EIKEN Grade 2
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EIKEN Grade 2 is the mid-level credential in the Eiken Foundation of Japan's seven-grade framework, positioned one step above Grade Pre-2. The foundation describes it as incorporating the knowledge and applied skills acquired up to Grade Pre-2 across a wide variety of real-life situations, and it is aimed at Japanese high school graduates who can use English in social, professional, and educational settings. Certification is commonly used for post-secondary applications and academic credit, and is widely accepted as proof of general English ability for study or work abroad. The test has two stages. Stage 1 combines Reading and Writing in an 85-minute paper with a Listening section of approximately 25 minutes; the reading tasks move from short sentence-completion items to gap-fill passages and passage-based questions, while the writing section asks for a 45-55 word summary and an 80-100 word essay on a given topic. Stage 2 is an interview-format speaking test of roughly seven minutes with one examiner, covering reading aloud, questions on a passage, narration of a three-panel illustration, and opinion questions. Preparation should be built around timed reading practice, regular summary and essay writing with feedback, and recorded listening and speaking drills.
What you'll study
About EIKEN Grade 2 preparation
What does the Grade 2 test actually contain?
Stage 1 has Reading, Writing, and Listening. Reading uses sentence completion, gap fill, and passage questions; Writing asks for a 45-55 word summary and an 80-100 word composition; Listening has 15 dialogue and 15 monologue questions. Stage 2 is an interview-format speaking test of about seven minutes.
How long is the exam and how is the time split?
The first-stage Reading and Writing paper is 85 minutes, and Listening takes approximately 25 minutes on top of that. The second-stage interview is approximately seven minutes, including 20 seconds of silent preparation before reading aloud and again before narrating the illustration.
What is Grade 2A and do I need to worry about it?
Grade 2A designates an examinee who passes Grade 2 with a minimum EIKEN CSE score of 2150, placing them between Grades 2 and Pre-1. It is used mainly for admissions outside Japan and does not appear on pass/fail certificates sent to examinees within Japan, so most domestic candidates can ignore it.
How difficult is Grade 2 compared with Pre-2?
The foundation frames Grade 2 as incorporating skills acquired up to Pre-2 and applying them in a wide variety of real-life situations, with a level aimed at high school graduates. Expect longer expository reading, an added writing section, and speaking tasks that require narration and opinion, not just short answers.
How should I order my study?
Start with vocabulary and reading speed, since the reading section is the largest time consumer. Add summary writing early because it forces close reading, then move to timed 80-100 word essays. Run listening practice in the background, and rehearse the interview tasks aloud so the 20-second preparation windows feel routine.
Where do candidates most often lose marks?
Common problems are running out of time in reading, writing summaries that copy sentences instead of condensing them, and essays that drift off the prompt. In the interview, candidates lose marks by giving one-line answers rather than engaging actively, and by weak pronunciation or grammar under pressure.
Can I retake the test, and does my score expire?
The source material provided here does not state a retake policy or a validity period, so check the current Eiken Foundation of Japan guidance before relying on either. Treat these as open questions rather than assuming a rule.
What English level does Grade 2 roughly correspond to?
The foundation's comparison table places Grade 2 at CEFR B1, alongside an EIKEN CSE score of 1980, a TEAP score of 226, and TOEFL scores of 450 (PBT) and 45 (iBT). Grade 2A sits higher, at B1+ with a CSE score of 2150.
What does the speaking test involve?
One examiner runs a roughly seven-minute interview. You read a short passage aloud after 20 seconds of silent preparation, answer questions on its content, narrate a three-panel illustration after another 20 seconds, then answer opinion questions on trends or issues related to the topic and on everyday life.