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[PeterDragon]

I teach online for a Japanese school, but don't actually live in Japan or know any Japanese. lately, the school's been having me help students prepare for the Eiken.

I have a student who came to me right after failing Step 1 Eiken Writing. I looked at the Step 1 Eiken prep materials I was actually able to read, and it seemed to me that Step 1 Eiken Writing was patterned after the TOEFL and IELTS independent writing tasks.

So I coached my student through TOEFL/IELTS type writing, got her writing very much in shape, and she just did a Step 1 retake. She failed writing again, with only a slightly higher score.

My student tells me that--- in contrast to TOEFL, IELTS and most other standardized tests--- the Step Eiken doesn't publicize its rubrics or standards. Is this true? And how can I help my student pass Step 1 writing on her next retake? And are there any decent prep materials or teaching guides for the Eiken that I could easily use, as a teacher who can't read Japanese and doesn't live in Japan?

[Rooster.]

Is "Step Eiken" different from "Eiken"?

What specifically does/did your student do you prepare?