How EIKEN results are used

 

Japan 

 

As Japan’s most popular and widely administered English qualification for nearly fifty years, EIKEN is recognized for a broad range of educational and professional uses, including:

 

  • For admissions and course credit at over 2,500 high schools, colleges, and universities
  • By all 47 prefectural boards of education, which directly operate Japan’s public high schools
  • By the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, Technology (MEXT) as benchmarks for junior high school and high school graduates
  • By employers and agencies nationwide as evidence of communicative English ability for the workplace.

 

> See Japanese institutions recognizing EIKEN (requires Japanese)

 

 

Internationally

 

EIKEN results are accepted as evidence of English proficiency at more than 350 colleges and universities in the United States, Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom; at Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes in the Australian states of New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria, and Tasmania; and at all 300 state high schools in New South Wales.

 

> See international institutions recognizing EIKEN

 

> Recognize EIKEN at your institution

 

 

 

Why recognize EIKEN?

Four key questions

 

 

 

1. How is EIKEN similar to the English tests you already recognize?

 

  • Rigorous assessment of the four skills

  • Face-to-face speaking test

  • Widely administered for more than 40 years

  • Secure administration and score reporting

 

 

2. How is EIKEN different?

 

  • Available at hundreds more locations in Japan than other tests

  • Offered at less than half the cost of other tests

  • More familiar to Japanese students (80 million have taken EIKEN since 1963)

  • Provides international institutions with valuable, cost-free marketing access to Japanese schools, students, parents, study-abroad agents, and the Japanese public.

 

 

3. Which EIKEN levels correspond to your English-proficiency requirements?

 

 

EIKEN Grade

CEFR comparison

TOEFL® score

comparison

Typical use for admissions

PBT

iBT

1

C1

600

100

Graduate and undergraduate degree programs

Pre-1

B2

550

80

Graduate and undergraduate degree programs, diploma courses, and foundation studies

2A

B1+

500

61

2

B1

450

45

Conditional admission and ESL

Pre-2

A2

400

32

 

TOEFL® is a registered trademark of Educational Testing Service (ETS), Inc. This website is not endorsed or approved by ETS.

 

> Learn more about the EIKEN grades

 

 

 

4. What steps are involved in recognizing EIKEN?

 

When you have determined the EIKEN level(s) that best meet your admission requirements, simply complete this form.     

 

 

Promotional benefits for schools

 

Overseas institutions* recognizing EIKEN receive free publicity in Japan:

 

 www.eiken.or.jp

 

An updated list of schools that accept EIKEN test results for admissions. See the U.S. list.

 

 

A web profile page for each school, in Japanese, including a brief introduction, photos, logo, statistics such as international student enrollment, and a direct link to the school’s homepage. See the University of Hawaii Hilo profile (requires Japanese).

 

 

Online articles about selected schools, such as interviews with international student administrators or students who enrolled using EIKEN results.

 

Print media

 

A study-abroad guidebook featuring the school list and articles about selected institutions is distributed to every high school and study-abroad agency in Japan, and to every attendee at most major study-abroad fairs and embassy events. Approximately 50,000 copies are distributed annually.

 

 

General information about EIKEN as a study-abroad qualification, with links to the above online features, appear in the test application materials read by millions of examinees, teachers, and parents.

 


*To be included in listings or profiles, institutions should meet the following criteria:

 

 

1. Accept EIKEN results as satisfying the English-proficiency requirement for international admission to credit-bearing courses and degree programs. Language schools or institutions without English-proficiency requirements are encouraged to use EIKEN results as a reference but generally will not be listed as recognizing EIKEN for admissions.

 

 

2. Be accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting body. For example, U.S. schools should be listed in the CHEA database or U.S. Department of Education Database of Accredited Postsecondary Institutions and Programs.

 

 

3. Agree to clearly specify their EIKEN admission requirement(s) online in a timely manner.

 
STEP reserves the right to not list, or to remove from the list, institutions that do not meet these criteria or are otherwise deemed inappropriate. Publicity through the STEP website and printed materials is offered free of charge and at the discretion of STEP. Conditions are subject to change without notice. Thank you for your understanding.

 

 

Go to Recognition Form