News in Easy English: New 'Pre-2 Plus' Eiken English test level introduced
TOKYO -- The Eiken Foundation of Japan has started a new English test level. It is called "Grade Pre-2 Plus." This new test is between Grade Pre-2 and Grade 2.
Grade Pre-2 is about the same as middle high school students' English. Grade 2 is for students who finish high school. Grade Pre-2 Plus will be for students in the last years of high school.
The foundation said, "We hope students use Grade Pre-2 Plus as an easy step to Grade 2." Now, the step from Grade Pre-2 to Grade 2 is big for many students. Students usually need two years to move from Grade Pre-2 to Grade 2. From Grade 5 to Grade Pre-2, students usually need only about one year for each level. The new grade can help students try for Grade 2.
This is the first new Eiken level since 1994. Other Eiken test levels do not change.
Students can apply until May 7 for the next Eiken tests. The tests will be in many places around Japan in June and July.
(Japanese original by Kengo Miura, Tokyo City News Department)
Vocabulary:
foundation: a group to give money to help certain activities, like education
introduce: to start something new
level: how easy or difficult something is
motivated: want to keep trying hard
stepping stone: a smaller step that helps you do something bigger later
apply: to ask to join or do something (for example, taking a test)
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