Exam prep

Eiken interview practice online: how to prepare with a 1-to-1 tutor

By Teacher4.me · November 10, 2026

Short answer: For Eiken Grades 3, Pre-2, Pre-2 Plus, 2, Pre-1 and 1, the speaking test is a face-to-face interview in English, called the second stage (二次試験). According to the Eiken Foundation (eiken.or.jp), it takes about 5 minutes at Grade 3 and about 10 minutes at Grade 1. At Grades 3 to 2 you read a short passage aloud and answer questions about it, a picture and your own opinions; at Pre-1 you narrate a 4-panel picture story, and at Grade 1 you give a 2-minute speech. Grades 4 and 5 have a separate recorded speaking test. A 1-to-1 online tutor can play the interviewer, time you and give clear feedback. A tutor cannot give you an official Eiken result.

Many students in Japan take Eiken (英検, the EIKEN Test in Practical English Proficiency). From Grade 3 up, the speaking test is a face-to-face interview in English. It can feel stressful, because you speak with an interviewer you have never met and you cannot easily practise that alone. A 1-to-1 online tutor can play the interviewer, time you and tell you what to fix. This guide is for students and for parents helping a child prepare.

If you are not sure Eiken is the right test for you, read IELTS, TOEIC, TOEFL or Eiken: which English test do you need? first.

How the Eiken interview works

All facts in this section are from the official Eiken Foundation of Japan website (Grade 3 test content and the pages for the other grades, checked 10 November 2026). Eiken has a first stage (一次試験) and, from Grade 3 up, a second stage (二次試験) that is an interview-style speaking test. The whole interview is in English, and you may not take notes, photos or recordings during it.

At Grades 3, Pre-2, Pre-2 Plus and 2, the interview follows the same basic steps:

1. Enter, hand over your interview card (面接カード) and sit down when the interviewer asks you to.
2. Name, grade and a short greeting. The interviewer checks your name and the grade you are taking, then greets you.
3. Get the question card (問題カード) with a short passage and pictures.
4. Read the passage silently for 20 seconds, then read it aloud, starting from the English title.
5. Answer questions. The first questions are about the passage and the pictures, and you may look at the card for these.
6. Turn the card over when the interviewer asks, and answer the last questions, about yourself or your opinions, without looking at it.
7. Give the question card back and leave the room.

What changes by grade (from eiken.or.jp):

• Grade 3 (3級), about 5 minutes: read a passage of about 30 words aloud; 5 questions: 1 about the passage, 2 about the picture (what people are doing and how things are), and 2 about everyday life.
• Grade Pre-2 (準2級), about 6 minutes: a passage of about 50 words and two pictures (Picture A and B); 5 questions: 1 about the passage, 1 describing what people are doing, 1 explaining a person's situation, then 1 opinion question linked to the card topic and 1 about everyday life.
• Grade Pre-2 Plus (準2級プラス), about 7 minutes: a passage of about 55 words and a 3-panel picture story; 4 questions: 1 about the passage, 1 where you describe how the picture story develops (you get 20 seconds to think, and the opening words are printed on the card), then 2 opinion questions.
• Grade 2 (2級), about 7 minutes: the same pattern as Pre-2 Plus with a passage of about 60 words, a 3-panel picture story, and topics about social issues (社会性のある話題).
• Grade Pre-1 (準1級), about 8 minutes: a short everyday conversation, then 1 minute to think and a 2-minute narration of a 4-panel picture story (start with the opening words printed on the card), then 4 questions asking for your opinions.
• Grade 1 (1級), about 10 minutes, with two interviewers: a short everyday conversation, then you choose 1 of 5 topics, have 1 minute to think (no notes) and give a 2-minute speech, followed by questions about your speech and the topic.
• Grades 4 and 5: instead of a face-to-face interview, there is a separate recorded speaking test (録音型面接) of about 4 minutes (Grade 4) or 3 minutes (Grade 5), taken on a dedicated test site and judged on its own. You read a short passage aloud and answer a few short questions. See the Grades 4 and 5 speaking test page.

Eiken also has an animated "virtual second-stage test" (英検バーチャル二次試験) that shows the interview from entering the room to leaving it. Watching it before your first practice lesson is a good idea.

What Eiken says the interview looks at

For Grades 3 to Pre-1, Eiken lists these points: the content of your answers, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and usage, how much information you give, and your willingness and attitude to communicate actively (積極的にコミュニケーションを図ろうとする意欲や態度). For Pre-1 your narration is also assessed, and for Grade 1 the content of your speech and answers, vocabulary, grammar and accurate pronunciation.

Eiken also explains that asking the interviewer to repeat a question naturally is not marked down, but asking in an unnatural way or asking again and again can be. If you get stuck in the middle of an answer, the interviewer may move on to the next question. Ask your tutor to give feedback on each of these points, not just a general "good job".

