Breaking Through the Eiken Grade Pre-1 Barrier! English Skills and Study Methods for Admission to Top Japanese Universities

"I was doing fine up to Eiken Grade 2, but when I looked at a Grade Pre-1 past paper, I didn't know any of the vocabulary..."

"The reading passages are so difficult, I can't seem to understand them."

This is the "Eiken Grade Pre-1 wall" that many English learners hit.

With a pass rate of only around 15%, it's a challenging exam that can't be passed with half-hearted preparation.

However, overcoming this wall can be a "golden ticket" for admission to top universities like Waseda, Keio, Sophia, and GMARCH.

This article breaks down the crucial differences between Grade 2 and Grade Pre-1 with clear data, provides strategies to gain an advantage in competitive university entrance exams, and offers a complete guide to tackling the new summary writing task introduced in the 2024 fiscal year.

1. A Different World from Grade 2: The "Grade Pre-1 Wall" by the Numbers

Why do so many people find Grade Pre-1 so challenging?

The biggest reason is the sharp increase in the required vocabulary level and the abstract nature of the topics.

Eiken Grade 2 vs. Grade Pre-1: A Comparison of the Gap

Here's the key takeaway:

In Part 1 (Vocabulary) of the Grade Pre-1 exam, you'll frequently encounter words rarely used in daily conversation, such as "persecution" and "shudder."

Mastering one vocabulary book is the starting line. However, for students aiming for top-tier universities, a strategy of using a second book like "Tan-Jukugo EX" in addition to the popular "Deru-Jun Pasu-Tan" can be effective to increase your word coverage.

2. The Powerful Advantage of Grade Pre-1 in University Admissions (Waseda, Keio, Sophia, GMARCH)

For high school students, obtaining a Grade Pre-1 certification is more than just a qualification.

This is because many top private universities use it as a condition for exemption from the English exam or for a significant score boost.

Examples of How It's Used in 2025 Admissions (Latest Trends)

• Sophia University (for admissions using the Common Test, etc.)

  Having Grade Pre-1 (CEFR B2) can result in added points to your Common Test foreign language score or be used as a converted score. If you're aiming for Sophia, consider Grade Pre-1 a standard requirement.

• Rikkyo University

  Rikkyo has replaced its own English exam with the full adoption of external test scores like Eiken. A high Grade Pre-1 score (CSE 2300 or above) can give you a significant edge among other MARCH universities.

• Waseda University (School of International Liberal Studies, School of Humanities and Social Sciences, etc.)

  Some faculties require Grade Pre-1 or higher as an eligibility criterion for their "4-Skills English Test" admission track in the general selection process.

• Meiji, Hosei, Kansai University, etc.

  Depending on the faculty, the English exam may be waived or converted to a perfect score. The biggest advantage is being able to skip the English test and dedicate more study time to other subjects like history, civics, and Japanese.

3. The 2024 Renewal: Conquering the New Summary Writing Task

Starting in the 2024 fiscal year, a new "Summarization" task has been added to the Grade Pre-1 writing section.

It is now a two-part section, along with the traditional "Opinion Essay," making time management even more critical.

How to Tackle the New Summary Task

• The Task: Read an academic English passage and summarize its content in about 60–70 words.
• Key Strategies:
  1. Cut the specific examples: Omit detailed descriptions that follow phrases like "For example..." and extract only the author's main idea.
  2. Paraphrase: Copying phrases directly from the text will result in a lower score. Your ability to rephrase using your own words and synonyms is tested.

Ideal Time Allocation (90-minute Written Exam)

• Part 1 (Vocabulary): 10–12 minutes (If you're stuck, move on!)
• Parts 2 & 3 (Reading Comprehension): 40 minutes
• Writing (Summary): 15 minutes
• Writing (Essay): 20 minutes
• Review: Remaining time

4. The Fastest Path to Passing Grade Pre-1: When Self-Study Isn't Enough

The reading passages in Grade Pre-1 are comparable in difficulty to English publications like TIME and The Economist.

While you can memorize vocabulary on your own, it's difficult to improve on reading passages where you can't understand the reasoning behind the correct answer or writing tasks where you can't judge if your summary is accurate without professional guidance.

Efficient preparation is essential, especially for high school students with limited time before their university entrance exams.

ELT | Eiken Grade Pre-1 & Top University Prep Course

At ELT, we offer a specialized program for high school students aiming for admission to universities like Waseda, Keio, Sophia, and the MARCH group.

• New Format Writing Correction: Both the "Summary" and "Opinion Essay" tasks are thoroughly reviewed and corrected by our native and Japanese instructors.
• Reading Speed & Comprehension Training: We teach you the skills to identify the logical flow of academic texts.
• Part 2 Interview Preparation: Master the frameworks for instantly structuring your opinions on social issues.

Break through the Grade Pre-1 wall and secure your spot at your target university.