Approximately 700,000 face-to-face EIKEN speaking tests are conducted each year.
Level comparison
Level description
Can understand and use simple words, phrases, and short sentences.
Overview of test structure
Grade 4
|
First stage |
Skill area |
Task |
Format |
Items |
Response type |
Time allotted |
Notes |
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|
Reading |
Sentence completion |
15 short texts (one or two sentences/dialogues) from which one word or phrase has been omitted |
15 |
Multiple-choice (Four printed options) |
35 minutes |
Weighting Items are worth 1 point each. |
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|
Gap fill in dialogues |
5 short texts (dialogues) from which one or two phrases have been omitted |
5 |
Pass/fail cutoff Approximately 60% of total possible test score |
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|
Q&A based on passages |
Poster, advertisement, or memo |
2 |
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|
Letter or e-mail |
3 |
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|
Passage |
5 |
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|
Writing |
Word reordering |
A sentence is provided from which five words have been removed and are scrambled. Examinees reorder the words to complete the sentence. A Japanese translation of the sentence is also provided. |
5 |
After putting words into correct order, examinees indicate which words should appear in 2nd and 4th positions.
|
Topics Family, friends, school, hobbies, travel, shopping, sports, movies, music, food, weather, giving directions, introducing oneself, plans for a holiday, one’s recent activities, foreign cultures, etc. |
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|
Listening |
Conversation completion |
Examinees listen to short conversations and choose the best response to complete the last turn of the conversation. All conversations are heard twice. An illustration provides contextual information about the situation.
|
10 |
Multiple-choice (Three recorded options) |
25 minutes |
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|
Q&A based on dialogues |
10 recorded conversations followed by questions. All conversations are heard twice. |
10 |
Multiple-choice (Four printed options) |
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|
Q&A based on monologues |
10 recorded stories or explanations followed by questions. All stories/explanations are heard twice. |
10 |
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The Second Stage is not administered for Grade 4. |
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Summary of Can-do statements
Below are summaries of the main features of the tasks and activities that typical Grade 4 certificate holders feel confident about performing in English in real-life language-use situations.
|
Reading |
Can understand simple texts, signs, and notices. |
|
Listening |
Can understand simply constructed sentences and simple instructions. |
|
Speaking |
Can produce speech and ask questions using simply constructed sentences. |
|
Writing |
Can write simply constructed sentences and messages. |
Download the complete EIKEN Can-do List in English or Japanese
Examinee statistics
Grade 4
|
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
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|
Applied |
440,310 |
Applied |
449,223 |
Applied |
441,287 |
|
Passed |
311,453 |
Passed |
320,525 |
Passed |
308,455 |