, 6.75 becomes 7.0). There is no pass or fail. Each university, employer or immigration office sets its own minimum band, often for each skill as well as overall.

What it tests

Tested

Reading
Listening
Speaking
Writing
Academic English

Academic uses university-style texts; General Training uses everyday and workplace texts. Writing is typed on the computer.

Languages and where to take it

Test language: Entirely in English.
Instructions: Instructions are in English.
Where: At test centres across Japan and around the world. In Japan, Speaking is on the same day as the other three skills.
How long it counts: Scores are valid for two years from the test date, though some organisations accept older results.

What it's recognised for

Accepted by more than 12,500 organisations worldwide: universities, employers, professional bodies and governments, including for UK visas (IELTS for UKVI). Many Japanese universities also accept it in admissions.

About the exam

Who it's for: English for study, work and migration abroad. Academic is for universities and professional registration; General Training is for migration, work and non-degree training.
Levels and scores: A band score from 1 to 9 in half-band steps for each of the four skills and overall. There is no pass or fail.