Introduction to CAS (DP IB Creativity, Activity, Service): Revision Note

What is CAS and why is it important?

The nature of CAS

• CAS—Creativity, Activity, Service—is one of the three mandatory core components of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme (DP)

• CAS is central to the philosophy of the programme and is intended to educate the whole person

• The programme emphasises holistic learning—an approach to education that addresses the physical, social, emotional and cognitive well-being of the student

• It develops essential Approaches to Learning (ATL) skills, including thinking, research, social, communication and self-management skills

Why CAS is essential

• CAS is about personal growth, finding a healthy balance in life and engaging with the community

• It is not about achieving exam grades, but rather focuses on reflection—the process of thoughtfully considering your ideas and experiences—to support personal development

• The programme is designed to encourage self-discovery

• It provides a "spirit" of action where students must act on their beliefs rather than just thinking or writing about them

• The focus remains on the process of growth and learning rather than the activity itself, as participation alone does not guarantee learning

Assessment and consequences

• CAS is a pass/fail component of the IB Diploma

• Successful completion is a mandatory requirement for the award of the Diploma

• If CAS is not successfully completed, the IB Diploma is not awarded (even if your subject grades are strong)

While it is not formally assessed or graded with a mark, students must provide evidence of their progress and achievements

What are students expected to do in CAS?

Participation and timeframes

• Students must participate in a variety of CAS experiences—specific events or series of events where you engage with one or more of the CAS strands

• The programme formally begins at the start of the Diploma Programme and must continue regularly for at least eighteen months

• SCAS should continue regularly, ideally on a weekly basis to maintain a reasonable balance between the three strands

• A student's programme must be individualised based on their own interests, skills, values and background

The three CAS strands

• Students must participate in experiences across all three strands of CAS:

  • Creativity: Exploring and extending ideas that lead to an original or interpretive product or performance

  • Activity: Physical exertion that contributes to a healthy lifestyle and physical well-being

  • Service: Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need. Service experiences are unpaid, and should be planned with (and not just for) the community/partner

The CAS project and stages

• Students must undertake at least one CAS project which must last for a minimum of one month

• A CAS project is a collaborative series of sequential experiences that requires collaboration and sustained teamwork, with opportunities for leadership and shared responsibility

• Students should use the CAS stages—investigation, preparation, action, reflection and demonstration—as a framework for their experiences and projects

Documentation and learning outcomes

• All students are expected to maintain a CAS portfolio—a collection of evidence such as photos, files or journals that showcases their journey

  • The portfolio is used to document what you do and provide evidence that all seven learning outcomes (LOs) have been achieved

  • Learning outcomes are specific goals that describe what a student is able to do at some point during the programme

  • You must demonstrate that you have met each of the seven outcomes at least once

  • Outcomes do not need to be met separately in each strand, and a single outcome can be achieved multiple times across different experiences

A simple 18-month CAS timeline (DP1 start → ongoing experiences and reflection → Interview 1 → ongoing experiences and reflection → Interview 2 (late DP1) → ongoing experiences → Interview 3 (DP2) → completion)