The essential terms at a glance
| Term | What it means | Parent-friendly explanation |
|---|---|---|
| IB | International Baccalaureate | A family of international education programmes for ages 3-19 |
| PYP | Primary Years Programme | An IB programme generally for ages 3-12, with inquiry-based learning |
| MYP | Middle Years Programme | An IB programme generally for ages 11-16, connecting subjects and concepts |
| DP / IBDP | Diploma Programme | A two-year pre-university programme generally for ages 16-19 |
| IGCSE | International qualification | Subject-by-subject qualifications usually taken around ages 14-16 |
| AP | Advanced Placement | Individual college-level high-school courses and exams |
| K-12 | Kindergarten to Grade 12 | A grade span, not a particular curriculum or examination |
The first useful distinction is simple: K-12 is a grade range, IB is a programme family, IGCSE is a qualification, and AP is a set of individual courses and exams. They are not interchangeable labels.
Age ranges are international guidelines. Grade placement depends on each school’s birthday cut-off, admissions rules and academic calendar.
How to read Kindergarten, Grade and Year
Kindergarten usually refers to the early-years stage. Grade is common in American-style systems, while Year is common in British-style systems. As a rough guide, Grade 1 is around the first year of Japanese primary school, Grade 6 is around Japanese Grades 6-7, and Grade 9 is around Japanese Grades 9-10.
These are only approximate comparisons. Birthday cut-offs and entry dates differ, so a transfer decision should use the school’s own grade chart rather than an online equivalence table.
| School label | Approximate Japanese reference | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Kindergarten | 幼稚園相当 | Whether it sits within early years or primary school |
| Grade 1 | 小学1年生前後 | Birthday cut-off and entry date |
| Grade 6 | 小学6年〜中学1年ごろ | When the school moves into the middle years |
| Grade 9 | 中学3年〜高校1年ごろ | Whether IGCSE or another upper-secondary route begins |
| Year 10 | 中学3年〜高校1年ごろ | Exam and subject-selection timing |
The Japanese references are approximate, not official equivalences. The receiving school decides placement.
IB is not one exam
The International Baccalaureate’s programme overview describes programmes for learners aged 3-19. The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is generally for ages 3-12, the Middle Years Programme (MYP) for ages 11-16, and the Diploma Programme (DP) for ages 16-19.
PYP uses inquiry as a central approach. MYP connects subject learning through concepts and contexts. The DP combines six subject groups with core elements including Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS), and the Extended Essay (EE). These terms describe assessed parts of the programme, not optional decoration.
When a school says it is an IB school, ask which programmes it is authorised to offer and which grades actually participate. A school offering PYP only creates a very different long-term route from a school that continues through MYP and DP.
IGCSE is usually a subject-based qualification for ages 14-16
IGCSE normally means International General Certificate of Secondary Education, a qualification earned by subject. Cambridge International’s guide explains that assessment may include written exams, oral work, coursework and practical work depending on the subject.
Not every school uses Cambridge. Some use Pearson Edexcel International GCSE. For example, K. International School Tokyo publishes a route through Pearson Edexcel IGCSE in Grades 9-10 and the IB Diploma Programme in Grades 11-12.
Parents should therefore ask which exam board is used, which subjects are available, when the courses begin, how internal work is counted, and what senior-school route follows.
AP means individual college-level courses in high school
Advanced Placement (AP) courses and exams let high-school students study individual subjects at college level. The College Board overview explains AP as a course-and-exam offering rather than one whole-school diploma programme.
That makes AP different from the IB Diploma Programme, which combines subject groups and shared core requirements. A school can offer AP while awarding a separate High School Diploma. The American School in Japan, for example, describes its High School Diploma alongside AP courses and AP Capstone Diploma options.
Compare the pathway, not just the school label
- PYPPrimary years
- MYPMiddle years
- DPTwo senior years
- Lower secondaryBefore upper secondary
- IGCSEUsually ages 14-16
- DP / A-level / DiplomaSchool-specific
- ElementaryPrimary years
- Middle SchoolLower secondary
- High School DiplomaAP courses at some schools
Even within international schools, the curriculum a student moves into later differs by school. The diagram above simplifies some representative routes.
Two international schools in Tokyo may both sound “international” while offering different experiences: one may connect PYP, MYP and DP; another may move from IGCSE into DP; a third may award a High School Diploma and offer AP courses. The grade-by-grade sequence is more useful than the headline label.
For a transfer, ask what grade your child would enter, which subjects can carry over, whether assessment changes, and whether there are gaps before the next examination or diploma stage. Keep recent reports, subject lists and representative assignments ready for the conversation.
Five questions to ask when comparing schools
If a school page is unclear, ask: “What does a student learn and how are they assessed in this grade, and what does it lead to next?” That question turns a list of labels into a usable decision framework.
How Petra thinks about learning support
The right support depends on the task: organising an inquiry project, improving an external-exam response, or understanding a college-level course are different needs even when all three are described as “English support.”
Petra Tutors looks at the student’s grade, subjects, current work, assessment method and next pathway before suggesting a plan.
In summary
- K-12 is a grade span from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
- IB is a family of programmes, including PYP, MYP and DP.
- IGCSE is usually a subject-based qualification for ages 14-16; AP offers individual advanced courses and exams.
- Grade and Year comparisons with Japanese schools are approximate; use each school’s own grade chart.
- The practical comparison is the full pathway: learning, assessment, graduation and transfer points.
