Seminar on Admissions Strategies for the Era of Rapidly Increasing IB World Schools (Over 260 Nationwide)

IB Academy, a specialized online tutoring service for the International Baccalaureate operated by Linksenpai Co., Ltd. (Location: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director: Shiori Yoshida), held an online seminar for IB students and their parents on the theme of the rapid increase in IB World Schools and the changing examination environment. At the seminar, IB Academy's IB graduate instructors presented, explaining the latest trends of authorized and candidate schools exceeding 260 by 2025, the realities of changing admissions strategies, and the expanding use of IB scores for domestic university admissions. Many participants commented, 'I received a lot of information I didn't know before and concrete advice.' IB education is rapidly spreading in Japan, and the examination environment is undergoing significant changes. IB Academy provides daily information so that IB students and parents can prepare based on accurate information.

Seminar Overview Date and Time: Friday, March 13, 2026 Format: Online (Zoom) Target Audience: IB students and parents, those considering enrolling in IB World Schools Participation Fee: Free Number of Participants: Approximately 100 Speakers: IB Academy Representative, Shiori Yoshida

Main Content/Themes of the Seminar

Why IB World Schools Continue to Increase After 2025 The Japanese government set a goal in 'Growth Strategy 2021' (Cabinet Decision in June 2021) to increase the number of IB authorized and candidate schools to over 200, achieving this goal in March 2023. The growth momentum has not waned since then, and by 2025, the total number of authorized and candidate schools has exceeded 260. The rapid increase is mainly due to the following factors: * Proactive promotion and continued subsidies for IB education by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) * The spread of 'Japanese DP' (a program allowing some subjects to be taken in Japanese) has lowered the hurdle for introducing IB in regular schools. * Increasing social demand for nurturing global human resources and a rise in the inclination towards IB among parents and students. * Expansion of acceptance of domestic university admissions (e.g., comprehensive selection, returnee admissions) utilizing IB scores. * New program developments are also accelerating, such as Nagano Nihon University High School obtaining Japan's first IB CP (Career-related Programme) certification in March 2025.

The Reality of 'Admissions Strategies' Changing with the Increase in IB World Schools With the increase in authorized schools, the environment surrounding IB admissions has significantly changed from before. IB Academy's key points of focus for changes are as follows: ① Intensified Competition and the Importance of Target School Preparation While admissions to IB World Schools were once limited in options, the diversification of target schools is progressing with the increase in their numbers. On the other hand, there is a tendency for applicants to concentrate in popular schools in urban areas, making preparation tailored to each school's trends even more crucial. ② Full-scale Utilization of IB Scores for Domestic University Admissions Over 100 domestic universities, including the University of Tokyo, Kyoto University, Keio University, and Waseda University, are implementing or considering admissions that utilize IB scores. While IB was once strongly perceived as a qualification for overseas universities, it is now a viable option for domestic progression, requiring study plans that consider score strategy. ③ Expansion of Japanese DP and Increased Complexity of Subject Selection Japanese DP is offered in 37 schools nationwide (as of 2025), making it easier for students concerned about their English proficiency to choose IB. On the other hand, with the diversification of subject combinations and language choices, advice for optimal subject selection tailored to career paths has become more important. ④ Increasing Need for Specialized Support Compared to the increase in the number of schools, the absolute number of instructors knowledgeable in IB education is still insufficient. The importance of specialized support capable of addressing IB-specific challenges such as IA, EE, and TOK is expected to grow further in the future. Data on IB schools in Japan (2024-2025 data)

IB Academy's Initiatives In this rapidly changing IB education environment, IB Academy has established the following system to ensure that each student receives accurate information and appropriate support: * 1-on-1 one-on-one tutoring by over 150 IB graduate instructors (covering all subjects) * Targeted preparation for specific schools, reflecting the latest admission trends of each IB World School. * Specialized instruction focusing on IB-specific challenges such as IA, EE, and TOK. * Advice on application strategies utilizing IB scores for domestic and overseas universities. * Regular updates to a helpful blog that disseminates the latest information for IB students and parents.

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