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For many students, understanding the requirements of the CAS component of the IB Programme can be a challenge. With so many differing opinions and pieces of advice floating around, it can be difficult to know what’s accurate and what’s not. Worry no more – Clastify is here to provide clear guidance and settle the confusion once and for all.
IB CAS Requirements
CAS Experiences
How many CAS Experiences do I need to complete?
The IB requires students to complete experiences in all three CAS Strands (creativity, activity, and service). The IB however does not specify the amount of CAS Experiences one must engage in. The amount of CAS Experiences that is sufficient will vary depending on their duration and the level of involvement they require. Nevertheless, it is generally advised to complete at least 4 different experiences for each strand.
What do I include in my CAS Portfolio?
In the CAS Portfolio, students must document all of their CAS Experiences. When documenting CAS Experiences students should include a Description of Goals of the experience, evidence of the experience (for instance a photo, video etc.) as well as reflections which must demonstrate how the student has met the 7 Learning Outcomes:
- Identify Own Strengths and Develop Areas for Growth
- Demonstrate That Challenges Have Been Undertaken, Developing New Skills in the Process
- Demonstrate How to Plan and Initiate a CAS Experience
- Show Commitment to and Perseverance in CAS Experiences
- Demonstrate the Skills and Recognize the Benefits of Working Collaboratively
- Demonstrate Engagement With Issues of Global Significance
- Recognise and Consider the Ethics of Choices and Actions
Note that each CAS Experience does not have to fulfill every Learning Outcome. Students must however achieve each Learning Outcome at least once throughout their CAS journey.
When documenting experiences in the CAS Portfolio, students are advised to follow the 5 Stages of CAS framework:
- Investigation – In this initial stage, students identify their interests, skills, and areas for growth. They investigate opportunities for CAS experiences that align with their passions and the CAS learning outcomes. This stage involves research and gathering information to plan effective and impactful activities.
- Preparation – During the preparation stage, students develop a detailed plan for their CAS experiences. This includes setting goals, defining roles and responsibilities, and outlining the steps needed to achieve their objectives. Effective preparation ensures that activities are well-organized and purposeful.
- Action – This stage involves the actual implementation of the CAS experiences. Students participate actively in their chosen activities, applying their skills and knowledge while engaging with others. The action stage is where students put their plans into practice and work towards their goals.
- Reflection – Reflection is a crucial part of the CAS framework, occurring throughout the CAS experiences. Students reflect on their activities, considering their achievements, challenges, and the impact of their actions. Reflection helps students gain insights, learn from their experiences, and make connections between their CAS activities and the CAS learning outcomes.
- Demonstration – In the final stage, students showcase their CAS experiences and the learning outcomes they have achieved. This can take various forms, such as presentations, portfolios, or reports. Demonstration allows students to share their accomplishments, reflect on their personal growth, and highlight the value of their CAS journey
To get a better understanding of documenting CAS Experiences, make sure to check out our CAS Reflections Examples.
How many Reflections do I need?
For CAS Experiences which last for a longer period of time a minimum of three reflections and pieces of evidence is advised (one at the beginning, one mid-point, and a final one at the end). For CAS experiences that are brief, single events, one reflection and one piece of evidence are sufficient.
CAS Duration
- The IB does not specify for how long do students must engage in CAS experiences - it is up to the school's CAS Coordinator to decide upon that matter. Some schools may require students to fulfill a certain amount of hours dedicated to CAS experiences while other may require a certain amount of months during which students are engaged in CAS experiences
- Whichever method of your school uses, remember that there should be no gaps in your CAS timeline - at any given point of the duration of CAS there should always be at least one ongoing experience
- There is no official deadline for CAS. It is the school's CAS Coordinator decides on the internal deadline by which CAS must be completed (usually around 1-2 months before the exam session). For more information on the CAS Project completion date, check out our CAS Deadline post.
CAS Project
- Can address one, two or even all three CAS strands.
- The CAS Project must be completed by a group of minimum 2 students.
- The CAS Project must last at least 4 weeks. During these 4 weeks students must fulfill the 5 Stages of CAS framework.
- A minimum of three reflections is required, however students are encouraged to include more.
- A CAS Project can be undertaken at any time throughout the duration of CAS.
- For more information regarding the CAS Project, check out our IB CAS Project post.
We hope this post has clarified all of the IB CAS Requirements and you'll now be able to complete your CAS with ease. For more useful materials associated with the IB check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.
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