You have 9 days until your Eiken Pre-2 exam. Your parent just contacted an English teacher. You’re wondering if there’s still time to prepare effectively.

Let me be honest with you: 9 days is not ideal. But it’s also not hopeless.

This post will give you two things:

Practical advice for the next 9 days - how to use your limited time strategically
A better approach for next time - because most students will take Eiken multiple times

I’m writing this for a student I never got to meet. Circumstances prevented us from working together, but I wanted to share what I would have told her in our trial lesson. If you’re in a similar situation—whether this is your first attempt or you’re retaking—this is for you.

Part 1: The Next 9 Days - Strategic Priorities

Be Honest About Your Starting Point

Before you spend one minute studying, you need to know where you actually are. Not where you hope to be, not where your parents think you should be—where you are.

Take one full practice test under real conditions:

Time yourself exactly as the real test
No dictionary, no help, no breaks
Score it honestly

This isn’t fun, but it’s necessary. If you’re currently scoring 40% and need 60% to pass, you know you need to gain 20 percentage points in 9 days. That’s possible with focused work. If you’re scoring 25%, that’s a different challenge—and you need to know that now, not on test day.

The 80/20 Rule for Test Prep

With only 9 days, you cannot study everything. You need to focus on what gives you the most points for the least time investment.

For Eiken Pre-2, prioritize in this order:

1. Vocabulary (30-40% of your study time)

The vocabulary section comes first and sets your momentum. If you bomb the vocabulary, you’ll feel anxious for the rest of the test.

Focus on words that appear repeatedly in past tests
Use the “pass” books (『でる順パス単』) efficiently: don’t try to memorize all words, focus on Rank A words only
Study vocabulary in context, not isolated word lists
Review the same words multiple times rather than studying new words once

2. Reading Comprehension (30-40% of your study time)

Reading passages take the most time on the test. If you’re slow, you’ll run out of time.

Practice reading speed, not just comprehension
Learn to scan for answers rather than reading every word
The questions usually follow the order of information in the passage
Don’t get stuck on one difficult question—move on and come back

3. Listening (20-30% of your study time)

Many students ignore listening until it’s too late. Don’t.

Listen to practice tests at 1.0x speed first, then 1.25x speed
The real test will feel slower after practicing at faster speed
Write down key words while listening (you’re allowed to take notes)
Remember: you hear each passage twice—don’t panic on the first listen

4. Writing (10% of your study time)

Yes, really. Only 10%.

The writing section is important, but you can’t dramatically improve writing quality in 9 days. What you can do:

Memorize 2-3 template sentences for common topics
Practice writing exactly 50-60 words (the target length)
Focus on being clear and simple, not impressive
Avoid complicated grammar you’re unsure about

What NOT to Study

With limited time, these are wastes of effort:

❌ Brand new grammar points - if you don’t know it now, 9 days isn’t enough to internalize it
❌ Trying to memorize entire vocabulary lists - you’ll forget most of it
❌ Complicated essay techniques - keep it simple and clear
❌ Topics you find interesting but aren’t on the test - stay focused

The Daily Schedule That Actually Works

Here’s a realistic 9-day plan that doesn’t require you to quit school or stop sleeping:

Days 1-2: Assessment & Planning

Take full practice test (Day 1)
Review answers, identify weak sections (Day 1)
Create focused study plan based on results (Day 2)
2-3 hours study time per day

Days 3-6: Focused Practice

Morning: 30-40 minutes vocabulary review before school
After school: 90 minutes on your weakest section
Evening: 30-40 minutes listening practice
2.5-3 hours study time per day

Days 7-8: Full Practice Tests

Take one full practice test each day under real conditions
Review mistakes immediately after
Focus evening study on patterns you keep missing
3-4 hours study time per day

Day 9 (Day Before Test): Light Review Only

Review vocabulary flashcards one last time
Read through essay templates
One listening practice session
Go to bed early
Maximum 2 hours study time

The Mistakes Students Make in the Final Week

Mistake 1: Studying too many hours
Your brain can’t absorb information when exhausted. Quality matters more than quantity.

Mistake 2: Studying new material the day before
This creates anxiety and confusion. Review only.

Mistake 3: Ignoring sleep
A tired brain on test day performs worse than a well-rested brain with slightly less preparation.

Mistake 4: Not practicing under real test conditions
If you never practice with time limits, the real test will feel chaotic.

