A Levels or IB? A guide for families choosing a secondary school in Japan

If you're choosing a secondary school in Japan, two qualifications will come up again and again: A Levels and the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Spend any time researching online or in parent groups and you'll notice the IB is far easier to find information on, as the most widely offered curriculum in Tokyo and across Japan. A Levels have a lower profile, but they are nonetheless the standard curriculum and national qualification in the United Kingdom, with around two thirds of sixth-form students taking them. They are also one of the most established routes into universities around the world.

In this article we'll walk through how each pathway works, where they lead, how to tell which one suits your child, and what to look for once you've decided.

The two routes, side by side

At secondary level in Japan, the choice usually comes down to a British curriculum ending in A Levels, or the IB Diploma Programme. Both are two-year courses for ages 16 to 18, both are respected by universities around the world, and both will stretch a motivated student. The difference is in shape: A Levels ask your child to specialise in a few subjects (most choose three) and go deep, while the IB goes wider, with six subjects studied at once plus a core programme alongside. Neither is “harder” in any absolute sense, but one might fit your child's learning style better than the other. Here's what that means in practice.

A Levels vs the IB at a glance

Here's how the two qualifications compare at a glance.

How do A Levels work?

Before A Levels, most British-curriculum schools run IGCSEs in Years 10 and 11 (roughly ages 14 to 16). Students usually sit around ten subjects at this stage, which keeps options open and builds the foundation for what comes next.

A Levels run across Years 12 and 13, the years usually called the Sixth Form. Students typically choose three subjects, occasionally four, and study those for two years. There are no compulsory subjects and no required combinations, so a student can pair closely related subjects such as maths, physics and chemistry, or spread across very different ones such as economics, art and Japanese. Grades run from A* down to E, and most universities make their offers on the basis of three A Level results.

Many British-curriculum schools also offer the Extended Project Qualification, or EPQ, alongside A Levels. It's an independent research project worth half an A Level: the student picks a question, researches it over several months, writes it up (often around 5,000 words) and presents it. Universities value this because it shows a student can work independently.

A Levels suit teens who already know the subjects they love or have a clear sense of direction, since they build specialised, in-depth knowledge. The trade-off is that dropping subjects early can close off course options later if a student changes direction.

How does the IB Diploma work?

The IB takes the opposite approach. Students study six subjects drawn from across different groups, usually a first language, a second language, a humanities or social science, a science, maths, and an arts subject or a further choice from the other groups. Three are taken at Higher Level and three at Standard Level.

On top of those six, every IB student completes the core: Theory of Knowledge, a course about how we know what we know; the Extended Essay, a 4,000-word independent research piece; and CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service), which takes students beyond the classroom. The full Diploma is scored out of 45 points.

The appeal of the IB is its breadth. It suits all-rounders who are curious across the board, or who haven't settled on one direction. The trade-off, unsurprisingly, is the heavier workload associated with studying more subjects.

Which one opens more doors at university?

Short answer: neither. Both A Levels and the IB are widely recognised and valued, including by highly selective universities like Oxford, Cambridge and the Ivy League. Each course sets its own subject requirements (medicine needs chemistry and biology, engineering needs maths and physics), so the number of other subjects taken is irrelevant. What truly matters is taking the right ones and doing well in them.

How do you figure out which suits your child?

Sometimes the choice isn't clear cut, especially when children are younger and their inclinations haven't fully emerged. A couple of things help.

Start with how your child learns. Some are deep divers who come alive when they can go all in on a few subjects and resent being made to keep up others. A Levels suit them. Others are naturally curious all-rounders who thrive on variety, and the IB plays to that.

Then be honest about workload and temperament. The IB's spread of six subjects plus the core is a lot to carry at once, and it rewards students who are organised and consistent. A Levels concentrate effort into fewer subjects but expect real depth in each.

If you take the IB route

If you land on the IB, the good news is you'll have many schools to choose from. It's the most widely offered international curriculum in Japan, so your shortlist is likely to be longer, and you can prioritise what matters: location and commute, fees, school size and feel.

