Blog
Tips, guides, and insights for English learners.
EIKEN Grade 1 Interview: Two Examiners, Ten Minutes
Grade 1 is the only EIKEN interview with two examiners, one a native English speaker and one a native Japanese speaker. That pairing is a design choice.
EIKEN Grade 4 and 5 Speaking: Optional, Certified
The two lowest EIKEN grades have no interview. Since 2016 they have a recorded speaking test instead, which you can fail and still pass the grade.
Why EIKEN Is Japan's National English Test, in Numbers
Roughly 18,000 approved institutions, six first stage dates, 4.2 million applicants and ministry benchmarks at three school stages. The scale is the argument.
EIKEN Past Papers Are Free, and the Board Says So
Every first stage EIKEN paper is released after the test, with audio, for every grade. The Foundation also warns about the books sold in shops.
EIKEN Pre-1 and Pre-2: Why the Ladder Has Half Steps
Three of the grades are Pre grades, and one of them is the ministry benchmark for English teachers. The half steps are where the ladder tells you the most.
How Many EIKEN Grades Are There, Seven or Eight
The Foundation's own pages give both answers. The table lists eight rows, one page says seven, and the likely reason is the newest grade.
EIKEN Speaking Test: You Have to Earn the Interview
The EIKEN speaking test is a second stage, and you only reach it by passing the first. A strong speaker who reads slowly never gets into the room.
EIKEN Test Dates 2026 to 2027 and the D, E, F Rule
The full published calendar, plus the line that decides everything for candidates outside Japan: international first stage dates are only D, E and F.
EIKEN vs IELTS: They Answer Different Questions
One is pass or fail on a grade, the other is a band you cannot fail. The only honest bridge between them is CEFR, and it is a loose one.
Who Actually Takes EIKEN: 4.2 Million, Mostly Children
The Foundation publishes the breakdown. University students are 1.3 percent of applicants, and primary age children outnumber them nearly ten to one.