EIKEN to Introduce New 'Grade 6 and Grade 7' Levels from the Third 2026 Testing Session, Along with a Fee Reduction

Explanation

The Society for Testing English Proficiency (Eiken Foundation of Japan) announced that it will introduce new "Grade 6" and "Grade 7" levels to the EIKEN test starting with the third testing session of fiscal 2026. The aim is to enable finer measurement of achievement even at the very early stages of learning. At the same time, the fee for conventional test grades will be reduced by ¥100.

The move can be seen as widening the "entry point" to English learning and encouraging younger learners and beginners to take the test. A system that allows learners to accumulate small successes also makes sense in terms of motivation to continue studying.