Overview
Important
Our usual process reads official pages directly. For this file, eiken.or.jp could not be reached from our research tools, so every fact below is corroborated from search-indexed copies of the official pages rather than a direct, verified connection. Confirm details on the official EIKEN site before relying on them.
Eiken, formally the Test in Practical English Proficiency (実用英語技能検定), is run by the Eiken Foundation of Japan. It is one of the most widely taken English tests in Japan, with over 2 million examinees a year across roughly 18,000 test sites, and it has been held since 1963.
Eiken is not one exam but seven separate grades of increasing difficulty: 5, 4, 3, Pre-2, 2, Pre-1 and 1. Each grade is scored and certified on its own; candidates choose the grade that fits their level rather than progressing through a single combined scale. Grades 3 and above are held in two stages: Stage 1 is a written test of Reading, Listening and Writing, and Stage 2, taken only by those who pass Stage 1, is a face-to-face Speaking interview. Grades 4 and 5 have Stage 1 only (Reading and Listening), with no Speaking stage.
Who can apply
Eiken has no age, nationality, education or occupation requirement, and candidates do not need to pass a lower grade before attempting a higher one. In practice, the overwhelming majority of candidates are Japanese schoolchildren: junior high and high school teachers widely encourage students to sit specific grades as part of English study, and many Japanese universities and high schools use Eiken grades for admissions points, credit or English-requirement waivers. Some professionals and adult learners in Japan also take Eiken grades for job or study purposes, and a smaller number of candidates sit it at a handful of international test sites outside Japan.
Grades
Grade 5
The entry grade, aimed mainly at first-year junior high school students. It checks understanding of basic words, phrases and simple sentences. Stage 1 only: a Reading and Writing section (about 25 minutes, with gap-fill and word-reordering items) and a Listening section (about 20 minutes, with short dialogue questions and picture-matching items). There is no composition task and no Speaking stage.
Grade 4
Aimed at students a step above Grade 5. Stage 1 only: Reading and Writing (about 35 minutes, with sentence completion, word reordering and comprehension questions on short notices, letters and passages) and Listening (about 30 minutes, with conversation and short-passage questions). No composition task and no Speaking stage.
Grade 3
The first grade with all three Stage 1 skills plus an interview. Stage 1 (Reading, Listening and Writing together, about 65 minutes for Reading/Writing and about 25 minutes for Listening) adds a short composition. Stage 2 is a roughly 5-minute face-to-face interview: candidates silently read a short passage, read it aloud, and answer questions about it and about themselves. Reported as roughly equivalent to CEFR A1.
Grade Pre-2
A step between Grade 3 and Grade 2, aimed at the general-life English of a second-year high school student. Stage 1: Reading and Writing (about 80 minutes) and Listening (about 25 minutes), including a composition task. Stage 2: a roughly 6-minute interview with one examiner.
Grade 2
Aimed at high-school-graduate level general English. Stage 1 (Reading and Writing about 85 minutes, Listening about 25 minutes) includes sentence completion, gap-fill passages, comprehension questions, a short English summary (45-55 words) and a composition (80-100 words). Stage 2 is a roughly 7-minute interview. Reported as roughly equivalent to CEFR B1.
Grade Pre-1
Aimed mainly at university students; useful for college and university applications and for credit recognition in Japan. Stage 1: Reading and Writing (about 90 minutes) and Listening (about 30 minutes). Stage 2 is a roughly 8-minute interview with one examiner. Reported as roughly equivalent to CEFR B2.
Grade 1
The top grade, intended for advanced, near-native general use of English. Stage 1 (Reading and Writing about 100 minutes, Listening about 35 minutes) includes sentence completion, comprehension questions on longer passages, a longer summary task (90-110 words), a composition (200-240 words), and listening sections covering dialogues, monologues, real-life announcements and a long interview. Stage 2 is a longer face-to-face interview than the lower grades, including a short prepared speech on a given topic followed by interactive questions. Reported as roughly equivalent to CEFR C1.
