Grade 3 builds upon the foundational skills from Grades 5 and 4, expanding learners’ ability to understand and express themselves in everyday English. This level is aimed at Japanese junior high school graduates. Examinees are expected to be able to understand and use language concerning familiar, everyday topics, such as likes and dislikes, and basic personal and family information. In order to accurately measure examinees’ speaking ability, an interview test is included from Grade 3 onward. The examination consists of Stage 1 (a written examination including a listening section) and Stage 2 (an interview-format speaking test).
Level Description: Can understand and use language concerning familiar, everyday topics such as likes and dislikes and basic personal and family information.
Topics: Family, friends, school, hobbies, travel, shopping, sports, movies, music, food, weather, giving directions, introducing oneself, plans for a holiday, one’s recent activities, foreign cultures, people profiles, history, etc.
📌2017 Update: A writing segment has been added to Stage 1 of the examination.
📌2024 Update: Increase the number of English essay questions
from one to two. In addition to the existing “opinion essay” question, an “email” question will be included.
Test Content
First Stage
Changes from previous grade:
➖ Word reordering (Reading) segment removed.
➕ Writing segment added.
➕ English E-mail Composition (Writing) added.
➕ English Opinion Composition (Writing) added.
Reading
Duration: 65 minutes (For reading and writing)
- Sentence Completion (15 questions)
Short texts (one or two sentences/dialogues) from which one word or phrase has been omitted with four multiple choice answers.
Example (2024-1):
A: Dad, can I ask you some questions about my science project tomorrow?
B: Of course, Sally. You can ask me (_____).
1. along
2. almost
3. abroad
4. anytime ✅
- Dialogue Gap Fill (5 questions)
Short texts (dialogues) from which one or two phrases have been omitted with four multiple choice answers.
Example (2024-1):
Girl 1: I’m looking forward to going to the movies tomorrow. (_____)
Girl 2: How about twelve o’clock? We can have lunch first.
Girl 1: Good ideas.
1. How long will it last?
2. What time should we meet? ✅
3. How far is it?
4. What kind would you like?
- Passage Q&A (10 questions)
Two questions about a poster, advertisement, or memo.
Three questions about a letter or e-mail.
Five questions about a passage.
All content will print in full (without gap fills) and look like genuine Engish texts, and the questions are reading comprension with four answer options.
Example (2024-1):
Question: When can people learn about the history of Westfield Hall?
1. On the morning of July 1.
2. On the afternoon of July 1. ✅
3. On the morning of July 2.
4. On the afternoon of July 2.
Writing
- English E-mail Composition
Examinees write a 15-25 word reply e-mail in English. There is an imaginary scenario and two inquiries in the prompt that students must reply to.
Example (2024-1):
Hi, thank you for your email.
I heard that you went to the art museum in your town. I have some questions for you. How many pictures did you see at the art museum? And how long did you stay there?
Your friend, James.
Example answer (2024-1):
Hi James! Thank you for your email.
I saw about thirty pictures there. I stayed there for two hours. I really enjoyed the art museum.
Best wishes.
- English Opinion Composition
Examinees write a 25-35 word essay/composition/reply to the given question.
Example (2024-1):
Question: What is your favorite place to do your homework?
Example answer (2024-1):
My favorite place to do my homework is my room. First, I can use my dictionary there when I do my English homework. Second, I like doing my homework in a quiet place alone.
Listening
Duration: ~25 minutes.
- Conversation Completion (10 questions)
Examinees listen to short conversations and choose the best response from three audio-based options to complete the conversation. An illustration provides contextual information about the situation.
Example (2024-1, 🔊2024-1):
🔊 A: Could you check my report, please?
🔊 B: Sure, When do you need it by?
🔊 A: Five o’clock.
🔊 1. I’ll do it after lunch, then. ✅
🔊 2. I already had two cups.
🔊 3. I bought it yesterday.
- Dialogue Listening Questions (10 questions)
Recorded conversations followed by questions with four multiple choice answers. All conversations are heard twice.
Example (2024-1, 🔊2024-1):
🔊 A: Grandpa, weren’t you a science teacher when you were younger?
🔊 B: That’s right.
🔊 A: I want to be a teacher, too, but I want to teach P.E.
🔊 B: Great.
🔊 Question: What does the girl want to do?
1. Become a science teacher.
2. Become a P.E. teacher. ✅
3. Visit her grandfather’s school.
4. Visit a science museum.
- Monologue Listening Questions (10 questions)
Recorded stories or explanations followed by questions with four multiple choice answers. All stories/explanations are heard twice.
Example (2024-1, 🔊2024-1):
🔊 Sally loves to play the violin. This Saturday night, her parents are taking her to a concert. A famous violinist will perform. Sally is looking forward to listening to his music.
🔊 Question: What will Sally do this Saturday night?
1. Talk to a musician.
2. Go to a concert. ✅
3. Practice the violin.
4. Play music for her family.
Second Stage
Speaking
English Interview.
Duration: ~5 min.
Evaluation Criteria:
Examinees are evaluated on their responses to each of the tasks and for their attitude toward actively engaging in communication. The following categories are also taken into account: pronunciation, vocabulary, and grammar. There will be one examiner.
- Oral reading task.
Preparation: The examinee reads the passage on the question card silently for 20 seconds.
Reading aloud: The examinee then reads the passage (approximately 30 words) aloud.
Example (EIKEN Website):
- Question 1: Examiner asks a question based on the content of the passage.
Example (EIKEN Website):
Q: Please look at the passage. What can people learn from the radio?
A: They can learn English and other languages (from the radio).
- Question 2: Examiner asks a question about the illustration on the card.
Example (EIKEN Website):
Q: Please look at the picture. What is the man going to do?
A: He’s going to read a/the newspaper.
- Question 3: Examiner asks a question about the illustration on the card.
Example (EIKEN Website):
Q: How many cups are there on the table?
A: There are two (cups) (on the table).
- Question 4: Examiner asks a question to elicit examinee’s opinion about a topic related to everyday life (may not be related to the topic of the passage).
Example (EIKEN Website):
Q: What do you like to do on weekends?
A: I like to play tennis.
- Question 5: Examiner asks a question to elicit examinee’s opinion about a topic related to everyday life (may not be related to the topic of the passage).
Example (EIKEN Website):
Q: Have you ever been to a foreign country?
A: Yes. / No.
Q: (If yes) Please tell me more.
A: I’ve been to America.
Q: (If no) What country would you like to visit?
A: I’d like to go to Mongolia.
Fox Resources
Here are some helpful resources from The EIKEN Fox to support teaching Grade 3 content.