The Eiken Test
Eiken (実用英語技能検定; Jitsuyō Eigo Ginō Kentei), formally known as the Eiken Test in Practical English Proficiency, is Japan's most widely used English proficiency examination. It is administered by the Eiken Foundation of Japan (日本英語検定協会; Nihon Eigo Kentei Kyokai), a public interest foundation established in 1963 and supported by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT).
Eiken is commonly used in Japanese elementary schools, junior high schools, high schools, and universities as a benchmark of English ability.
Exams are held three times per year in Japan.
Grades
| Eiken Grade | CEFR Comparison |
Example of recognition/use |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | C1 | International admissions to graduate and undergraduate programs; MEXT benchmark for English instructors (Pre-1) |
| Pre-1 | B2 | |
| 2 | B1 | MEXT benchmarks for high school graduates |
| Pre-2 Plus | A2 | |
| Pre-2 | A2 | |
| 3 | A1 | MEXT benchmark for junior high school graduates |
| 4 | - | |
| 5 | ||
| 6 | scheduled to be introduced from the third Eiken test session in 2026 [1] | |
| 7 | ||
Test sessions
The Eiken test is offered three times per year.
| Session | Applications | Stage 1 | Stage 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Early April ~ Early May | Late May ~ Mid June | Early ~ Mid July |
| 2nd | Early August ~ Early September | Late September ~ Mid October | Early ~ Mid November |
| 3rd | Early November ~ Mid December | Mid January ~ Early February | Mid February ~ Early March |
Test Lengths
| Grade | Stage 1 | Stage 2 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading & Writing | Listening | Speaking | |
| Grade 1 | 100 minutes | approx. 37 minutes | approx. 10 minutes |
| Pre-1 | 90 minutes | approx. 31 minutes | approx. 8 minutes |
| Grade 2 | 85 minutes | approx. 25 minutes | approx. 7 minutes |
| Pre-2 Plus | 85 minutes | approx. 24 minutes | approx. 7 minutes |
| Pre-2 | 80 minutes | approx. 24 minutes | approx. 6 minutes |
| Grade 3 | 65 minutes | approx. 26 minutes | approx. 5 minutes |
| Grade 4 | 35 minutes | approx. 30 minutes | — |
| Grade 5 | 25 minutes | approx. 22 minutes | — |
Stage 2 (Speaking) applies to Grade 3 and above.
Test Structure
For Grade 3 and above, Eiken exams are divided into two stages:
Stage 1
- Reading
- Listening
- Writing
Stage 2
- Speaking interview
Grades 4 and 5 consist of a single written/listening test. Some levels now also offer computer-based testing (CBT), though the traditional paper test remains common in schools.
Speaking Test (Interview)
From Grade 3 upward, students must pass a face-to-face (or online) speaking interview.
The interview typically includes:
- Reading aloud
- Answering questions about a short text or picture
- Responding to simple opinion or situational questions (higher grades)
Grade 3 Speaking Test
Grade 3 is the first Eiken test to include a speaking test. The students are given a card with a passage and a picture on it. The students are given 20 seconds to read the passage silently, and then they are asked to read the passage aloud. Then they will be asked 5 questions. Usually 1 question is about the passage, 2 are about the picture, and 2 are general questions not related to the card.
A total of 33 points can be gained from this test. 5 points for reading, 25 for Q&A, and 3 for the students attitude.
The pass level is from 19~33 points.
See also
- Eiken Foundation of Japan
- Past tests
- Past-Question Explanation Course (In Japanese)
- English Conversation Points (Usable as practice for the interview section of the Eiken)
- ↑ "【速報】英検6級・7級はコンピューターまたはタブレットを用いたオンライン受験を取り入れる予定" (PDF). Eiken. 2025-12-26. Retrieved 2026-01-13.
