Eiken Grade 1 Study Guide

Achieve expert-level English proficiency for the highest Eiken certification

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Grade 1 Overview

Expert-level English - Native-like proficiency

Level

Expert - Near-native proficiency

Handle any situation with native-like fluency

Test Duration

Written: 100 minutes

Listening: Approx. 35 minutes

Vocabulary

~10,000+ words

Extensive vocabulary across all domains

Test Format

Vocabulary & Grammar (25 questions)

Advanced vocabulary, idioms, and complex structures

Reading (6 questions)

Analyze sophisticated texts on specialized topics

Writing (2 questions)

Write comprehensive essays (200-240 words) with persuasive arguments

Listening (27 questions)

Understand complex lectures, debates, and nuanced discussions

Speaking Interview

Engage in sophisticated discussions on global and social issues

Expert Vocabulary

Master these 10,000+ words for Grade 1

Abstract & Philosophical

  • paradigm - a typical example or pattern
    → Example: "The discovery challenged the prevailing scientific paradigm."
  • inherent - existing as a natural part
    → Example: "There are inherent risks in any technological advancement."
  • ambiguous - open to multiple interpretations
    → Example: "The policy statement was deliberately ambiguous."
  • pragmatic - practical rather than idealistic
    → Example: "We need a more pragmatic approach to solving this crisis."
  • reconcile - to make compatible or consistent
    → Example: "It is difficult to reconcile economic growth with environmental protection."

Scientific & Technical

  • hypothesis - a proposed explanation
    → Example: "The researchers formulated a hypothesis based on preliminary data."
  • catalyst - something that causes change
    → Example: "The invention served as a catalyst for the industrial revolution."
  • phenomenon - an observable occurrence
    → Example: "Climate change is a complex global phenomenon."
  • methodology - a system of methods
    → Example: "The study's methodology was rigorous and well-documented."
  • unprecedented - never done or known before
    → Example: "The pandemic created unprecedented challenges for healthcare systems."

Policy & Governance

  • jurisdiction - official authority
    → Example: "This matter falls under federal jurisdiction."
  • mandate - official order or commission
    → Example: "The government has a mandate to protect citizens' rights."
  • transparent - open and accountable
    → Example: "Democratic institutions must be transparent in their operations."
  • ratify - to formally approve
    → Example: "Parliament voted to ratify the international treaty."
  • scrutinize - to examine closely and critically
    → Example: "Journalists scrutinize government policies to ensure accountability."

Sophisticated Grammar

Expert-level structures for Grade 1

Subjunctive Mood

Express wishes, recommendations, and hypothetical situations

Examples:

  • ✓ It is essential that he be present at the meeting. (not "is")
  • ✓ The committee recommended that the policy be revised. (not "is revised")
  • ✓ If I were in your position, I would reconsider. (formal hypothetical)

Cleft Sentences

Emphasize specific information using "it" or "what" structures

Examples:

  • ✓ It was the economy that decided the election. (emphasis on "economy")
  • ✓ What we need is comprehensive reform. (emphasis on need)
  • ✓ It is precisely this ambiguity that creates problems.

Nominalisation

Convert verbs/adjectives to nouns for formal academic writing

Examples:

  • ✓ The implementation of new policies... (vs. "implementing")
  • ✓ The significance of this discovery... (vs. "how significant")
  • ✓ The proliferation of nuclear weapons... (vs. "nuclear weapons proliferating")

Sample Essay

Grade 1 sophisticated essay (200-240 words)

Topic: Should governments prioritize economic growth over environmental protection?

The perennial tension between economic development and environmental conservation represents one of the most pressing dilemmas facing contemporary societies. While some contend that economic prosperity must take precedence, I would argue that this constitutes a false dichotomy that obscures the fundamental interdependence of these objectives.

Firstly, the notion that environmental protection inherently impedes economic growth is demonstrably flawed. Numerous studies have shown that sustainable practices can drive innovation and create new industries, as evidenced by the burgeoning renewable energy sector. Moreover, the long-term economic costs of environmental degradation—including health expenditures, natural disaster recovery, and resource depletion—far exceed the short-term gains from exploitative practices.

Furthermore, framing this as an either-or proposition fails to recognize that environmental stability is not merely desirable but essential for sustained economic prosperity. Climate change and ecological collapse threaten the very foundations upon which economies rest. In conclusion, rather than prioritizing one over the other, governments must pursue integrated policies that recognize environmental protection and economic development as mutually reinforcing imperatives. Only through such a paradigm shift can we hope to achieve genuine, sustainable progress.

(214 words)

Expert Essay Features:

  • ✓ Sophisticated thesis: Challenges the premise and reframes the debate
  • ✓ Academic vocabulary: perennial, dichotomy, burgeoning, paradigm
  • ✓ Complex structures: subjunctive, nominalisation, relative clauses
  • ✓ Logical flow: Firstly... Moreover... Furthermore... In conclusion...
  • ✓ Evidence-based: References studies and real-world examples
  • ✓ Nuanced argumentation: Addresses counter-arguments sophisticatedly