What Is CAS in the IB? Creativity, Activity, Service Explained

Jamal Lewis

August 11, 2026

The 3 strands, 7 learning outcomes, structure, pass/fail status, example activities

CAS stands for Creativity, Activity, Service and the third core component of the IB Diploma Programme, alongside Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. Unlike those two, CAS isn't assessed with a grade. Instead, students complete a range of real-world experiences over the two years of the DP and reflect on them, with the goal of building well-rounded skills and habits outside the classroom.

The Three Strands of CAS

Creativity

Exploring and expanding creative thinking, often through the arts, design, or creative problem-solving examples include learning an instrument, writing a novel, or designing a mobile app.

Activity

Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle team sports, individual training, dance or other physical pursuits.

Service

Unpaid voluntary engagement with the community that responds to a genuine need like tutoring younger students, volunteering at a shelter, or organizing a fundraiser, for example.

How CAS Works in Practice: The Classroom & Beyond

Although CAS takes place mostly outside traditional classroom hours, it is fully integrated into the school ecosystem. Schools assign a dedicated CAS Coordinator and individual CAS Advisors who meet with students regularly in scheduled advisory periods or mentor sessions. Rather than listening to lectures or taking written exams, students use these check-ins to pitch activity ideas, discuss their progress, and ensure their planned experiences hit the required learning outcomes.

Throughout the 18-month duration, students track their journey using digital portfolios on platforms like ManageBac, Toddle, or simple web blogs. A student’s day-to-day CAS routine usually involves balancing regular weekly commitments such as twice-a-week football practice (Activity) and weekend tutoring (Service) alongside periodic short-term projects like organizing an art exhibition.

The Seven CAS Learning Outcomes

Every CAS programme must demonstrate all seven of the following, though not from any single activity:

Identify their own strengths and areas for growth
Demonstrate participation in new challenges and undertakings
Show how they planned and initiated activities
Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
Demonstrate skills and recognize the benefits of collaboration
Show engagement with issues of global significance, where relevant
Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions

The Art of Meaningful CAS Reflection

A common misconception is that CAS requires hours of tedious journal writing. In reality, reflections do not have to be long, formal essays. The IBO encourages varied, authentic evidence that demonstrates personal growth.

Students can upload photos with short captions, record quick audio logs after a sports match, post video reflections following a volunteer event, or write brief paragraph logs in their portfolio. The key to a successful reflection is demonstrating how an experience pushed you out of your comfort zone, what challenges you overcame, or how you collaborated with others, rather than simply listing what you did.

The Collaborative CAS Project Explained

The defining milestone of the CAS journey is the CAS Project. Unlike individual daily activities, the CAS Project must be a collaborative effort between a student and a team of peers or community members, lasting a minimum of one month from planning to execution.

The project must integrate at least one (and often all three) of the CAS strands. For example, a group of students might combine Creativity and Service by designing a website and raising funds to build a local community garden, or combine Activity and Service by organizing a charity 5K run for a local hospital. This project forces students to demonstrate leadership, project management, and team collaboration before graduating high school.

Is CAS Graded?

No. CAS is a pass/fail requirement, not a graded component, and it does not contribute points toward the DP's 45-point score the way TOK and the Extended Essay do. However, a student cannot be awarded the IB Diploma without successfully completing CAS, it's mandatory, just not scored.

Example CAS Activities

Frequently Asked Questions

Does CAS affect my IB score?

No, CAS is completed on a pass/fail basis and doesn't add points to the 45-point DP score, but failing to complete it means the diploma itself can't be awarded.

How many hours of CAS do I need?

The IBO doesn't set an official hour requirement, though many schools use an informal benchmark of roughly 150 hours across the programme, check with your CAS coordinator for your school's specific expectations.

What is a CAS project?

A collaborative, sustained CAS experience lasting at least one month, which must address at least one of the CAS strands and demonstrate several of the seven learning outcomes.

Can schoolwork count as CAS?

Generally no, CAS activities need to be outside the formal DP curriculum, so coursework for your six subjects doesn't usually qualify.

Balancing CAS with your subjects? Baccalytics has free mock exams and prep resources across the DP subjects, so you can study efficiently and leave room for CAS, explore our Mock Exams page.