It is possible to take tests from two grades consecutively on the same day, such as Grade Pre-1 (A.M.) and Grade 1 (P.M.), or Grade 3 (A.M.) and Grade Pre-2 (P.M.).
Furthermore, from 2025, examinees in Japan will be able to take the EIKEN test for the same grade twice in the same session (for details, please be sure to check the “Notice” (Japanese) and“Requirements for Taking the Test”(Japanese)).
A separate application is required for each grade.
- EIKEN (English)
- EIKEN Tests
- Administration
EIKEN test administration
Please note: EIKEN application forms and procedures are currently offered in Japanese only. The English information below is provided as an additional reference. To apply to take the EIKEN test, please visit our main website (requires Japanese).
Test dates:
2025-2026 academic year
| Summer Session 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application period |
Group applications: March 24-May 2 |
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| Test Dates | Stage | Test dates | Online pass/fail notification date | Arrival date of test results |
| First stage | May 23 Group test sites A | June 23 | July 1 | |
| May 24 Group test sites B | ||||
| May 25 Group test sites C | ||||
| May 30 Group test sites D | ||||
| May 31 Group test sites E | ||||
| June 1 Public test sites, Group test sites F |
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| Second stage | July 6 Public test sites A | July 15 | July 22 | |
| July 13 Public test sites B | July 22 | July 29 | ||
| Important notes |
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| Fall Session 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application period |
Group applications: July 1-September 5 |
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| Test Dates | Stage | Test dates | Online pass/fail notification date | Arrival date of test results |
| First stage | September 26 Group test sites A | October 27 | November 4 | |
| September 27 Group test sites B | ||||
| September 28 Group test sites C | ||||
| October 3 Group test sites D | ||||
| October 4 Group test sites E | ||||
| October 5 Public test sites, Group test sites F |
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| Second stage | November 9 Public test sites A | November 18 | November 25 | |
| November 16 Public test sites B | November 25 | December 2 | ||
| Important notes |
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| Winter Session 2026 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application period |
Group applications: October 31-December 15 |
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| Test Dates | Stage | Test dates | Online pass/fail notification date | Arrival date of test results |
| First stage | January 16 Group test sites A | February 16 | February 24 | |
| January 17 Group test sites B | ||||
| January 18 Group test sites C | ||||
| January 23 Group test sites D | ||||
| January 24 Group test sites E | ||||
| January 25 Public test sites, Group test sites F |
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| Second stage | March 1 Public test sites A | March 10 | March 17 | |
| March 8 Public test sites B | March 17 | March 24 | ||
| Important notes |
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Locations
EIKEN grades/dates offered depend on the type of test site, as follows:
First stage
| Type of test site | 1 | Pre-1 | 2 | Pre-2 Plus | Pre-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
| Group (A to F) | ‐ | ‐ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ |
Second stage
| Type of test site | 1* | Pre-1 | 2 | Pre-2 Plus | Pre-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ○ | ‐ | ‐ |
- *The second stage for Grade 1 is offered in Sapporo, Sendai, Yokohama, Tokyo, Niigata, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Naha; and internationally in Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York and London.
To qualify for the second stage (speaking test), an examinee must have passed the first stage of that grade within the past year.
Grade 4 and 5 Speaking Tests
The Grades 4 and 5 speaking tests are not face-to-face interviews. Instead, they are online speaking tests which can be accessed through a test website by computer, smartphone, or tablet at home or at school. For more details, please visit our Japanese site here.
Types of test sites
Public test sites (honkaijo)
Public test sites (honkaijo) are the approximately 400 official EIKEN test centers in 230 Japanese cities and in Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York and London. Public test sites offer both stages of all eight EIKEN grades, with the exception of the Grade 1 second stage which is offered in Sapporo, Sendai, Yokohama, Tokyo, Niigata, Nagoya, Kyoto, Osaka, Hiroshima, Fukuoka, and Naha; and internationally in Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York and London. Visit our main website for a full list of public test-site regions (requires Japanese).
Group test sites (junkaijo)
Group test sites (junkaijo) are the approximately 18,000 junior high schools, high schools, colleges, and other institutions in Japan that have been approved to administer the EIKEN test on an individual basis. These locations offer the first stage of grades 2, Pre-2 Plus, Pre-2, 3, 4, and 5. The test is generally available only to persons affiliated with the institution, such as registered students. Visit the Japanese website for detailed information about group test sites (requires Japanese).
International public test sites
Outside Japan, EIKEN is offered publicly in Honolulu, Los Angeles, New York and London. Each of these test sites has its own webpage with application instructions, maps, and other local information. Click here to learn more about the international test sites (requires Japanese).
International group test sites
Approximately 100 institutions in 48 countries outside Japan have been approved to administer the EIKEN test on an individual basis. The test is generally available only to persons affiliated with the institution, such as registered students. Test dates and EIKEN grades offered may differ according to location. Visit our main website for detailed information about group test sites (requires Japanese).
