How is CAS structured? 

• Creativity – arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.

• Activity – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle.

• Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student. 

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What is the significance of CAS?

CAS enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development by learning through experience.  It provides opportunities for self-determination and collaboration with others, fostering a sense of accomplishment and enjoyment from their work.  At the same time, CAS is an important counterbalance to the academic pressures of the DP.

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What do CAS projects involve?

CAS requires students to take part in a range of experiences and at least one project. These should involve:

• real, purposeful activities, with significant outcomes

• personal challenge

• thoughtful consideration, such as planning, reviewing progress, reporting

• reflection on outcomes and personal learning

We don't prescribe specific projects or activities to students. All students should be involved in activities they've initiated themselves. 

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What is not CAS?

CAS involves the student's active participation.  The following are examples that do not qualify for CAS hours.

• Sitting in a club meeting where the student is not actively participating.

• Activities where family members are the sponsor.

• Activities where the student gets paid or receives a grade.

• Activities done during the school day.  

Example of a creativity project

For a creativity project, a talented musician could learn a particularly difficult piece, or a different style of playing.  Read our blog about a group of students in New York who produced and performed a play to raise awareness of a real-world issue.

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Example of an activity project

Activity projects do not have to be sports-related or competitive. A valuable activity project could help a student overcome a personal fear, such as rock climbing.  Read our blog about a student in Australia who achieved his dream of becoming a youth soccer coach through CAS.

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Example of a service project

Service projects must be beneficial for the community as well as providing a learning opportunity for the student.  Read our blog about students in Indiana who organized a huge recycling drive to help an IB World School in Flint, Michigan.

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The CAS project can address any single strand of CAS, or combine two or all three strands of creativity, activity and service.

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IB guidance on CAS

A good CAS programme should be both challenging and enjoyable – a personal journey of self‑discovery.

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Each student has a different starting point, and therefore different goals and needs, but for many their CAS activities include experiences that are profound and life‑changing.

CAS is a component of the DP core.

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