When choosing a coding·AI academy for international school students, check three things. First, whether they have actual experience teaching your school's curriculum, such as AP CSA·IB CS·IGCSE CS. Second, whether they provide both English instruction and supplementary explanation in Korean. Third, whether they go beyond exam prep to connect you to USACO (USA Computing Olympiad)·AI olympiads·an EC portfolio. Through in-person classes in Apgujeong and 1:1 online classes, CIT Coding Academy meets all three needs of students at KIS·SIS·YISS·SFS·Chadwick·Dulwich·BFS·Dwight·GSIS.
Published: March 12, 2026 | Last updated: May 27, 2026
International school students must complete CS subjects in international curricula such as AP (Advanced Placement), IB (International Baccalaureate), and IGCSE (International General Certificate of Secondary Education). These subjects differ in content and depth from the Informatics subject in regular Korean schools and require specialized preparation. In particular, AP CSA (AP Computer Science A) is a Java-based college-level subject, and IB CS requires both theory and the IA (Internal Assessment) project.
Starting in the 2025-26 school year, the AP CSA curriculum was revamped. Inheritance·polymorphism were removed from the required scope, file I/O and dataset processing were added as new units, and the exam itself switched to the Bluebook digital format. Existing textbooks or online lectures struggle to fully reflect these changes.
In U.S. college admissions, CS-related EC (extracurricular) activities are a powerful differentiator. USACO competition results, an AI project portfolio, hackathon awards, and the like become key material on the Common App that demonstrates a student's passion and ability. CIT precisely understands the unique needs of international school students and provides tailored education.
Each school has a different curriculum and CS exam type. Find your school in the table below and refer to that school's dedicated page.
| School | Curriculum | Key CS Tasks / Exam Points | Dedicated Page |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIS Korea International School |
AP | AP CSA digital exam (2026 new curriculum), AP CSP Performance Task, USACO competition | KIS page → |
| SIS Seoul International School |
IB AP | IB CS HL Internal Assessment (IA) 30%, IGCSE CS pre-release material | SIS page → |
| YISS Yongsan International School of Seoul |
IB | IB CS HL/SL IA topic selection·development, Theory of Knowledge (ToK) CS connection | YISS page → |
| SFS Seoul Foreign School |
AP | AP CSA score-5 goal, AP CSP Create Performance Task, college essay CS profile design | SFS page → |
| Chadwick Songdo Chadwick International Songdo |
AP | AP CSA digital exam, online 1:1 classes available for students living in Songdo | Coming soon |
| Dulwich Seoul Dulwich College Seoul |
IGCSE IB | IGCSE CS pre-release material analysis, IB CS HL IA mentoring | Coming soon |
| BFS British Foundation School |
IGCSE IB | IGCSE CS pre-release intensive prep, IB Diploma progression prep | Coming soon |
| Dwight Seoul Dwight Seoul |
IB | IB CS HL IA development mentoring, CAS (Creativity·Activity·Service) CS project connection | Coming soon |
| GSIS Gyeonggi Suwon International School |
AP | AP CSA exam prep, online 1:1 classes available for students living in Suwon | Coming soon |
* Curriculum information is based on each school's official site. We'll confirm school-specific details during a consultation.
Items confirmed as of May 2026
AP CSA 2025-26 curriculum changes and switch to the digital exam
Source: College Board — AP Computer Science A Course Overview | Korean-American Educational Commission (Fulbright Korea)
Exam prep for AP Computer Science A (Java) and AP Computer Science Principles based on the 2026 revised curriculum. We prepare students systematically — concept learning, coding practice, full-length mock exams, and weak-point analysis — using CIT's own ExamPrep platform.
AP CSA & CSP details →Mentoring through the entire process of IB Computer Science HL/SL theory plus the Internal Assessment (IA). We analyze IGCSE Computer Science pre-release material and prepare for the exam, with hands-on practice in both Java and Python.
IB CS & IGCSE CS details →Step-by-step prep for USACO (USA Computing Olympiad) from Bronze to Platinum, plus competing in ACSL (American Computer Science League) team contests. Students train their algorithmic thinking and problem-solving skills, building a strong EC activity for college admissions.
We systematically design and support CS-related extracurricular (EC) activities — AI projects, hackathons, open-source contributions, research projects, and more — that students can use on the Common App for U.S. college admissions.
Students from major international schools across Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon study at CIT. Students from a wide range of schools — KIS (Korea International School), SIS (Seoul International School), YISS (Yongsan International School of Seoul), SFS (Seoul Foreign School), GSIS (Gyeonggi Suwon International School), Dulwich College Seoul, Chadwick International, and more — take classes tailored to their own curriculum.
Each international school adopts a different curriculum — AP, IB, IGCSE, and so on — with different academic calendars and exam dates. CIT understands the specifics of each school and runs classes flexibly around the student's school schedule. We can teach in English and add Korean explanations as needed.
Even students who find it hard to commute to our Apgujeong campus can get classes perfectly matched to their school's curriculum.
