EIKEN flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Eiken grade scale

Eiken grades run from 5, the easiest, to 1, the hardest. Grade 2 is widely used for university entrance, and grade 1 preliminary sits between grades 2 and 1.

Paraphrase recognition question

A reading item where the correct option restates a passage idea in different words, while wrong options repeat the passage's exact wording without matching its meaning.

Chart and graph item

A grade 2 reading question that presents data and asks for one value, comparison, or trend; the answer must be read directly from the figures, not inferred from the passage.

Main-idea versus detail option

In summary questions, the correct option covers the entire passage; an option that is factually true but addresses only one paragraph is a distractor.

Pronoun reference resolution

A reading item asking what it, they, or this refers to; the answer is the nearest preceding noun phrase that agrees in number and fits the logic of the sentence.

Topic-sentence skimming

Reading only the first sentence of each paragraph to map the passage structure before scanning for question keywords; it reduces total reading time on long passages.

Part-of-speech elimination

A vocabulary strategy in which options whose grammatical form does not fit the blank, such as a noun where a verb is needed, are removed before meaning is considered.

Contrast signal words

Words such as but, however, actually, and instead that mark a change in direction; in Eiken reading and listening, the answer often follows these markers.

Eiken listening section structure

At grades 1 and 2, listening has four parts: short dialogues with a picture, short dialogues without a picture, longer passages, and a final section read twice with two questions.

Twice-read final section

The last listening section is played twice; the first reading supports the main-idea question and the second supports the detail question, so both should be answered in order.

Number and time distractors

Listening items often state a wrong number or time first and the correct one later; the last number heard is not automatically the answer, so the full exchange must be tracked.

Repeated-word trap

A listening distractor that echoes words from the audio; the correct option usually expresses the same meaning with a synonym or paraphrase instead.

Picture-item action focus

In picture-based listening questions, wrong options typically name the right object but the wrong action or location, so the verb and place must be checked.

Pre-reading question options

Reading the printed question and options during the pause before the audio plays, which allows the listener to anticipate the vocabulary and focus attention.

Speaker endorsement rule

When two options are both mentioned, the correct one is the option the speaker accepts or recommends; the other is usually negated or attributed to someone else.

Grade 1 listening topics

Grade 1 monologues include academic lectures and news reports with abstract vocabulary, while grade 2 focuses on everyday situations such as travel, shopping, and school.

Grade 2 writing length

Grade 2 composition requires 80 to 100 words in about 25 minutes on a given topic, usually stating an opinion with supporting reasons.

Grade 1 essay length

Grade 1 writing requires about 200 words in roughly 40 minutes and is scored on content, structure, vocabulary, and grammar.

Given-points requirement

At grades 1 preliminary and 1, the prompt supplies three or four points and the response must use at least two of them, each developed into an explained reason.

Grade 2 composition frame

State the opinion, give two reasons each with an example, then close with a one-sentence conclusion; this structure satisfies the content and organization criteria.

Word-limit range rule

The stated word count is a range, not a ceiling; writing far below the lower bound, such as under 60 words at grade 2, loses content and structure points.

Counterargument paragraph

A paragraph at grade 1 that acknowledges the opposing view before rebutting it; without it, an essay cannot reach the top structure band.

Common grammar deductions

Recurring point losses in Eiken writing come from subject-verb agreement, article use, tense consistency, and plural forms, which are checked before advanced vocabulary is rewarded.

Thesis statement placement

At grade 1, the opinion must appear in the first paragraph; an essay that reveals its position only at the end loses structure credit.

Grade 2 speaking format

A roughly seven-minute interview: reading a passage aloud, answering three questions on it, describing a picture, then answering two opinion questions.

Reading-aloud scoring

Reading aloud is judged on pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation; a flat word-by-word delivery loses more than a single mispronounced word.

Picture description tense

The picture task requires present continuous to describe what people are doing and where; narrating the picture in past tense is a common error.

Opinion answer formula

For grade 2 opinion questions, give a direct answer, one reason, and one example or detail; a bare yes or no with no reason earns no content credit.

Asking for repetition

In grade 1 speaking, a candidate may ask the examiner to repeat a question once without penalty; this is better than guessing at an unheard question.

Four-panel story narration

A grade 1 preliminary task requiring a past-tense narration of four pictures linked with then, after that, and finally to show sequence.

Grade 1 preliminary topic card

A speaking task with one minute of preparation and a two-minute speech; preparation should yield three keyword points: opinion, reason, and example.

Pronunciation priority targets

Examiners notice final consonants, -ed endings, and stress placement in long words such as development and environment, so these should be practiced deliberately.