Junior high entrance exams × English
English for junior high entrance,
planned back from the target school.
English exams, EIKEN use, reading, writing and interviews. We sort out the school's exam format and your child's current English, then work one-to-one on only what is needed.
Online lessons. In person in Tokyo when area, day and tutor availability fit; please ask.
English for junior high entrance
depends on the target school.
Having an EIKEN grade or speaking English does not settle what preparation is needed. We first check these four things.
- Exam routeWhich route will your child sit?
- Question contentWhat is asked in English?
- Where things standWhich skills are strong, and which are weak?
- PrioritiesWhat to move forward first before the exam?
Check how a target school uses English
How English is used differs by school and by year. Enter a school name and we show what we could confirm from the school's own published guidelines.
You can search 168 schools by name. For 6 of them we have confirmed details from the official guidelines. If your school is not listed, you can still ask us about it.
Based on the schools we have confirmed. A missing item or a school still being checked does not mean English is not used.
How English is used differs a lot by school.
Here we sort it into four broad types. A to D are labels for types of exam, not for particular schools. The actual format differs school by school.
English-focused
English itself is a major part of how the exam is assessed.
- Reading
- Vocabulary and grammar
- Writing
- Listening
- Speaking
English plus Japanese, arithmetic and more
English is one part of a broad academic exam. How to split study time with the other subjects is also something the family needs to think about.
- Checking the English question format
- Dividing study time
English qualification route
A qualification such as EIKEN plays a part in the exam. Whether it is an application requirement, converted to marks, treated as deemed marks, exempts part of the exam or earns bonus points differs by school.
- Planning to earn the qualification
- Balancing it with exam-day preparation
Returnee and international route
English is combined with writing, an interview, speaking, pair or group activities, and subjects such as Japanese and arithmetic.
- Writing
- Interviews
- Speaking
- School-specific written exams
Exam formats, eligibility and how English qualifications are treated differ by school and year. When you apply, always check each school's latest guidelines.
Petra starts by sorting out what to study.
We do not put your child into a ready-made course. We first work out what this child's exam needs. This is the junior high entrance English plan check.
Look at the target school
It may be decided, a shortlist, or not yet chosen.
Look at the exam route
We check how English is used and how qualifications are treated.
Look at current English
We ask about EIKEN grade, school or conversation lessons, and any time abroad.
Decide priorities
Given the time left, we decide together what to start with.
Suggest a suitable tutor
We suggest a tutor based on what is needed and how well they suit your child.
We sort out the target school and where your child stands, and confirm together what to prioritise first. We do not promise results.
Junior high entrance English: 30-second check
Answer four questions to see a guide to what to sort out first. It does not predict scores or whether your child will pass. What you choose is kept temporarily in this browser only and carried over to the enquiry form (nothing leaves your device until you send an enquiry).
When to get in touch
These are only examples. Every child's situation is different.
Has EIKEN, but how is it used in the exam?
Your child has an EIKEN grade, but you do not know how it can be used for junior high entrance
Only English writing is weak
Your child can read long passages, but English writing is weak
Group cram school does not cover English closely
Group cram school does not look at English in detail
No idea where to start
Question formats differ by school, and you do not know the priorities
Other things parents ask us
- Good at English, but exam scores are not steady
- Wants someone to practise English interviews with
- Speaks well since returning to Japan, but grammar and writing are a worry
- Not sure how to split time between Japanese, arithmetic and English
We focus on the skills needed and get ready for the exam.
We do not give every skill equal time. We decide where to put the weight based on the school's format and where your child stands.
Vocabulary and grammar
We check the base needed to understand and write exam questions accurately.
Long-passage reading
We practise finding evidence, reading the questions and working within the time.
Writing and essays
We organise opinion, reasons, examples and structure, then write.
Listening
We practise it with more weight when the exam format needs it.
Speaking and interviews
We practise not only self-introductions but explaining reasons and ideas.
Past papers and time management
We work in the target school's format and review weak points.
Even with the same entrance English,
the support needed differs for each child.
Children who learned English in Japan
We check points such as these where needed.
- How to earn and use qualifications such as EIKEN
- Grammar and vocabulary
- A first piece of English writing
- Interview practice
- Switching from everyday English to exam questions
Returnee and bilingual children
We check points such as these where needed.
- Reading academic texts
- Grammatical accuracy
- Writing with structure
- School-specific written exams
- Interviews
- Explaining ideas clearly in English
Even with strong conversation, the exam may call for a separate check of grammar, reading and writing.
