CAS

CAS - Creativity - Action - Service at the heart of the Diploma Programme. CAS enables students to live the IB learner profile in real and practical ways, to grow as unique individuals and to recognise their role in relation to others.CAS is organised around the three strands of Creativity, Action and Service defined as:

• Creativity - arts and other experiences that involve creative thinking
• Action - physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the IB Diploma Programme
• Service - an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student.

Students develop skills and attitudes through a variety of individual and group activities that provide students with opportunities to express their passions, personalities and perspectives. CAS complements a challenging academic programme in a holistic way, providing opportunities for self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment and enjoyment.

Students are also required to undertake a CAS Project that challenges students to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance, and develop skills such as those of collaboration, problem solving, and decision making.

The school and students must give CAS as much importance as any other element of the Diploma Programme and ensure sufficient time is allocated for engagement in the CAS programme. Successful completion of CAS is a requirement for the award of the IB Diploma. While not formally assessed, students reflect on their CAS experiences and provide evidence of achieving the eight learning outcomes.

CAS can be described as: 

• Creativity is interpreted broadly to include a wide range of activities that involve creative thinking. Creativity provides students with the opportunity to explore their own sense of original thinking and expression.
• Action is focussed on getting involved in physical exertion that contributes to a healthy lifestyle. The aim of Action is to promote lifelong healthy habits related to physical well-being.
• Service requires students to understand their capacity to make a meaningful contribution to their community and society. Through Service, students develop and apply personal and social skills in real-life situations involving decision-making, problem solving, initiative, responsibility, and accountability for their actions.

Each school appoints a CAS supervisor who is responsible for assisting students in implementing and developing their personal CAS programmes. A good CAS programme should be both challenging and enjoyable, a personal journey of self discovery. Students are expected to be involved in CAS activities each week during the two years of the Diploma programme and are encouraged to reflect on their CAS activities on a regular basis.

A school's CAS programme is monitored by the appropriate IB regional office.

• reflective thinkers—they understand their own strengths and limitations, identify goals and devise strategies for personal growth
• willing to accept new challenges and new roles
• aware of themselves as members of communities with responsibilities towards each other and the environment
• active participants in sustained, collaborative projects
• balanced—they enjoy and find significance in a range of activities involving intellectual, physical, creative and emotional experiences.