The biggest names in English testing and level checking in Japan are Eiken and TOEIC for after high school. Taking the Eiken test for the first time can be extremely nerve racking.
The Eiken levels are 5, 4, 3, Pre-2, 2, Pre-1, and 1; with 5 being the easiest. Each level seems to almost double in difficulty compared to the previous one. Being able to pass all of the tests requires a lot of vocabulary, so you must be willing to do a good amount of self study with flashcards.
On top of that, from level 3 there is an interview where you are required to speak and answer questions in English. All of these things together put a lot of pressure on the students. I try my best to teach my students how to relax and have fun with the test. However, one of the best ways to feel more comfortable with Eiken testing is to start early.
That is where Eiken Jr. comes in. Eiken Jr. is meant for elementary students and sometimes even preschool students. It is divided into three levels; Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The test itself is very friendly looking and colorful. It is a completely listening based test. The student just needs to draw a circle in a box to mark their answer.
Starting testing at an early age really helps boost confidence. One of the best things about Eiken Jr. is that no matter your score you still receive a certificate. Getting a score over 80% means you are ready to take the next level.
Because of COVID, our school was unable to do in-person testing for the past two years. That required the students to take the online version of the test. Online is good, but taking the actual paper version of the test helps the students get used to the feeling of a testing environment.
Now that COVID has died down a bit in Tokyo, we will be holding the Eiken Jr. test on January 30th, 2022 at our school! The sign-up deadline is January 8th, 2022.
For more information, check out the Eiken Jr. Official Site or email us directly.
