Admissions FAQs
We’re sure you’ve got questions.
We have the answers.
What time does the school day start and end?
- Classes at the Chofu campus begin at 8am and conclude at 3pm. Throughout the year, we offer a variety of co-curricular activities that end at varying times.
- Classes at the Early Learning Center Begin at 8:30am and conclude at 2:30pm.
Do you have a boarding or homestay option?
No, we are a day school and require students to be living with their parent/guardian in Tokyo during their enrollment at ASIJ.
Do you have to be a US citizen to apply?
No, there are no citizenship requirements to apply.
Do you admit students with special learning needs?
We have a learning support program K–12 that supports students with mild learning needs. Each applicant is reviewed individually to evaluate whether we can support their learning needs within our curriculum. We encourage prospective families to contact our admissions office to discuss their particular situation.
Do you have to be a native English speaker to attend school at ASIJ?
No. English is our language of instruction, and we have students with a variety of language backgrounds. A high level of English proficiency is needed to be successful in our program, but we offer a language support program in grades 1–8 to support multiple language learners.
Do graduates attend only American universities and colleges?
While the largest percentage of our students choose to attend university or college in the United States, many others attend schools in Canada, the UK, Australia and Japan. For more details, please check our Annual Report.
What is the difference between International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and the Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum offered at ASIJ?
If we compare the AP to IBDP, then here are the major differences:
- AP courses can be taken independently of each other and there is no unifying component that connects them together. AP does not limit the number of exams a student can take. Students at ASIJ may sit for AP exams that reflect courses they are currently enrolled in, with the exception of AP Chinese, AP Japanese, or AP Spanish exams.
- The IBDP is limited to six courses — first language, additional language, math, science, social studies, art (with some variation). IBDP students choose three at Higher Level and three at Standard Level, taken simultaneously.
- AP courses are rigorous, in-depth and focused on a single subject area. The IBDP focuses not just on specific subject content but also on competencies such as global awareness.
- AP courses are one year whereas IBDP courses are two years.
- AP courses culminate in a single final exam (with some exceptions for art) that consist of multiple choice/essay questions whereas IBDP courses include coursework as part of the experience along with final exams that consist of several papers.
- The IBDP includes core components of theory of knowledge (TOK), creativity, activity, service (CAS) and a 4,000 word extended essay. If students are not taking the full diploma, but just exams in particular subjects, then they are not required to complete these.
- The AP Capstone Diploma allows students to engage in the rigorous development of inquiry, research, collaboration, and writing skills. The program is meant to complement the in-depth, subject-specific rigor of AP courses and exams. The program consists of a two-course sequence: AP Seminar and AP Research. Students planning to take the AP Research course must have completed AP Seminar and scored 3 or higher. Students who score a 3 or higher in the AP Seminar, AP Research, and at least four other AP courses during high school will receive the AP Capstone Diploma.
- AP scores are 1–5 and IB scores are 1–7 in individual subjects, and combined into an overall total of up to 45 points.
How many different nationalities attend your school?
We have over 50 nationalities represented within our student body. American families make up about half of our student body and are keen to continue to diversify our representation. Close to half of our families are bi-cultural with parents from the US and Japan. For more details, please check our Annual Report.
Do you get many new students each year?
Yes, our new enrollment typically fluctuates between 15-20% annually. We have new students in all grade levels each year.
Where do your teachers come from?
We recruit worldwide in order to hire the most talented teachers in the world. While the majority of our teachers are from North America, we also have teachers from the UK, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Europe, and South America.
Can I donate to ASIJ during the Admissions application process?
While ASIJ is most appreciative of philanthropic support from friends, the school does not accept gifts from prospective families who are not otherwise affiliated with the school during the Admissions process. This ensures that the focus remains on ASIJ’s prospective students and their strengths as candidates for admittance.
