Our objective is to support English education for children through test development. We hope to foster children who:

• are familiar with and have an interest in the English language

• enjoy actively taking part in English communication

• are aware that English can be used as a tool for communication with people from all over the world

• understand various lifestyles and cultures around the world, and strive to become internationally-minded individuals with a broad outlook on life.

Jidō Eiken aims to promote these goals and support children who are learning English.

The goal of Jidō Eiken is to determine the examinee’s listening ability, which is said to be essential for children in the early stages of learning. In most sections, the examinees listen to English vocabulary/phrases, dialogs or sentences, and then choose the illustration (answer) that corresponds to what they have heard. SILVER and GOLD grades contain sections in which the answer choices are not illustrations but are written out as a bridge to further studies.

Children have a strong interest in self-expression. Jidō Eiken has developed a subjective section called the Challenge Corner. This new format motivates children to actively take part in the test.

The main objectives of introducing foreign language activities into elementary schools are to develop a positive attitude in children to communicate with others, to accustom children to sounds and basic expressions of a foreign language, and to provide children with a deeper understanding of a language and culture. Jidō Eiken takes these objectives into consideration when developing the test, especially for the BRONZE level. This grade consists of very basic content and simple formats so that elementary school students who are new to English can easily take the test.

Jidō Eiken is taken by children who study English in different environments. The test is administrated nationwide, thus the score data compiled from these tests is highly objective. Each personal Report Card shows the child’s score relative to other examinees of the same age and who have been studying English for the same number of years. Report Cards also give an easy to understand explanation of the score and advice about studying English.

Please contact the Jidō Eiken Information Center (tel. 03-3266-6463) for any questions (in Japanese).
* Please be advised that the information given by the Jidō Eiken Information Center and all printed matters are in Japanese.
1. Request “application for group registration” by fax or post card.
2. An application will be sent to the requested address.
3. Complete and submit application form before the deadline presented below.
4. Processing of application
5. A “Group Number” will be issued to authorized groups, and a “Registered for Group Test Site” sticker will be sent.
6. From then on, application forms will be sent automatically for every session.

Deadline for group registration is 10 days before the final day of the test registration period. For example:

Test registration dates: May 1 (Fri) - June 5 (Fri)

Deadline for group registration: May 26 (Tue)

*Jidō Eiken only. Rules and procedures differ for EIKEN group test sites.

Answer: Jidō Eiken was developed in 1994 by the Eiken Foundation of Japan (formerly STEP, Inc.). The first test was administered in January 1994. Initially, the test was administered to registered groups only, but in 2001, the test was administered at public test sites due to the growing demand of individual English learners. Presently, there are public test sites in Tokyo, Nagoya, and Osaka. It is administered 3 times annually, usually in February, June, and October. As of 2008, the number of students who had taken the test totaled 1,103,714. On our 10th anniversary, which was in 2003, substantial modification was made to Jidō Eiken with the objective to develop a “more fun, appropriate and easy-to-take test”. The names of the grades were changed from 3rd, 2nd and 1st grade to BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD. An increasing number of elementary schools are utilizing Jidō Eiken as a subjective assessment program and to increase motivation for learning in connection with the introduction of foreign language activities in the elementary school curriculum beginning in 2002.

Answer:  Jidō Eiken and EIKEN are different tests. For example, the introductory level in EIKEN is the Grade 5 test. It consists of basic junior high school level questions, corresponding to English curriculum provided in junior high schools. Listening comprehension formulates 50% of the score, and the other 50% tests grammar, reading comprehension and sentence formation. Reading skills are essential to answer the questions. The method of testing and its areas of testing differ, but they are similar in that they both measure English communication competence.

Answer:  The aim of Jidō Eiken is to motivate children to enjoy English. The tests have no pass/fail line. Instead, Jidō Eiken encourages examinees to progress to the next grade (goal) by issuing English CERTIFICATES to every examinee, giving praise and advice, focusing on appropriate listening comprehension, using illustrations, etc., so that children can take the test enthusiastically without attaching a score to it. Jidō Eiken will motivate English learners and will also serve as motivation for future English learning.

Answer:  Yes. Jidō Eiken consists of different questions each time, and vocabulary and expressions are kept at a consistent level for every test. Therefore, examinees can take the same grade again, but the test items will be different. We began development of Jidō Eiken keeping in mind methods for motivating children who want to learn English. The test consists of full-color illustrations, quizzes and games so that children will have fun, feel a desire to learn more English and to want to take the test again. We feel that the structure of Jidō Eiken, which is to solve interesting problems and provide children with sense of accomplishment, is an effective way to maintain children’s curiosity about learning English.