This Sunday, I'm going to take the EIKEN grade 1 examination. I have to practice for the writing test, so I will compose today's blog in English.
Today, I'll explain the EIKEN grade 1 examination. EIKEN exam has four tests and several small parts in those tests. On the first day, examinees take three tests which are reading, writing, and listening. Those who pass the first day can take the second day for speaking test. If you pass the second day, you can be given the certification for the EIKEN grade 1. Usually, the second day is fixed about a month after the first day.
In the reading test, three part are prepared. In the first part, there are about 20 questions for vocaburary. A sentence or a passage with one blank is printed, and test-taker must choose one word or one phrase from four options. However, those options are consist of words that Japanese people might never use in daily lives. In the past exam I took, I met a lot of words and phrases I had never seen. I have never got the point over the probability of random answer.
In the writing test, we must make answers for two questions. First one is to make a summary for the short sentense with three paragraphs. Second one is to write the essay for the topic given in the test paper. Actually, the format of the test was changed in April 2024. Before that, summarise question did not exist. There is no idea which is more difficult, but it is an unquestionable fact that both of them are difficult, at least for me.
Listening test has four parts, which is consist of dialogues, passages, real-life and interview. Each passage and question are given only once. It means that we cannot choose the correct answer if we miss the text announced. Moreover, we have 10 seconds to mark our answer on our answer sheet, but it is so short that I can't read choises and select one. Needless to say, questions are as difficult as the other test.
I have never been to the second day test, but I heard that we must keep speaking for two minutes, about the question presented. It might be impossible for me because I don't use English for about three and a half years in daily lives. If I pass the first day this time, I will write about the speaking test in other post.
Today, I wrote about the form of EIKEN exam and my impressions. Now you know how poor my vocabrary is and why I haven't passed the exam yet. If you find any mistakes of this page, please contact me in any way. I'll do my best at that time on Sunday. See you again on Monday.
