Choosing a cram school for middle school entrance exams can really be a headache. Whether it's a group class or individual, a big chain or a small one, how much it costs... there are so many points to consider that your head gets overwhelmed. When I actually looked into and compared popular middle school entrance exam cram schools, I surprisingly found some differences.

Looking at the top-ranked schools at a glance, the first that stands out is Nichinoken. Its appeal lies in the low monthly fee of about 36,000 yen and its ability to cater to a wide range of school levels. Yotsuya Otsuka is known for its truly abundant success record, and the textbook "Yoshu Series" is so popular that other cram schools also use it. Waseda Academy also has many successful students gaining admission to the most difficult schools, and its costs are not that high.

However, SAPIX is overwhelmingly successful in terms of success record, but its monthly fee is quite high at about 66,000 yen. In the Kansai area, Ham Gakuen and Mabuchi Classroom are strong contenders. Ham Gakuen charges about 58,000 yen per month and offers thorough support. The choice of cram school depends on the level of the target schools, the region, and most importantly, whether it suits the child's personality.

The key to not failing in choosing a middle school entrance exam cram school is to attend explanation sessions at multiple schools and get a feel for the actual atmosphere. Judging only by costs is not enough; it’s also important whether the environment makes the child want to attend. While rankings are helpful as a reference, ultimately, a parent’s intuition is also very important.