KOAI (Korea Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence) isn't just an exam — it's a three-stage funnel of Round 1 application, Round 2 written exam, and Round 3 interview. CIT doesn't bundle this into a single course but designs it as 11 modules separated by stage and subject. Starting from the elementary pipeline (E1–E3) through the foundation (F1·F2), advanced (A1·A2), the middle school comprehensive class (M1), and the competition intensive (C1·C2·C3), it's a long-term track designed so you enter ready at the time you apply. A 5-minute walk from Apgujeong Station — start your path toward the IOAI national team at CIT.
Published: May 16, 2026 | Last updated: May 16, 2026 · Based on the KOAI 2026 guidelines
KOAI is the national-team selection competition for IOAI (International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence), hosted by the Korea Information Technology Promotion Agency (KITPA). It's split into a high-school division and a middle-school division, and the abilities evaluated at each stage are completely different. That's why CIT doesn't bundle it into a single course but designs the curriculum as modules separated by stage and subject.
Since KOAI can be taken from the middle-school division onward, the elementary track is run as a pipeline that enters ready — not a cold start — at the point eligibility begins. For the exact registration schedule, cost, and exam format, see the KOAI competition info page.
| Steps | Assessment core | CIT module |
|---|---|---|
| Elementary pipeline | Enter ready at the time you apply | E1 → E2 → E3 |
| Round 1 application | Portfolio 40% · AI Competency 30% · Growth Potential 25% · Academics 5% | C1 Portfolio Studio |
| Round 2 Written Exam | 6 hours / 80 multiple-choice + 10 essay / 1–4 subjects | F1·F2·A1·A2 → C2 |
| Round 3 interview | Teamwork 20% · English 15% · Representative Qualities 15% · AI Knowledge 15% · Reasoning 15% · Coding 10% · System Design 10% | C3 Selection Camp |
Most academies start KOAI prep at exam time; CIT designs it as a cumulative-asset structure that starts in elementary school.
The portfolio — the largest weight in the Round 1 application — can't be built in the 4 weeks right before the exam. CIT stacks every deliverable as a cumulative asset, from the elementary E track to the F·A capstones and C1 Portfolio Studio, creating a structure where 4–8 years of GitHub, Kaggle, and Notion history automatically pile up by the time you apply.
The English communication 15% of the Round 3 interview is practically a free score for international-school students. Conversely, since the Round 2 written exam is in a Korean-language environment, we build parallel Korean-English materials and Korean essay-answer practice into every course. We leverage the Round 3 strength and fill in the Round 2 weakness.
We transplant directly into KOAI the data-science- and psychology-based exam-prep methodology CIT has validated in its USACO, ISEF, and AP CS tracks — spaced retrieval, automated wrong-answer logs, advance disclosure of essay grading rubrics, and more.
Passing KOAI isn't the end. We provide a package that continues beyond national-team selection — from Round 3 team challenge simulations (20% weight, which most academies don't cover) to 1:1 coaching for the IOAI finals in Kazakhstan.
A staged track that starts from the elementary pipeline and continues through foundation → advanced/middle school → competition intensive. The longer the pipeline starting from elementary school, the deeper the portfolio and technical depth at the time you apply.
E1 Elementary AI Intro (Grades 2–3) → E2 Elementary Python + Data (Grades 4–5) → E3 Elementary First ML (Grades 5–6)
F1 Foundations I (Subject 1 · Python + classical ML) · F2 Foundations II (Subject 2 · Neural Networks & Deep Learning)
M1 Middle School Comprehensive (compressed F1+F2 + middle school mock exams) → Take the KOAI Middle School division → Round 1 waived if you place
A1 Computer Vision (Subject 3) · A2 NLP & Audio (Subject 4)
C1 Portfolio Studio (long-term, Round 1) · C2 Mock Bootcamp (Round 2) · C3 Selection Camp (Round 3/IOAI)
Click any course to see its goals, target students, hours, weekly outline, assessment deliverables, and portfolio contribution in detail.
No-code AI literacy. Experience how AI works with Scratch and Teachable Machine. About 10 hours.
E2 · Grades 4–5Transition from blocks to text-based coding. Python basics + intro to Pandas. About 12 hours.
E3 · Grades 5–6Intro to NumPy, Pandas, and scikit-learn + first ML model. Bridge to M1. About 12 hours.
Regression, classification, and clustering pipelines with NumPy/Pandas/scikit-learn. About 10 hours.
F2 · Subject 2Hands-on implementation from MLPs to mini transformer models in PyTorch. About 14 hours.
M1 · Middle SchoolCompressed F1+F2 + middle school mock exams. High School Round 1 waived if you place. About 20 hours.
From CNNs to diffusion models. Classification, detection, segmentation, and generation tasks. About 10 hours.
A2 · Subject 4Through BERT, LLM APIs, and Whisper. End-to-end text and audio. About 10 hours.
Portfolio site + personal statement + school record (세특) integration. Long-term + intensive, about 14 hours.
C2 · Round 2 WrittenStamina, speed, and accuracy training for the 6-hour exam format + error log. About 13 hours.
C3 · Round 3/IOAIPrepare all 7 interview items at once + IOAI finals option. About 13 hours.