Exam pattern
| Grade | Stage 1 skills | Stage 1 time (approx.) | Composition | Stage 2 (Speaking) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 | Reading, Listening | R&W 25 min, L 20 min | No | None |
| 4 | Reading, Listening | R&W 35 min, L 30 min | No | None |
| 3 | Reading, Listening, Writing | R&W 65 min, L 25 min | Yes (short) | ~5 min interview |
| Pre-2 | Reading, Listening, Writing | R&W 80 min, L 25 min | Yes | ~6 min interview |
| 2 | Reading, Listening, Writing | R&W 85 min, L 25 min | Yes (80-100 words) | ~7 min interview |
| Pre-1 | Reading, Listening, Writing | R&W 90 min, L 30 min | Yes | ~8 min interview |
| 1 | Reading, Listening, Writing | R&W 100 min, L 35 min | Yes (200-240 words) | Longer interview with a short speech |
Marking and results
Eiken scores each skill on its own Common Scale for English (CSE), a scale the Eiken Foundation uses across all grades. For Grade 3 and above, Stage 1 (Reading, Listening, Writing) and Stage 2 (Speaking) are marked and passed separately, each against its own CSE cut-off score set by the Foundation for that grade; passing Stage 1 is required before a candidate may sit Stage 2. Grades 4 and 5 have only Stage 1, marked on combined Reading and Listening. Reported pass/fail cut-offs can shift slightly between sessions, so check the official grade pages for the current line.
Certificates for Grade Pre-1 and Grade 1 do not expire. Across grades, Eiken scores are generally treated as valid for 2 years by institutions that ask for them for admissions or credit.
Important dates
Eiken runs three test sessions a year, each with its own Stage 1 (written) window and a later Stage 2 (interview) window for candidates who passed Stage 1, with the exact dates differing slightly by test-site group and grade:
First session: Stage 1 around late May-mid June 2026; Stage 2 around early-mid July 2026.
Second session: Stage 1 around late September-early October 2026 (reported dates include 25 September-4 October 2026 by test-site group); Stage 2 around 8 and 15 November 2026.
Third session: Stage 1 around mid January-early February 2027; Stage 2 around mid February-early March 2027.
Important
Confirm exact 2026 dates for your grade and test-site group on the official EIKEN test administration page before registering.
Fees
Reported individual application fees for 2026, in Japanese yen, vary by grade and by whether the candidate applies through a school/group or individually at a public test site:
| Grade | Fee (JPY, 2026, approx.) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 12,400 |
| Pre-1 | 10,400 |
| 2 | 9,000 |
| Pre-2 | 8,400 |
| 3 | 6,800 |
| 4 | 4,600 |
| 5 | 4,000 |
Fees can differ slightly by application method and test-site type, and the Foundation updates them from time to time. Confirm the current fee for your grade and application route on the official site before paying.
How to apply
Choose a grade based on your current English level; there is no requirement to start at Grade 5.
Apply by one of three routes: through a school or company acting as a group test site, individually online with a credit card (or via convenience-store or bank payment), or through a participating bookstore.
After payment, Eiken assigns a test site near the candidate's chosen location and sends test-site and seat details before the test date.
Candidates who pass Stage 1 are notified and register for the Stage 2 interview, held at an assigned venue a few weeks later.
Eiken's application forms and most guidance are in Japanese; test-takers outside Japan can sit the test at a small number of international sites, including Honolulu, New York, Los Angeles and London.
Preparation tips
Pick the grade that matches your current level rather than the highest one you can attempt; Eiken is pass/fail per grade, and lower grades build toward the vocabulary and structures tested at higher ones.
Grade 3 and above all include a composition and an interview, so practise timed writing and speaking aloud, not only reading and listening.
For Grade 1 and Pre-1, practise summarising long passages and giving short structured answers under time pressure; these sections carry a large share of the Stage 1 marks.
Since Stage 2 only happens after passing Stage 1, treat the two stages as separate study goals with separate timelines.
FAQs
Do I have to start from Grade 5 and work up?
No. There is no requirement to pass a lower grade first. Choose the grade that matches your current English level.
Which grades include a Speaking test?
Grade 3 and above (Grade 3, Pre-2, Grade 2, Pre-1 and Grade 1) each have a Stage 2 face-to-face Speaking interview, taken only after passing the Stage 1 written test. Grades 4 and 5 have no Speaking stage.
How often is Eiken held, and where?
Three times a year, at test sites across Japan (roughly 18,000 of them) and at a few international sites, including Honolulu, New York, Los Angeles and London.
Who actually takes Eiken?
Mostly school students in Japan. Junior high and high school teachers commonly have students sit specific grades, and many Japanese universities and high schools give admissions points, credit or requirement waivers for particular Eiken grades. Some adult learners and professionals in Japan also take it.