Fees
2025-2026 academic year
Fees are given in Japanese yen (tax inclusive).
| Test site | 1 | Pre-1 | 2 | Pre-2 Plus | Pre-2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | Stage 2 | ||||||||
| Group test sites | Public test sites | ― | ― | 6,900 | 6,400 | 6,100 | 5,000 | 2,900 | 2,500 |
| Public test sites | 12,500 | 10,500 | 9,100 | 8,700 | 8,500 | 6,900 | 4,700 | 4,100 | |
- ※Grades 1 and Pre-1 are administered at public test sites only. The second stage is not offered for Grades 4 and 5.
- ※The same fees apply to first-stage waivers.
Times
First stage
| Morning | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EIKEN Grade | Time test site opens : | Be seated by : | Time test begins : | Test ends at* : |
| Pre-1 | 8:40 | 9:20 | 10:00 | 12:05 |
| Pre-2 Plus | 8:50 | 9:30 | 10:10 | 12:05 |
| 3 | 9:05 | 9:45 | 10:25 | 12:00 |
| 5 | 9:30 | 9:55 | 10:35 | 11:25 |
| Afternoon | ||||
| EIKEN Grade | Time test site opens : | Be seated by : | Time test begins : | Test ends at* : |
| 1 | 12:40 | 13:20 | 14:00 | 16:20 |
| 2 | 12:50 | 13:30 | 14:10 | 16:05 |
| Pre-2 | 12:50 | 13:30 | 14:10 | 16:00 |
| 4 | 13:20 | 13:45 | 14:25 | 15:35 |
- *There is also a starting time from which examinees will be admitted to the test site. In order to prevent overcrowding, please do not come to the test site before this time.
Test administrations held on Friday and Saturday will have different times than the times above.(Times are decided at the discretion of each group)
Please contact the person in charge of Eiken for your group directly. - *Test ending times are approximate
Second stage
Time designated on examinee card
- Morning：Pre-1, Pre-2
- Afternoon：1, 2, Pre-2 Plus, 3
- *Grades 1 and 3 may be administered in the morning at some locations.
Terms and Conditions
Test takers agree to the following terms and conditions (as set forth in the “EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency Terms and Conditions” below) when applying to take the EIKEN Test. Please be sure to confirm the Test Terms and Conditions and other important matters for taking the EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency before applying.
Application procedures and instructions
There are no age, occupational, or educational restrictions or prerequisites for taking the EIKEN tests. Candidates are also free to attempt any grade they wish, regardless of what other grades they may have attempted previously. To take an EIKEN test, a candidate must submit an application form and pay the appropriate test fee in advance. Applications are only accepted during the application periods specified above. All official application forms and instructions are in Japanese.
Within Japan, there are several ways to apply. Click below to view detailed instructions for each method (provided in Japanese).
- * All application materials are free of charge.
Upon receipt of an application and payment, EIKEN administrators will determine an appropriate test site according to the examinee’s location and send confirmation and instructions no later than six days prior to the test date.
First-stage waiver
If an examinee passes the first stage of an EIKEN grade but fails or is unable to sit for the second stage, he or she is entitled to three additional attempts at the second stage without needing to re-take the first stage. This waiver is valid for one year (three testing sessions). For example, an examinee who passed the first stage of Grade Pre-1 in the 2010 Winter Session but failed the second stage may proceed directly to the second stage in the Summer 2010, Fall 2010, and Winter 2011 sessions.
To claim the waiver:
- 1.Apply for the test within the designated application period and pay the full fee for that grade.
- 2.On the appropriate section of the application form, enter the test session in which the first stage was passed and personal examinee number from that test session.
Double examination
Filling in the answer sheet
Pencils Only
Examinees should bring a pencil and eraser to the test site. Answer sheets must be filled in using an HB or mechanical pencil. Answer sheets completed in ballpoint pen, felt marker, or any writing instrument other than a pencil will not be graded.
Prior to test day, especially for very young examinees, it may be helpful to practice filling in the personal information section of the answer sheet. Click below to download samples in PDF format:
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Sample answer sheets for practice
(Public test sites) -
Sample answer sheets for practice
(Group test sites) -
Sample speaking test topic card
(Card shown is Grade Pre-2）
Adobe® Reader® is required to view PDF files.
This is a free program available from the Adobe website.
Delivery of test results
Pass/fail notification
After the first stage, examinees will receive pass/fail notification by postal mail no later than six days prior to the second stage test date.
Examinees who qualify for and complete the second stage will receive final pass/fail notification approximately two weeks after the test.
EIKEN Score Report
Examinees wishing to use their test results outside Japan for school admissions or visa purposes may order an EIKEN Score Report by contacting the EIKEN Study Abroad Information Center online or by calling (03) 3266-6839. There is a handling charge of 2,200 yen per report.
The report is a secure document with the applicant's name, address, phone number, photo identification, EIKEN examination date, and a breakdown of scores by test component. If the report is being used for admissions purposes, we will submit the document directly to the institution if so required.
Note to institutions outside Japan: Please do not accept score reporting methods other than the EIKEN Score Report described above. If you are unsure whether a report you have received is legitimate, please contact us.