Hi. I'm also from Japan.

>>1
Are you really sure you weren't able to read English well enough to pass entrance exams? As 19 year-old Japanese go, you write/wrote English pretty well, imo. I think there are many more people who are/were admitted to college at lower level than you are. Hmm. I guess you are the kind of person who gets nervous when taking tests... So I suggest you take STEP tests, pre 1st/2nd level, I mean, when you have a chance. You can get used to such atmosphere.

Good luck with your entrance exams.