100+ Free EIKEN Grade 1 Practice Questions
Pass your EIKEN Grade 1 (Test in Practical English Proficiency, Grade 1) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Read the passage and complete the gap. The new vaccine proved highly effective in clinical trials. ________, distributing it to remote regions poses formidable logistical challenges, since it must be kept at extremely low temperatures throughout transport. Which word or phrase best fills the gap?
Explore More EIKEN (Test in Practical English Proficiency)
Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.
Key Facts: EIKEN Grade 1 Exam
EIKEN Grade 1 is the highest EIKEN level (CEFR C1), with a Stage 1 paper test of 35 multiple-choice Reading items, 27 multiple-choice Listening items and two Writing tasks, followed by a 10-minute Stage 2 speaking interview; passing is decided by EIKEN CSE Score.
Sample EIKEN Grade 1 Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your EIKEN Grade 1 exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1The negotiations finally reached a ________ when both sides agreed to a compromise that satisfied their core demands.
2Critics praised the author for her ________ prose, which conveyed complex ideas in remarkably few words.
3The detective remained ________, refusing to draw conclusions until every piece of evidence had been examined.
4Despite the company's ________ profits, management warned employees that bonuses would be modest this year.
5The witness gave such a ________ account of the accident that the jury could picture every detail clearly.
6Because the new policy was so unpopular, the government was forced to ________ it within weeks of its introduction.
7The professor's ________ remarks offended several students, who felt he had belittled their abilities.
8After months of drought, the ________ rainfall came as an enormous relief to the region's farmers.
9The dictator ruled with such ________ that even mild criticism could result in imprisonment.
10The scientist's hypothesis was ________ by the unexpected results, forcing her to reconsider her entire theory.
About the EIKEN Grade 1 Exam
EIKEN Grade 1 is the highest level of Japan's Test in Practical English Proficiency, administered by the Eiken Foundation of Japan (STEP). It certifies advanced, near-native English ability at CEFR C1 and is required, among other uses, for exemption from the written English section of the National Examination for Guide Interpreters and for study abroad. The test is given in two stages: Stage 1 is a paper-and-pencil examination of Reading, Writing and Listening, while Stage 2 is a face-to-face speaking interview conducted by two examiners. Stage 1 Reading has 35 four-option multiple-choice items across sentence completion, passage gap fill and reading comprehension, and Listening has 27 four-option multiple-choice items across dialogues, monologues, real-life situations and a long interview. The Writing section adds a 90-110 word summary and a 200-240 word essay. Examinees pass on a CSE-score basis, with a Stage 1 pass requiring at least 2028 out of 2550.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
First stage: Reading and Writing 100 minutes, Listening approximately 35 minutes. Second stage: a 10-minute speaking interview. This practice bank is untimed.
Passing Score
Pass/fail by EIKEN CSE Score; Stage 1 requires at least 2028 out of 2550, and Grade 1 corresponds to CEFR C1 (target CSE 2630). Both stages must be passed for certification.
Exam Fee
Stage 1 costs 12,500 yen and Stage 2 costs 10,500 yen at public test sites for the 2025-2026 academic year. (Eiken Foundation of Japan (Society for Testing English Proficiency, STEP))
EIKEN Grade 1 Exam Content Outline
Sentence Completion (Vocabulary)
Twenty-two short texts with one advanced or low-frequency word or phrase omitted, testing C1-C2 vocabulary, idioms and collocations in context.
Gap Fill (Passages)
Two passages with several words or phrases omitted, testing cohesion, connectors and contextual logic across a paragraph.
Reading Comprehension
One passage with three questions and one extended passage with four questions, testing main idea, detail, inference and meaning in complex texts.
Listening: Dialogues
Ten recorded conversations and discussions, each followed by one question on speaker intent, opinion and detail.
Listening: Monologues
Five recorded announcements, advertisements, news stories or short lectures, each followed by two questions on factual content and argument.
Listening: Real-Life
Five recordings where examinees read a situation and question first, then listen and choose the best practical course of action.
Listening: Long Interview
One recorded interview followed by two questions on an extended exchange of views and conclusions.
How to Pass the EIKEN Grade 1 Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Pass/fail by EIKEN CSE Score; Stage 1 requires at least 2028 out of 2550, and Grade 1 corresponds to CEFR C1 (target CSE 2630). Both stages must be passed for certification.
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: First stage: Reading and Writing 100 minutes, Listening approximately 35 minutes. Second stage: a 10-minute speaking interview. This practice bank is untimed.
- Exam fee: Stage 1 costs 12,500 yen and Stage 2 costs 10,500 yen at public test sites for the 2025-2026 academic year.
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
EIKEN Grade 1 Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
What level is EIKEN Grade 1?
EIKEN Grade 1 is the highest of the eight EIKEN levels, corresponding to CEFR C1. It certifies advanced, near-native English ability suitable for a wide range of social, professional and educational situations, and requires roughly 10,000-15,000 words of vocabulary.
How is the EIKEN Grade 1 Stage 1 test structured?
Stage 1 has 35 four-option multiple-choice Reading items (sentence completion, gap fill and comprehension), 27 four-option multiple-choice Listening items (dialogues, monologues, real-life and a long interview), plus a Writing summary and essay. Reading and Writing take 100 minutes and Listening about 35 minutes.
How is EIKEN Grade 1 scored?
EIKEN is pass/fail based on the EIKEN CSE Score. To pass Stage 1 an examinee must reach a combined Reading, Writing and Listening score of at least 2028 out of 2550, after which they advance to the Stage 2 speaking interview.
How much does EIKEN Grade 1 cost?
For the 2025-2026 academic year, the Stage 1 test costs 12,500 yen and the Stage 2 speaking test costs 10,500 yen at public test sites. Grade 1 is administered at public test sites only, not at group sites.
What is the Stage 2 speaking test like?
Stage 2 is a roughly 10-minute face-to-face interview conducted by two examiners. It includes reading a passage aloud, answering questions about it, and giving a short prepared speech and opinions on social topics. This practice bank focuses on the Stage 1 multiple-choice sections.
What is the pass rate for EIKEN Grade 1?
The Stage 1 pass rate is approximately 10 percent, making it one of the most competitive English tests in Japan. The Stage 2 speaking pass rate is higher, around 60 percent, but candidates reaching it are already highly proficient.