Japanese CEFR A2/B1 Self-Assessment Questions

Instructions

Answer each question honestly based on your current abilities. Most questions that you answer “yes” to will indicate your current level. If you’re consistently answering “yes” to A2 questions but “no” to B1 questions, you’re likely at A2 level, and vice versa.

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Speaking Skills

A2 Level Questions

• Can you introduce yourself with basic information (name, age, job, nationality)?
• Can you order food at a restaurant using simple phrases?
• Can you ask for directions and understand basic responses?
• Can you make small talk about weather, hobbies, or family using simple sentences?
• Can you express likes and dislikes about familiar topics?
• Can you handle routine social exchanges like greetings and farewells?
• Can you ask and answer questions about personal details?
• Can you describe your daily routine using simple sentences and time expressions?
• Can you ask for and provide simple information about places, people, and objects?

B1 Level Questions

• Can you explain simple opinions about movies, books, or current events with basic justifications?
• Can you describe a problem you’ve had and explain how you solved it?
• Can you give advice to someone about travel or studying Japanese?
• Can you participate in a 10-15 minute conversation without major communication breakdowns?
• Can you express agreement and disagreement politely in discussions?
• Can you express and justify your opinions and plans in a basic way?
• Can you tell a story about something interesting that happened to you recently?
• Can you give a simple presentation or talk on a familiar topic for 2-3 minutes?
• Can you compare and contrast two things or ideas using simple language?

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Listening Skills

A2 Level Questions

• Can you understand basic announcements at train stations or airports?
• Can you follow simple directions to get somewhere?
• Can you understand the main points when someone talks about their daily routine?
• Can you catch key information in phone messages or voicemails?
• Can you understand simple conversations between friends about weekend plans?
• Can you follow basic instructions for tasks like cooking or assembling something?
• Can you understand price information and basic details when shopping?
• Can you understand the main points of short, clear, and simple messages and announcements?

B1 Level Questions

• Can you understand the main storyline of simple TV shows or movies in Japanese?
• Can you understand the main points and significant details in clear, standard conversations between native speakers on familiar topics?
• Can you follow presentations or lectures on subjects you’re interested in?
• Can you understand detailed instructions for complex tasks?
• Can you pick up on speaker’s attitudes and emotions from their tone?
• Can you follow podcasts or radio programs on topics of personal interest?
• Can you generally understand common slang and colloquialisms used in informal conversations on familiar topics?
• Can you get the gist of weather forecasts or simple news reports?

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Reading Skills

A2 Level Questions

• Can you understand personal emails or messages from friends?
• Can you read simple news articles about familiar topics?
• Can you understand basic information on websites (menus, schedules, contact info)?
• Can you follow simple written instructions or recipes?
• Can you understand the main points in short articles about travel or culture?
• Can you read and understand basic business letters or official notices?
• Can you understand simple reviews of restaurants, movies, or products?
• Can you understand simple advertisements and notices?
• Can you read manga or simple stories aimed at children or beginners?

B1 Level Questions

• Can you read short, straightforward newspaper articles and understand their main points and arguments?
• Can you understand detailed product descriptions and compare different options?
• Can you read work-related emails and documents in your field?
• Can you follow complex instructions or procedures in manuals?
• Can you understand the main plot of young adult novels or simple fiction with some effort?
• Can you understand opinion pieces and editorials on topics you’re familiar with?
• Can you understand straightforward factual texts on subjects related to your interests?
• Can you read personal correspondence expressing feelings, wishes, and events in detail?

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Writing Skills

A2 Level Questions

• Can you write personal emails describing your daily activities?
• Can you fill out forms with detailed personal information?
• Can you write simple reviews of restaurants or movies you’ve experienced?
• Can you write basic instructions for tasks you know well?
• Can you compose short messages or notes to friends and colleagues?
• Can you write simple descriptions of places you’ve visited?
• Can you create basic social media posts about your experiences?
• Can you write short, simple postcards or messages about personal experiences?

B1 Level Questions

• Can you write detailed letters expressing your feelings and reactions?
• Can you write reports or essays expressing your opinions with supporting reasons?
• Can you write formal emails for work or academic purposes?
• Can you compose longer texts linking ideas with appropriate connectors?
• Can you write detailed descriptions of events, experiences, or procedures?
• Can you write simple persuasive texts to express your viewpoint on a familiar topic?
• Can you write summaries of articles, movies, or books you’ve read?
• Can you express a range of ideas in writing, linking them clearly, even if with some grammatical errors?

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Grammar and Vocabulary

A2 Level Questions

• Can you use basic verb tenses (present, past, future) correctly most of the time?
• Do you know enough vocabulary to handle everyday situations (shopping, dining, travel)?
• Can you use common particles (は, が, を, に, で) appropriately in simple sentences?
• Can you form basic questions and negative sentences?
• Do you understand and use common keigo (polite language) expressions?
• Can you use basic connectors like そして, でも, だから?
• Do you know numbers, dates, and time expressions well?
• Can you use common adjectives and their various forms?

B1 Level Questions

• Can you use conditional forms (たら, なら, ば) correctly in context?
• Do you have enough vocabulary to express yourself on most familiar topics without major gaps?
• Can you use more complex sentence structures with relative clauses?
• Can you switch between casual and polite forms appropriately based on the situation?
• Can you recognize and appropriately use the most common types of keigo in polite social and professional situations?
• Can you use complex connectors and transition words to link ideas?
• Can you express hypothetical situations and possibilities?
• Can you generally choose appropriate words for common contexts, even if not always perfectly nuanced?

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Cultural Understanding

A2 Level Questions

• Do you understand basic Japanese social customs and etiquette?
• Can you recognize when to use formal vs. informal language in simple situations?
• Do you understand common cultural references in everyday conversations?
• Can you navigate basic social situations without major cultural misunderstandings?

B1 Level Questions

• Do you understand common cultural cues and implied meanings in conversations and situations?
• Can you adjust your communication style based on social hierarchy and relationships?
• Do you understand the general meaning of frequently used idiomatic expressions and common sayings?
• Can you participate appropriately in more complex social and professional situations?

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Self-Assessment Summary

If you answered “yes” to most A2 questions but “no” to most B1 questions: You are likely at A2 level.

If you answered “yes” to most B1 questions: You are likely at B1 level or approaching it.

If you answered “yes” to some questions in both categories: You may be in transition between A2 and B1, which is completely normal in language learning.

Remember that language ability can vary across different skills – you might be stronger in reading than speaking, for example. This assessment provides a general indication of your overall level.