How a tutor helps you practise

1. Role-play the whole interview. Your tutor plays the interviewer from the moment you "enter": greeting, name and grade, the question card, then the questions. Practising the full routine makes test day feel familiar.
2. Read the passage aloud. Practise reading a short passage clearly, at a natural speed, starting with the title. Your tutor can mark words you mispronounce and show you where to pause. See English pronunciation practice with a tutor.
3. Describe pictures. For Grade 3 and Pre-2, practise saying what each person is doing ("A man is carrying a box.") and explaining a situation. For Pre-2 Plus, Grade 2 and Pre-1, practise telling a picture story in order, starting with printed opening words. Your tutor can share a picture on screen and time your thinking and speaking.
4. Give an opinion and a reason. Opinion questions are easier with a simple answer shape: say your opinion, give one or two reasons, add a short example. Your tutor can ask a follow-up "why?" so you practise saying more.
5. Answer without looking at the card. Practise the last questions with the card turned over, so you get used to listening carefully and answering from your own ideas.
6. Practise asking to repeat. Learn one or two natural phrases, such as "Could you say that again, please?" or "Pardon?", and use them in role-plays only when you really need them.
7. Work on attitude. A clear voice, a friendly greeting and keeping going instead of staying silent all help you communicate. Your tutor can tell you honestly how you come across.

For Pre-1 and Grade 1, ask your tutor to time a 2-minute narration or speech and to ask follow-up questions on social topics. If speaking under pressure makes you nervous, see how to overcome fear of speaking English.

Practise between lessons

• Use the official sample questions. Each grade's page on eiken.or.jp has second-stage sample questions you can download. Practise with the real format so there are no surprises.
• Read a short English passage aloud every day and record yourself.
• Describe one picture a day from a book, magazine or your phone, in English, out loud.
• Answer one opinion question a day with a reason and an example, then bring your best answers to your next lesson.

For parents

If your child is preparing for an Eiken interview, look for a teacher who has experience with children of that age and is patient with beginners. Short, regular practice and a friendly teacher help a child relax and speak. Read online English lessons for kids by age for ideas on what works at each age, and tell the teacher your child's grade and test date in your first message.

What to look for in an Eiken tutor

• Eiken or exam preparation in their subjects, and reviews from students who prepared for a test.
• They know the interview format for your grade, including the newer Pre-2 Plus grade if that is your goal. Ask them in your first message.
• Clear, specific feedback, not only praise.
• Lesson times that fit your week before your test date. Check the time zone if your tutor lives outside Japan.

Some teachers offer a trial lesson; see questions to ask a tutor in a trial lesson. Taking a different test? Read TOEFL Speaking practice online, IELTS Speaking practice online or TOEIC Speaking practice online.

A tutor can help you prepare, but a practice session is not an official Eiken test and no tutor can promise a pass. Always check eiken.or.jp for the latest format and test-day rules for your grade.

Finding an Eiken tutor on Teacher4.me

Open Find a teacher and search for Eiken, or search by skill, for example pronunciation or conversation. Read each teacher's subjects, reviews and prices, then send a short message with your grade and test date and ask how they practise the interview. You do not need an account to message a teacher, and you book and pay the teacher directly.

Ready to practise? Find an Eiken teacher or browse all teachers.

Frequently asked questions

What happens in the Eiken second-stage interview?

According to eiken.or.jp, at Grades 3, Pre-2, Pre-2 Plus and 2 you get a question card with a short passage and pictures. You read the passage silently for 20 seconds, read it aloud starting from the title, then answer questions about the passage, the pictures and your own experience or opinions. You turn the card over before the last questions and answer without looking at it. The whole interview is in English.

How long is the Eiken interview at each grade?

Eiken lists about 5 minutes for Grade 3, about 6 minutes for Pre-2, about 7 minutes for Pre-2 Plus and Grade 2, about 8 minutes for Pre-1 and about 10 minutes for Grade 1. Grades 4 and 5 have a separate recorded speaking test of about 4 and about 3 minutes.

Will I lose points if I ask the interviewer to repeat a question?

Eiken says that asking the interviewer to repeat a question naturally, for example because you did not catch it, is not marked down. Asking in an unnatural way or asking again and again can be marked down. If you stop and cannot continue an answer, the interviewer may move on to the next question. A tutor can help you practise a natural way to ask, such as "Could you say that again, please?"

Can a tutor tell me if I will pass the Eiken interview?

No. A practice session with a tutor is not an official Eiken test and no tutor can promise a pass. A tutor can give honest feedback on the points Eiken lists, such as the content of your answers, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, how much information you give and your attitude to communicating. Always check eiken.or.jp for the latest format and test-day rules.

How do I find an Eiken tutor on Teacher4.me?

Open Find a teacher and search for Eiken, then read each teacher's subjects, reviews and prices. Tell the teacher which grade you are taking and ask how they practise the interview. You can message a teacher without an account and book and pay the teacher directly.

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