An example of the first four weeks
- Week 1
Target school and exam route
Together with a check of where your child stands, we decide the priorities.
- Week 2
Grammar and vocabulary
We also check weak points in long passages.
- Week 3
Writing
We add interview practice where needed.
- Week 4
Past-paper format
We adjust how to approach the next four weeks.
Just an example. The real content changes with the target school, current English and how long is left before the exam.
A tutor who suits junior high entrance English,
suggested from what is needed.
We do not decide on teaching experience alone. We also ask about points such as these to find a tutor who looks right for your child.
- Child's age
- Personality and how easy they are to talk to
- Current English
- Target school's exam format
- EIKEN experience
- Teaching writing
- Interviews and speaking
- Whether explanations in Japanese are wanted
- In person or online
- Place and day
Which tutor we suggest depends on what they can cover and their availability. You can read tutor profiles on the tutors page.
About Petra's tutors
We consider English ability, fit with your child, teaching style and lesson reporting, then suggest a tutor.
Sophia University · Faculty of Liberal Arts
English, maths & primary
Haruka supports students from pre-school to secondary age in English and maths, working carefully towards their goals.
Sophia University · Faculty of Liberal Arts
English, maths & primary to secondary
Mizuki supports primary and middle school students in English and maths, adapting to each child's pace. She also brings experience supporting younger learners.
English, IELTS & SAT
Julie keeps explanations simple and clear for students who feel unsure about English, working at a pace that supports gradual confidence.
When Petra tends to fit
- You want English preparation adjusted to the target school
- Group cram school does not cover English in detail
- Your child has EIKEN but you do not know how it connects to the exam
- You want extra support for just writing or interviews
- You want to find a tutor who suits your child
- You want to sort out exam English and everyday English learning
When you may want to consider other options too
- You want one provider to handle the whole junior high entrance curriculum, including Japanese, arithmetic, science and social studies
- You most value a long record of results for one particular school
In either case, you can ask about using Petra to support only the English part.
Online, and in person in Tokyo
- Online
- Lessons from home.
- In person in Tokyo
- In Tokyo, when area, day and tutor availability fit, please ask.
A guide to the fee
EIKEN and exam preparation
¥4,500~ / 60 min
For junior high entrance English, we explain according to content, tutor and format.
No enrolment fee · no material fees in most cases · no-obligation advice
See pricing →Frequently asked questions
about junior high entrance English
If anything is unclear, please feel free to ask.
When should we start English for junior high entrance?
There is no fixed time. It depends on the target school's exam route, your child's current English and how long is left. Whether time is short or the target school is not decided yet, you can ask us to sort out where your child stands and the priorities.
What EIKEN grade can be used for junior high entrance?
The grade needed and how it is treated differ by school and exam route. It may be an application requirement, converted to marks, or give bonus points or partial exemption, so please check the latest guidelines. Petra takes that into account and sorts out with you how to balance EIKEN preparation and exam-day preparation.
Can children who are not returnees take an English exam?
Exams that use English are not always only for returnees. However, eligibility and application requirements differ by school and year. Please check each school's latest guidelines.
Can you help with just English writing?
Yes, you can ask. After checking how your child writes now, we decide the number of lessons and approach with the tutor.
Can you help with just English interview practice?
Yes, you can ask. We look at where your child stands, including practice in explaining reasons and ideas in English, not only self-introductions.
Can we combine it with a group cram school?
Yes, you can ask on that basis. You can also use Petra only for the English that cram school does not cover. We ask about the cram school's schedule and materials and adjust how we work.
Can we ask even if the target school is not decided?
Yes. Even if the target school is not decided, we can start by sorting out your child's current English and strengths and gaps. Once shortlisted schools appear, we check each school's exam route.
Can you prepare us online?
Yes. Online lessons are available. Your child can take one-to-one lessons from home.
Can I find an in-person tutor in Tokyo?
In person in Tokyo, when area, day and tutor availability fit, please ask. First let us know your preferred place and day.
Can you also help with Japanese and arithmetic?
Petra's focus is English. Other subjects such as Japanese and arithmetic may be possible depending on what a tutor can cover and their availability. If you want one provider for every subject of junior high entrance, please also consider other options.
First, let us sort out the target school
and your child's current English together.
It is fine if the target school is not decided, or if you do not know the EIKEN grade. We listen to your child's situation and confirm what to prioritise first.