Test Day Strategy

The night before:

Prepare everything (pencils, eraser, ID, test voucher, watch)
Set two alarms
No cramming after 8 PM

The morning of:

Eat breakfast (even if nervous)
Arrive 20 minutes early
Don’t discuss answers with other students—it creates unnecessary anxiety

During the test:

Start with questions you’re confident about to build momentum
If stuck on a question for more than 30 seconds, mark it and move on
For listening, read the questions during the instruction time (before audio starts)
Keep track of time, but don’t obsess over the clock

Part 2: Next Time - The Approach That Actually Works

If this is your first attempt, or if you don’t pass this time, here’s what to do differently.

Why Last-Minute Preparation Usually Fails

Let me share something from 35+ years of teaching: students who pass Eiken rarely do it by cramming. Students who pass do it by building real English ability over time.

The test measures your actual English level. If your real level is below Pre-2, you can sometimes pass through test-taking tricks, but it’s stressful and unreliable. If your real level matches Pre-2, the test feels manageable.

The uncomfortable truth:
Eiken isn’t like a school test where you can memorize answers. It tests whether you can understand English and use it. You can’t fake that.

The 3-Month Preparation Window

For most students, 3 months is the minimum for effective preparation:

Month 1: Build Foundation

Systematic vocabulary building (not cramming)
Regular reading practice (10-15 minutes daily)
Weekly grammar review of weak points
Start listening to English daily (news, podcasts, anything)

Month 2: Practice & Apply

Begin working with past tests (not just taking them—analyzing them)
Writing practice: one essay per week with feedback
Listening practice: past test recordings daily
Identify your personal weak patterns

Month 3: Test Strategies & Polish

Multiple full practice tests under real conditions
Focus final studying on your persistent weak points
Develop time management strategies
Build test-day confidence

Why Individual Support Matters

Large test prep classes teach strategies, but they can’t address your specific weak points. You might be strong in reading but weak in listening. Your classmate might have the opposite problem. A one-size-fits-all approach wastes your time on things you already know.

This is why I designed Starfish English around individual attention. In a private lesson or very small group, we can:

Identify exactly where your errors happen
Focus practice time on your weak points
Adjust strategies to match your learning style
Provide immediate correction before mistakes become habits

It’s the starfish story: I can’t help hundreds of students at once, but I can help you—the student right in front of me. That individual focus makes the difference between generic preparation and targeted improvement.

What “Real Preparation” Looks Like

Students who successfully pass Eiken typically:

✅ Start preparing at least 3 months before the test
✅ Study consistently (30-45 minutes daily) rather than cramming
✅ Take practice tests monthly to track progress
✅ Get feedback on their writing and speaking from a teacher
✅ Build vocabulary gradually through reading, not just word lists
✅ Practice listening regularly, not just before the test

Compare this to last-minute preparation:

❌ Start 1-2 weeks before the test
❌ Study for hours some days, nothing other days
❌ Take practice tests only in the final week
❌ No feedback—just self-study with answer keys
❌ Cram vocabulary lists the week before
❌ Panic-listen to practice tests for the first time

Which approach sounds more likely to succeed?

Planning Your Next Attempt

If you’re reading this and your test is in 9 days, you’re focused on this attempt. That’s fine. But also start thinking about your next one.

The next Eiken test (2026 academic year, 1st session) is on May 31, 2026—that’s roughly 4.5–5 months from now.

If you start preparing now—today, not after this test—you’ll have proper time to build real English ability. The test will measure that ability, and you’ll pass more comfortably.

When to Get Help

Some students can self-study effectively for Eiken. Others benefit from structured guidance. Here’s how to tell which you are:

You might be fine self-studying if:

You’re already close to passing (60%+ on practice tests)
You’re disciplined about daily study
You can identify your own weak points
You have resources (practice tests, materials) and know how to use them

You’d benefit from a teacher if:

You’re not sure what to study or in what order
You study but don’t see improvement
You need accountability and structure
You want feedback on your speaking and writing
You’ve failed the same level multiple times

There’s no shame in getting help. Learning English is hard. Learning how to pass a specific test is its own skill. A good teacher can save you months of inefficient studying.

Final Thoughts

To the student I didn’t get to meet: I’m genuinely sorry we couldn’t work together. Life sometimes gets in the way of good intentions. But I wanted you to have this advice anyway, even if I can’t be there to deliver it in person.

Nine days isn’t ideal, but it’s what you have. Use it strategically. Don’t panic. Do your best.

And whether you pass this time or not, start planning your next attempt now. Build real English ability over time. That’s what creates lasting success—not just on tests, but in life.

To all students and parents reading this: English learning is a long journey. Tests like Eiken are useful milestones, but they’re not the destination. The goal is being able to communicate, to understand, to connect with people beyond your language.

That’s worth the effort.

Wishing you the very best on your test.

—Richard

9 Days Until Eiken Pre-2: How to Maximize Your Time (And Plan Better Next Time)