Frequently Asked Questions

This depends on your family’s background and the grade level you are applying for. Specific details regarding the admissions tests, including the academic content and scope, are outlined in the Admissions Handbook.

Parents may choose to conduct the admissions interview in either Japanese or English. After enrollment, Japanese-speaking staff or interpreters can be arranged for meetings such as student-parent-teacher conferences, upon request. Please note, however, that we are unable to accommodate languages other than English or Japanese.

Each grade level typically has a few available seats, though the exact number varies. We recommend inquiring about seat availability at the time of your intended application. Please note that we are unable to provide information regarding competition rates or acceptance ratios.

The most active period for applications is for entry at the beginning of the academic year in August, which is also when the most seats tend to become available due to family relocations. The application deadline for August entry is typically in early January.

Mid-year admissions are possible if seats are available. KIST accepts applications year-round. Decisions for mid-year entry are based on seat availability as well as the applicant’s academic readiness and compatibility with our educational programs.

Nationality is determined based not on the child’s passport, but on the background of the parents. For more information, please refer to the Admissions Handbook.

At KIST, decisions regarding promotion or progression are made based on a comprehensive review of each student's academic performance, learning attitude, behavior, and parental involvement, in accordance with our progression criteria.

First, we encourage families to make use of the school’s support programs, such as supplementary and individual learning support sessions. It is also important to maintain regular communication with homeroom and subject teachers to receive advice tailored to your child’s academic progress.

As most Japanese cram schools offer programs that differ significantly from our curriculum, we do not recommend them.

KIST offers a continuous, integrated curriculum focused on success in the IB Diploma Programme. Therefore, we do not have specific support systems in place for external academic competitions such as the Math or Science Olympiad.

The annual schedule and details of events are provided in the Admissions Handbook.

While not unheard of, such cases are very rare.

Assessment at KIST follows clear criteria aligned with international standards. (Pearson iLowerSecondary, Edexcel IGCSE, IB DP). Teachers use shared rubrics, moderation processes, and regular team discussions to ensure consistency and fairness across subjects and grade levels.

KIST offers comprehensive university and career guidance beginning in the Secondary School（Grade 9）. Our University Guidance Counselor meets regularly with students to provide individualized support.
This includes advice on global university options, help with applications and recommendations, coordination of university visits, and guidance in choosing IB Diploma courses. The counselor also oversees SAT and PSAT testing and maintains connections with universities and alumni to support students’ future pathways.

Absolutely. The number of Japanese universities accepting IB scores is increasing every year. KIST graduates have been accepted to a wide range of institutions including the University of Tokyo, other national universities, top private universities such as Waseda, Keio, Sophia, and ICU, as well as Japanese medical schools.

KIST’s Japanese program is based on a unique curriculum designed with future success in the IB Diploma Programme（DP）in mind. Prior to the DP（in both Elementary and Secondary), students are grouped into four levels based on their proficiency: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, and Advanced Plus（native-level). Japanese lessons are held three times a week in Elementary and four times a week in Secondary.

The Advanced Plus course is designed for students who will eventually take “Language and Literature” in the DP, and focuses on developing advanced academic Japanese skills equivalent to those required in English, such as literary analysis and language features—skills even native speakers typically don’t study in depth. As a result, areas commonly emphasized in Japanese public schools, such as kanji volume, classical Japanese, and Chinese classics, are not covered. Since our curriculum significantly differs from that of commercial textbooks or cram schools, we do not recommend outside tutoring unless your intention is to have your child study Japanese “Kokugo” in the traditional sense.

Since language acquisition varies greatly among individuals, it is difficult to say definitively. However, depending on the student’s aptitude and motivation, some students do become able to hold basic conversations.

That said, our Japanese program is focused on building academic language skills aimed at success in the IB DP. The 3–4 weekly lessons are not designed to guarantee fluency in everyday conversation.

On the other hand, in the DP Japanese examinations（Language B or Language A), most of our students achieve the top score of “7” each year, demonstrating our program’s strong results in developing high-level academic Japanese.

School bus availability varies depending on the timing, but most families who request a seat are able to secure one at the start of the school year. If the bus is full, you may register on the waiting list and will be contacted in the order of application once a seat becomes available. Please note that the bus operates based on designated stops, and door-to-door service is not available. For details, please refer to the bus routes and stops listed in the Admissions Handbook.

Ratios vary by year, but younger students tend to use the school lunch service more. Please note that we do not provide meals tailored to specific religious or allergy-related dietary needs.

Yes, both are available. Please refer to the Admissions Handbook for details regarding time and availability. Availability may vary depending on the time of year, but most families who request these services have been able to use them.