CIT online classes aren't a "we do online too" afterthought. Even students who live outside the area around their school matched to the exact same school curriculum get 1:1-designed classes. Songdo Chadwick students, Suwon GSIS students, and international school students in other parts of Gyeonggi all study with the same content and approach as our in-person classes.
1:1
Dedicated instructor assigned
Tailored to each school's curriculum
Flexible
Matched to your academic calendar
Schedule can be adjusted
Identical
Same as in-person
Curriculum & level
During summer and winter break we run intensive courses. You can choose from a variety of options to fit your goals — a fast-track AP CSA course (6–8 weeks), an intensive USACO competition-prep class, an AI project bootcamp, and more. Intensive study over the break is highly effective for international school students who are busy during the term, and the same courses are available online as well.
On the admissions-strategy side, CIT designs a CS roadmap with you from 9th through 12th grade. We plan everything together — which competitions to enter and when, which projects to take on, and when to sit the AP exam. This lets students show consistent, in-depth CS ability in the Common App's Activities Section.
| Grade | Recommended activities | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9th grade | Complete Python fundamentals + get ahead in IGCSE CS / first attempt at USACO Bronze | Build a foundation in algorithmic thinking |
| 10th grade | Start AP CSA or IB CS HL + aim for USACO Silver / first AI project | Core curriculum coursework alongside EC activities |
| 11th grade | Aim for a 5 on AP CSA (May) + begin the IB CS HL IA / attempt USACO Gold / complete AI portfolio | The key window for building your admissions profile |
| 12th grade | Finalize Common App activities + final attempt at USACO and AI Olympiad / complete the story that ties into your essays | Preparing ED/EA applications in parallel |
Check three things. First, whether they actually have experience teaching that school's curriculum (AP / IB / IGCSE). Second, whether they offer both English-language instruction and supplementary explanations in Korean. Third, whether they go beyond exam prep to connect students with USACO, AI Olympiads, and an EC portfolio. Since the AP CSA curriculum was revised for 2025–26, you should also be sure to confirm that the classes reflect the changes.
AP Computer Science A (AP CSA) has two major changes for the 2025–26 school year. On the curriculum side, inheritance and polymorphism — previously required topics — have been removed, and file I/O and dataset handling have been added as a new unit. On the format side, the exam has switched from paper to the College Board Bluebook digital exam. Since many existing textbooks and online courses are still based on the old curriculum, it's important to confirm that your study materials are aligned with the 2026 standards.
Yes, we mentor students through the entire IB Computer Science Internal Assessment (IA) — from topic selection to development, documentation, and submission. The IA is an important task that makes up 30% of the total IB CS score. We guide students to design a practical IA project tied to their area of interest, and because it's a long-term project, we run a weekly 1:1 progress check session. It runs the same way online.
Yes. The IGCSE Computer Science exam releases pre-release material each season. As soon as it comes out, CIT analyzes it quickly to set a prep direction, and systematically prepares for both Paper 1 (theory) and Paper 2 (practical). We also focus on improving pseudocode-writing skills.
Yes — in addition to our in-person Apgujeong campus, we also run 1:1 online classes. Students who live outside the area around their school can still get 1:1 online classes matched to the exact same school curriculum. Students far away in Bundang, Ilsan, Incheon, Songdo, and elsewhere, as well as those attending Chadwick International (Songdo) or GSIS (Suwon), study remotely at the same level as our in-person classes. For details, see the online classes page.
Students from major international schools across Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Incheon study with us — KIS (Korea International School), SIS (Seoul International School), YISS (Yongsan International School of Seoul), SFS (Seoul Foreign School), Chadwick International, Dulwich College Seoul, BFS (British Foundation School), Dwight Seoul, GSIS (Gyeonggi Suwon International School), and more. We provide customized classes matched to each school's curriculum and academic calendar.
Yes. CIT can teach in both English and Korean, and students can choose the language of instruction based on their preference and comfort. Since AP and IB textbooks and exams are in English, learning the concepts in English is effective for exam prep.
Yes — we run intensive courses during summer and winter break. We offer a variety of intensive courses to fit your goals, including a fast-track AP CSA course (6–8 weeks), an intensive USACO competition-prep class, and an AI project bootcamp. The break intensive courses are also available online.
We build EC (extracurricular) activities out of things like USACO and ACSL awards, scoring a 5 on AP CSA, an AI project portfolio, and hackathon participation. These become core evidence of a student's passion and ability in CS for U.S. college admissions. We design a CS admissions roadmap with you from 9th through 12th grade to create a consistent story in the Common App Activities Section.
Yes — we understand each school's curriculum, exam schedule, and IA/performance-assessment submission dates, and build a customized study plan. Each school has its own characteristics: KIS is AP-focused, SIS is a mix of IB and AP, YISS is IB-focused, and so on. Dedicated detail pages for each school are also in the works: KIS · SIS · YISS · SFS
References (Sources)
Wondering where to start with coding and AI education for your international school child? In a free consultation, we'll design the best study plan for your school's curriculum. Consultations are available both in person and online.