Generally gradings are held every three months until Shodan (1st degree black belt).

Videos of the katas are available here.

Ranking Structure

Rank - Belt Colour - Practicing Kata

Beginner - White - Heian shodan

8th kyu - White - Heian nidan

7th kyu - White - Heian sandan   

6th kyu -  Green - Heian yondan

5th kyu - Green/Blue - Heian godan

4th kyu - Green/Blue - Tekki shodan   

3rd kyu* - Brown - Bassai-dai

2nd kyu - Brown-  Bassai-dai

1st kyu - Brown-  Bassai-dai   

Shodan (1st degree) - Black - Favorite kata

Nidan (2nd degree) - Black - Favorite (minimum: 2 years Shodan)

Sandan (3rd degree) - Black - Favorite (minimum: 3 years Nidan)

Yondan (4th degree) - Black - Favorite (minimum: 5 years Sandan)

Godan + (5th degree +)-  Black - Favorite (by invitation)

The following are the International Shotokan Federation (ISKF) Kyu Examinations Guidelines (7/11/13). Dan Guidelines are in the same link.

9th Kyu to 8th Kyu:

Kihon:

Step in ‐ chudan oi zuki
step back – jodan age uke
Step in ‐ chudan soto uke
Turn – step in kokutsu dachi / chudan shuto uke

Kicking:
Step in – chudan maegeri turn – highest maegeri

Kata: Heian Shodan
 Kumite: Sanbon kumite – jodan oi zuki/chudan oi zuki (to the count)

8th Kyu to 7th Kyu:

Kihon:

Step in ‐ chudan oi zuki
step back – jodan age uke
Step in ‐ chudan soto uke
step back – kokutsu dachi / chudan shuto uke

Kicking:
Step in – chudan maegeri
turn – jodan maegeri
From kiba dachi – yoko geri keage/ yoko kekomi (both sides)

Kata: Heian Nidan
Kumite: Sanbon Kumite – jodan oi zuki/chudan oi zuki (no count)

7th Kyu to 6th Kyu:

1) Adults

Kihon: Step in ‐ sanbon zuki: jodan/chudan/chudan 

step back‐ jodan age uke/chudan gyaku zuki

Step in ‐ chudan soto uke/jodan gyaku zuki; 

step back –kokutsu dachi/chudan shuto uke

Kicking:
Step in ‐ chudan maegeri

Turn ‐ jodan maegeri
From kiba dachi ‐ yoko keage/yoko kekomi

(both sides)

Kata: Heian Sandan

Kumite: Ippon kumite –jodan oi zuki/chudan oi zuki (left and right sides)

Defense – at least two different counter attacks

2) Kids

Kihon: Step in – chudan oi zuki

step back – jodan age uke

Step in – chudan soto uke

step back – chudan shuto uke

Kicking: Step in – chudan maegeri

turn – jodan maegeri
From kiba dachi – yoko keage/ yoko kekomi (both sides)

Kata: Heian Sandan

Kumite: Sanbon Kumite –jodan oi zuki/ chudan oi zuki

6th Kyu to 5th Kyu:

Kihon:

Step in ‐ sanbon zuki: jodan/chudan/chudan
step back ‐ jodan age uke/chudan gyaku zuki
Step in ‐ chudan soto uke/empi uchi in kiba dachi
step back – chudan shuto uke in kokutsu dachi /chudan nukite in zenkutsu

Kicking:
Two kicks beginning back leg ‐ chudan maegeri/then jodan maegeri Turn ‐ two kicks beginning back leg ‐ chudan mawashi geri/ then jodan mawashi geri
From kiba dachi ‐ yoko geri keage both sides/yoko kekomi both sides

Kata: Heian Yondan

Kumite: Ippon Kumite – jodan oi zuki/chudan oi zuki (left and right sides) Defense ‐ at least two different counter attacks

5th Kyu to 4th Kyu:

Kihon:

Step in ‐ sanbon zuki: jodan/chudan/chudan
step back – jodan age uke/chudan gyaku zuki
Step in ‐ chudan soto uke/empi uchi in kiba dachi
step back ‐ chudan shuto uke in kokutsu dachi/ nukite in zen kutsu dachi

Kicking:
Two kicks beginning back leg ‐ chudan maegeri then jodan mae geri Turn ‐ two kicks beginning back leg ‐ mawashi geri chudan then jodan From kiba dachi ‐ yoko geri keage/kekomi (both sides)

Kata: Heian Godan

Kumite: Ippon Kumite ‐ jodan oi zuki/chudan oi zuki/chudan maegeri (left and right sides)
Defense – at least two different counter attacks

4th Kyu to 3rd Kyu:

Kihon:

Step in ‐ sanbon zuki: jodan/chudan/chudan
step back – jodan age uke/chudan gyaku zuki
Step in ‐ chudan soto uke/chudan empi uchi/ jodan uraken step back – chudan shuto uke in kokutsu/ chudan maeashi maegeri/nukite in zen kutsu dachi

Kicking:
Two kicks beginning back leg – chudan maegeri/jodan maegeri
Turn – two kicks beginning back leg ‐ chudan mawashi geri/then jodan mawashi geri
From kiba dachi ‐ yoko geri keage both sides/ yoko kekomi both sides

Kata: Tekki Shodan

Kumite: Ippon Kumite – jodan oi zuki/chudan oi zuki/chudan maegeri/chudan yoko kekomi (one side only)
Defense – at least two different counter attacks

3rd Kyu to 2nd Kyu:

Kihon:

Step in ‐ sanbon zuki: jodan/chudan/chudan
step back – jodan age uke/chudan gyaku zuki
Step in ‐ chudan soto uke/change to kiba dachi empi uchi/jodan uraken step back – chudan shuto uke /maeashi maegeri/chudan nukite in zenkutsu

Kicking:
Beginning front leg ‐ chudan maegeri/ step in, back leg ‐ jodan maegeri Turn ‐ front leg chudan mawashi geri, back leg jodan mawashi geri From kiba dachi ‐ yoko geri keage both sides/ yoko kekomi both sides

Kata: Bassai Dai

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite – jodan oi zuki/chudan oi zuki/ chudan maegeri/chudan yoko kekomi (one side only)
Defense – at least two different counter attacks

2nd Kyu to 1st Kyu:

Kihon:

Step in ‐ sanbon zuki: jodan/chudan/chudan
step back – jodan age uke/chudan gyaku zuki
Step in ‐ chudan soto uke /empi uchi/uraken in kiba dachi
step back – chudan shuto uke /maeashi maegeri /nukite in zen kutsu

Kicking:
Beginning front leg ‐ chudan maegeri, step in back leg ‐ jodan maegeri Turn – front leg chudan mawashi geri, step in ‐ jodan mawashi geri From kiba dachi ‐ yoko geri keage/ yoko kekomi (both sides)

Kata: Bassai Dai, Jion, Kanku‐dai or Empi

Kumite: Jiyu Ippon Kumite – jodan oi zuki/chudan oi zuki/chudan maegeri/ chudan yoko kekomi (one side only)
Defense – at least two different counter attacks