EIKEN Grade 1 cheat sheet

EIKEN Grade 1 reading passages are typically 600–900 words and drawn from academic, journalistic, or literary sources; questions test inference, author's purpose, and tone rather than literal recall.

The reading section has a strict time limit (usually 70 minutes for the entire written test including writing); allocate roughly 45–50 minutes to reading and leave the rest for writing.

Question types: main idea, detail, inference, vocabulary in context, reference (what does 'it' refer to), and author's attitude; each requires locating specific evidence in the text.

For vocabulary-in-context items, the correct answer is the meaning that fits the surrounding sentence, not necessarily the most common dictionary definition.

When a question asks about the author's tone, look for evaluative adjectives and adverbs (e.g., 'surprisingly', 'regrettably', 'unfortunately') that signal stance.

Grade 1 passages often contain complex syntax (nominalizations, embedded clauses); practice parsing long sentences by identifying the main subject-verb-object before analyzing modifiers.

Distractor patterns: true statements not supported by the passage, overgeneralizations, and reversed cause-effect; eliminate options that cannot be traced to a specific line.

The reading section is scored on a scale; a common target for passing is around 70% overall, but reading accuracy above 75% strengthens the total score.

The Grade 1 writing task is an essay of 200–240 words on a given topic, usually an abstract social or personal issue (e.g., 'Should governments regulate artificial intelligence?').

Scoring criteria: content (relevance and development), structure (logical organization, paragraphing), vocabulary (range and precision), and grammar (accuracy and complexity).

A standard structure: introduction with a clear thesis, two body paragraphs each with a topic sentence and supporting example, and a conclusion that restates the position without new arguments.

Use cohesive devices (however, therefore, furthermore, in contrast) but avoid overuse; examiners penalize mechanical or repetitive transitions.

Word count matters: essays under 200 words lose content points; essays over 240 words risk being cut off and are not penalized directly but may contain more errors.

Grade 1 expects advanced grammar: conditionals, passive voice, relative clauses, and subjunctive; include at least two complex sentences per paragraph.

Avoid memorized templates; examiners are trained to spot formulaic introductions and may reduce content scores for lack of original development.

Time management: spend 5–8 minutes planning (outline and thesis), 20–25 minutes writing, and 5 minutes proofreading for subject-verb agreement and article errors.

The listening section is approximately 30 minutes and consists of four parts: Part 1 (short dialogues), Part 2 (longer conversations), Part 3 (monologues), and Part 4 (real-world announcements or lectures).

Questions are printed in the answer booklet; candidates hear each recording twice, so the first listen should focus on main idea and the second on specific details.

Part 1 tests understanding of short utterances and appropriate responses; common traps include similar-sounding words and idiomatic expressions.

Part 2 requires answering multiple questions about a single conversation; take notes on names, numbers, and relationships during the first listen.

Part 3 monologues often include academic or professional topics; identify the speaker's purpose (to inform, persuade, or warn) and the main conclusion.

Part 4 includes announcements and instructions; pay attention to sequence markers (first, then, finally) and conditional statements (if you...).

Distractors often repeat words from the recording but change the meaning; the correct answer paraphrases rather than copies.

Scoring: each correct answer is worth one point; the listening section contributes roughly 25% of the total written test score.

The Grade 1 speaking test is a face-to-face interview with one examiner and lasts about 10 minutes; it is conducted entirely in English.

The test has four stages: (1) greeting and warm-up questions, (2) reading a short passage aloud, (3) answering questions about the passage, and (4) discussing a topic card.

In the passage-reading stage, candidates read a 100–150 word text silently for one minute, then read it aloud; pronunciation, intonation, and fluency are assessed.

In the Q&A stage, examiners ask 3–5 questions about the passage; answers should be in complete sentences and supported by information from the text.

In the topic discussion stage, candidates receive a card with a statement (e.g., 'Some people think...') and must give an opinion with two reasons and examples.

Scoring criteria: pronunciation, fluency, vocabulary, grammar, and interaction (ability to respond appropriately and develop ideas).

A common error is giving one-word answers; aim for 2–3 sentences per response and use discourse markers to link ideas.

The speaking test is graded on a 4-point scale per criterion; a score of 3 or above in each area is generally required to pass.