A few things worth checking when you compare IB schools:

• Does the school offer the full Diploma? Plenty of schools run the earlier IB programmes (the Primary and Middle Years Programmes) but are still building towards the Diploma, or have only recently been authorised for it. If your child is heading into the final two years, confirm the DP is up and running rather than on the way.
• Ask about results and subject range. Average Diploma points, and the spread of Higher and Standard Level subjects on offer, tell you a lot about whether the school can support your child's strengths.
• Look at where leavers go. University destinations are a useful reality check on how well a school turns the Diploma into offers.
• Check the language options. If you want your child to keep up a home language or pick up Japanese, the IB's language groups help, though provision varies from school to school.

Some of the most popular schools on Ddoris offering the full Diploma at the moment of writing include Yokohama International School, Seisen International School (a Catholic girls' school), St Mary's International School (a boys' school) and Shinagawa International School (SIS).

You can compare them, and filter by what matters to you, here.

If you take the A-Level route: Rugby School Japan

The British route is a different proposition, mostly because the options are far fewer. Only a handful of schools in Japan take students all the way through to A Levels, so your shortlist will be short, and day-versus-boarding and commuting become bigger factors.

The most popular school among parents searching for British Curriculum and Cambridge A-Levels on doris at the moment of writing is Rugby School Japan (RSJ), a British international school in Kashiwanoha.

The secondary-only school opened in September 2023, covering Years 7 to 13 (ages 11 to 18), and runs the full British pathway: IGCSEs in Years 10 and 11, Levels in Years 12 and 13 alongside the EPQ (Extended Project Qualification). It offers day places alongside weekly and full boarding, and is a member of COBIS, the Council of British International Schools, with Beacon status for pupil welfare.

Bonus: the school is around 30 minutes from central Tokyo by train, fairly easy to reach from the capital city for day students commuting daily.

For boarding, another option is Harrow International School Appi, in the northern part of Japan (Iwate Prefecture).

Whichever school you decide to shortlist, the same checks apply here as on the IB side: look at the subject range at A Level, how it supports university applications, and how day and boarding fit your family.

You can see Rugby School Japan’s full profile, and compare it with other schools, on its doris profile, and our guide to the best international schools in Tokyo is a good place to widen the search.

Key takeaways

• A Levels mean depth; the IB means breadth. Three subjects studied deeply, versus six plus a core. Neither is better; the right one depends on how your child likes to learn.
• Think about your child first, the label second. Learning style, university hopes and appetite for workload matter more than the name on the certificate.
• The IB gives you more choice in Japan; A Levels give you less. If the British route appeals, expect a shorter but more concentrated shortlist.
• Whichever route you pick, check the detail. Subject range, results, university destinations and language provision tell you more than the prospectus does.

Frequently asked questions

Can you study A Levels in Japan?

Yes. A small number of British-curriculum schools in Japan offer A Levels, though they're far less common than IB schools. Most run IGCSEs in Years 10 and 11 and A Levels in Years 12 and 13.

Do Japanese universities accept A Levels?

Yes. A Levels are recognised by universities in Japan, including the growing number of English-taught degree programmes, as well as by universities in the UK, US, Canada, Europe and across Asia.

Are A Levels recognised by US universities?

Yes. US universities accept A Levels, and strong grades can sometimes count towards college credit in a similar way to Advanced Placement. Exact requirements vary by university.

How many A Levels do most students take?

Three is standard, and most UK university offers are based on three subjects. Some students take a fourth, and many add an EPQ alongside their A Levels.

How many subjects do IB students take?

IB students study six subjects (across sciences, humanities, languages and maths), plus an Extended Essay and Theory of Knowledge.

What is the EPQ?

The Extended Project Qualification is an independent research project worth half an A Level. Students choose their own question and write an extended report, which universities value as evidence of independent study.

Is the IB harder than A Levels?

Neither is harder in absolute terms. The IB spreads effort across six subjects plus a core programme, while A Levels concentrate on three subjects studied in depth. The right fit depends on the student.