In Japan, the current National Center Test for University Admissions is planned to be replaced with a new university entrance exam system in the 2020 academic year. The government plans to introduce the use of privately run English tests as part of the new test system to evaluate the exam taker's English skills in all four areas - reading, listening, speaking and writing.
This presentation will introduce characteristics of eight private English tests accepted for future university admission system. Second, it will address several issues associated with the new system such as the format and the aim of each test, testing fees, exam facilities and the measurement systems of four skills and certification standards for grading corresponding to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Third, the presentation discusses some issues related to English educators in Japan, especially focusing on the relationship between university entrance exams and high school education. Finally, the presentation provides some tips for high school students and university hopefuls in choosing an appropriate test and preparing for it.