The Elementary E track isn't tied directly to the KOAI exam schedule; it runs by grade level instead. Entry and exit timing is flexible depending on each student's pace: Grades 2–3 E1 → Grades 4–5 E2 → Grades 5–6 E3 → M1 Middle School Comprehensive upon entering 7th grade.
Adjusted each year to match the KOAI schedule. Below is the standard template; for that year's exact registration and exam dates, see KOAI Competition Guide.
| Timing (Exam D-) | Courses run | Key point |
|---|---|---|
| D-12 to D-9 months | F1 (Fall term) | Build Subject 1 fundamentals |
| D-9 to D-6 months | F2 (Winter term) | Subject 2 + start the back half of Middle School M1 |
| D-9 to D-3 months | Start the C1 long-term track | Build up your portfolio starting no later than 9 months before Round 1 |
| D-6 to D-3 months | A1 / A2 in parallel (Spring term) | Subjects 3 and 4 |
| D-2 to D-1.5 months | C1 intensive 4 weeks | Right before the Round 1 application deadline |
| D-2 ~ D-0 | C2 Mock Bootcamp 8 weeks | Right before the Round 2 written exam |
| D+0 to D+2 weeks | C3 Selection Camp | Right before the Round 3 interview (qualifiers only) |
| 4–6 weeks before the finals | IOAI finals option package | Qualifiers only |
Your path branches based on grade level, prior experience, and when you join CIT. We build an individualized plan for each student in the first diagnostic session.
3rd-grade international school student, first exposure to AI
E1 → E2 → E3 → M1 → KOAI Middle School → High School track. Builds a track record on GitHub and Kaggle accumulated by exam time.
8th-grade international school student, AI beginner stage
M1 Middle School Comprehensive → Take the KOAI Middle School division → Advance to High School with a Round 1 application waiver if you place.
10th-grade international school student, knows Python, new to ML
F1 → F2 → A1+A2 → C1 long-term + intensive → C2 → C3. About 84 hours total.
All times are recommended 1:1 hours. Depending on the student's prior knowledge, comprehension speed, and learning absorption, they vary by ±30–50%, and we build an individual plan for each student in the first diagnostic session.
| Course | Recommended (1:1) | Range |
|---|---|---|
| E1 Elementary AI Intro | About 10 hours | 6–14 hours |
| E2 Elementary Python + Data | ~12 hours | 8–18 hours |
| E3 Elementary First ML | ~12 hours | 8–16 hours |
| F1 Foundations I | About 10 hours | 6–14 hours |
| F2 Foundations II | ~14 hours | 10–20 hours |
| A1 CV Advanced | About 10 hours | 6–14 hours |
| A2 NLP & Audio | About 10 hours | 6–14 hours |
| M1 Middle School Comprehensive | About 20 hours | 14–28 hours |
| C1 Portfolio Studio | ~14 hours | 10–20 hours |
| C2 Mock Bootcamp | About 13 hours | 8–18 hours |
| C3 Selection Camp | About 13 hours | 10–16 hours |
※ Hours assume: small 1:1/1:2 sessions, with the F and A tracks assuming prior Python basics. Group classes require roughly twice the time.
The portfolio is 40% of the KOAI Round 1 application, and it's a function of time you can't fake in the few weeks before the exam. CIT's E-track pipeline, starting in grades 2–3, is designed so that you accumulate 4–8 years of GitHub, Kaggle, and Notion history by exam time. We recommend starting the C1 long-term portfolio track no later than 9 months before the High School Round 1.
There are 11 courses in all: the elementary pipeline E1·E2·E3, the Foundations F1·F2 (required for every applicant), High School Advanced A1·A2, Middle School Comprehensive M1, and Competition-focus C1·C2·C3. Because KOAI is a three-stage funnel — Round 1 application, Round 2 written, Round 3 interview — we designed it as modules separated by stage and subject.
Winning the Grand Prize or Gold in the KOAI Middle School division waives the High School Round 1 application for up to 2 years. Because that's a huge payoff, CIT runs M1 Middle School Comprehensive as the most important track for students in grades 8–9.
The 15% for English communication in the KOAI Round 3 interview is practically free points for international school students. The Round 2 written exam, however, is in Korean (multiple choice + short essay), so CIT builds bilingual Korean-English study materials and Korean essay-writing practice into every course — playing up your Round 3 strength while shoring up any potential Round 2 weakness.
Every course runs in small 1:1 or 1:2 sessions by default. You can cover the same material in less than half the time of a group class, with the pace automatically speeding up or slowing down to fit each student's strengths and weaknesses. The listed class hours are 1:1 recommendations and vary ±30–50% by student.
Yes. KOAI High School final selectees compete in the IOAI (International Olympiad in Artificial Intelligence) finals, held August 2–8, 2026 in Astana, Kazakhstan. For qualifiers, CIT offers a 1:1 IOAI finals coaching package that prepares separately for the Scientific Round and the Team Round.
Through a diagnostic session, we'll design a KOAI path tailored to your child's grade level, prior experience, and goals. A long-term pipeline starting in elementary school builds the biggest advantage.