Maintaining Balance Across CAS (DP IB Creativity, Activity, Service): Revision Note

A balanced programme—a meaningful and well-distributed mix of creativity, activity and service—is a mandatory requirement for the IB Diploma

• Students are required to engage with all three strands regularly for at least 18 months

Balance ensures that a student's development is holistic—an educational approach that addresses physical, social, emotional and cognitive well-being

Students should avoid over-emphasising a single strand, as this weakens the overall learning process and personal growth

The programme should include a combination of CAS experiences—specific events or series of events where you engage with the strands—that are both planned and spontaneous

A meaningful programme must consist of more than just a series of unplanned or singular events

Students should participate in both short-term singular events and sustained experiences—continuous or ongoing actions that take place regularly over an extended period

Every student must complete at least one CAS project—a collaborative series of sequential experiences lasting at least one month

• The project must involve teamwork and can integrate two or all three of the CAS strands

• This significant project ensures that students demonstrate leadership, initiative and perseverance through sustained collaboration

The CAS portfolio—a collection of evidence and reflections that showcases a student's journey—is the primary tool for planning balance

• Use your CAS portfolio planning/initial planning area (whatever your school uses) to map interests

• Mapping interests helps to identify which strands may need more focus to ensure an equal distribution of experiences

Students can map their experiences across a calendar to visualise their commitment over the 18-month period

Labelling each activity by its specific strand allows for a quick review of the programme's distribution

Regular self-reviews should be conducted to identify if one strand—such as Creativity—is underrepresented

If a student notices a lack of balance, they should adjust their plan by initiating new experiences in the missing strand

A strong plan involves mixing different types of engagement monthly, such as combining creative projects, physical challenges and community service

During the three formal interviews—documented dialogues with a CAS coordinator or adviser—the balance of the programme will be reviewed and discussed

• A CAS coordinator is the staff member responsible for overseeing the school's CAS programme and reporting student progress