Grade 4 is the next step after Grade 5 for English-language learners taking the EIKEN test. This level is aimed at second-year Japanese junior high school students. Examinees are expected to understand and use basic words, phrases, and simple sentences. The tested material is foundational and essential for future learning, but is one step more advanced than at Grade 5. The examination consists of Stage 1 (a written examination including a listening section) only. The second-stage test is not given for Grade 4.
Level Description: Can understand and use simple words, phrases, and short sentences.
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, etc.
📌 2016 Update: A new online speaking test, where examinees record their answers, was introduced in 2016. The speaking test is not required to pass Grade 4, but each person who registers for the first stage of the Grade 4 test has the opportunity to take the Grade 4 speaking test.
Test Content
First Stage
Changes from previous grade:
➖ Matching Visuals Comprehension (Listening) segment removed.
➕ Passage Q&A (Reading) segment added.
➕ Monologue Listening Questions (Listening) added.
➕ Illustration Based Question (Speaking) added.
Reading
Duration: 35 minutes.
- 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):
Ms. Hayashi is a nice teacher. Her English class is very (_____).
1. thirsty
2. dark
3. left
4. popular ✅
- 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):
Boy: Sorry, Julia. I’m going to be late for your party tomorrow.
Girl: That’s OK. (_____)
Boy: At about 5:00 p.m.
1. Where is the party?
2. When can you come? ✅
3. Are you always late?
4. How many people are there?
- Word Reordering (5 questions)
A sentence is provided from which five words have been removed and are scrambled. Examinees reorder the words to complete the sentence. They choose the correct order from four answer options. A Japanese translation of the sentence is also provided.
Example (2024-1):
(Note: In this question, the second and fourth gaps are emphasized.)
駅までどうやって行ったらいいですか。
( ① can ② to ③ how ④ get ➄ I)
(_____) (_____) (_____) (_____) (_____) the station?
1. ② – ③
2. ④ – ➄
3. ① – ④ ✅
4. ➄ – ②
- 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: Where will the dance lesson be?
1. At the dance center.
2. At the school gym.
3. At the city hall.
4. At City Sports Center. ✅
Listening
Duration: ~30 minutes.
- Conversation Completion (10 questions)
Examinees listen to short conversations and choose the best response from three audio-based options to complete the conversation. All conversations are heard twice. An illustration provides contextual information about the situation.
Example (2024-1, 🔊2024-1):
🔊 A: Are you busy this weekend?
🔊 B: Yeah.
🔊 A: What are you going to do?
🔊 1. I’m fine, thanks.
🔊 2. Visit my grandmother. ✅
🔊 3. It’s time to start.
- 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: It’s really raining hard outside, Jill.
🔊 B: I know, dad.
🔊 A: Don’t ride your bike to school.
🔊 B: I’m going to take the bus.
🔊 Question: How will Jill get to school?
1. On foot.
2. By bike.
3. By bus. ✅
4. By train.
- 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):
🔊 My brother is a musician. He plays the guitar. He started to play the guitar when he was five. Now, he’s in a rock band.
🔊 Question: What is the boy talking about?
1. His band.
2. His guitar.
3. His music teacher.
4. His brother. ✅
Second Stage
The second stage is not administered for Grade 4.
Speaking Test
Internet-based recorded interview.
Duration: ~4 min.
Evaluation Criteria:
Examinees are evaluated on their responses to each of the tasks. 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 25 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 does Ken want to become?
A: He wants to become a famous soccer player.
- Question 2: Examiner asks a question based on the content of the passage.
Example (EIKEN Website):
Q: When does Ken play soccer?
A: He plays after school.
- Question 3: Examiner asks a question about the illustration on the card.
Example (EIKEN Website):
Q: Please look at the picture. What is the girl doing?
A: She is reading a book.
- 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: Do you like to play sports?
A: Yes. / No.
Q: (If yes) What sports do you play?
A: I play tennis.
Fox Resources
Here are some helpful resources from The EIKEN Fox to support teaching Grade 4 content.