Hiroshima Entrance English
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ExploreAbout this exam
The English component of Hiroshima University's general entrance examination is a university-set academic English test used in undergraduate admissions. It is written for Japanese high-school students and other applicants who need to demonstrate that they can read, analyse and produce English at the level required for lectures, seminars and assigned readings in a Japanese university setting. Because Hiroshima University is a national university, the English paper tends to reward careful reading over speed: long passages with detail and inference questions, vocabulary and usage judged in context, grammar and sentence-structure items, guided composition, and translation both ways between Japanese and English. Some faculties also use a listening section, and a few set integrated tasks such as summarising or reordering paragraphs. The exam is not a certificate like TOEIC or Eiken; results feed into the university's own selection decision, so the score that matters is relative to other applicants in the same faculty. Preparation should be built around past-paper practice released by the university, close reading of multi-paragraph argumentative texts, and regular timed writing with feedback. Confirm the current format, subject requirements and schedule for your intended faculty on the university's official admissions website, since these differ by faculty and change year to year.
What you'll study
About Hiroshima Entrance English preparation
What exactly is this English exam used for?
It is one part of Hiroshima University's own undergraduate selection, not a standalone certificate. Your English score is combined with other subjects and, depending on the faculty, with interview or essay components. It signals whether you can handle English-medium reading and writing tasks during your degree.
How long is the paper and how many questions are there?
The format varies by faculty and is revised periodically, so no fixed figure should be assumed. The official body publishes the current timetable and question structure in its entrance examination guidelines. Check the Hiroshima University admissions site for the year you are applying, and read the faculty-specific page rather than a general summary.
How hard is it compared with Eiken or TOEIC?
It is not scored on the same scale, so direct comparison is misleading. The reading passages are longer and more academic than typical Eiken Grade 2 material, and the translation and free-writing sections have no equivalent in TOEIC. Candidates who read English essays comfortably but write slowly usually find the productive sections the hardest.
Which section should I study first?
Start with reading, because it feeds everything else. Build vocabulary from the passages you actually read rather than from lists, then add grammar repair for the structures that trip you up. Once reading is stable, begin weekly timed writing and translation, since those improve only with repeated feedback.
Can I retake the exam if I do poorly?
Retaking means reapplying in a later admissions cycle; there is no separate resit of the English paper itself. Some candidates sit the exam again the following year after a gap year. The university's admissions office publishes rules on eligibility and on results from previous years, so confirm details there.
Why do strong students lose marks on the translation section?
Two common causes: translating word by word so the Japanese sounds unnatural, and dropping information that the source sentence carries implicitly. Examiners reward accurate meaning expressed naturally in the target language. Practise by translating short passages, then comparing your version with a model and noting what you lost.
How should I use past papers?
Do them under time pressure first, without a dictionary, then mark them honestly against the published answer keys. Spend more time analysing your errors than doing new papers. Group mistakes by type - vocabulary, inference, grammar, expression - and you will see which section deserves your next study block.
Is listening included for everyone?
No. Listening is used only by selected faculties, and some faculties weight it lightly or not at all. Check your target faculty's examination subjects before investing hours in listening practice. If it is required, practise with academic lectures and note-taking rather than short conversational clips.
What writing style does the composition section expect?
Clear, organised academic prose with an explicit position and supporting reasons. Short, accurate sentences beat ambitious ones with errors. Plan for two or three minutes before writing, leave time to reread for agreement and tense, and answer the actual prompt rather than a memorised essay template.
Where do I find official information and past papers?
The Hiroshima University admissions website publishes entrance examination guidelines, subject requirements and any past-paper releases. Your high school's guidance office often holds copies as well. Treat commercial prep books as supplements, and verify every format detail against the official site for your application year.