FAQ

1. What is CAS?

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) is one of the three elements in the IB core Diploma Programme, along with TOK and the Extended Essay. It involves students in a range of enjoyable and significant experiences, as well as a CAS project.

2. How is CAS structured?

Creativity – arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.

Activity – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the DP.

Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student.

3. What are the expectations of the CAS programme?

Throughout the Diploma Programme students undertake a variety of CAS experiences, ideally on a weekly basis, for a minimum of 18 months. They must also undertake at least one CAS project with a minimum duration of one month. Students reflect on CAS experiences at significant moments throughout CAS and maintain a CAS portfolio. Using evidence from their CAS portfolio, students will demonstrate achievement of the 7 CAS learning outcomes.

4. How many activities does a CAS portfolio need to include?

A minimum of 4 elements, ideally long-term: one long-term C (creativity), one long-term A (activity), one long-term S (service) and a self-initiated and collaborative CAS project. Additional ongoing and temporary experiences of the student’s choice are strongly recommended. More CAS experiences will allow student to meet all seven learning outcomes several times over which is the purpose of CAS.

5. Do all elements of the student’s portfolio need to expand over the 18 months?

Not all elements of the student’s portfolio need to last 18 months, some of them might be completed earlier while others might be long-term commitments.

6. What is a CAS project?

The CAS project should be a collaborative and sustained experience of at least a month's duration that challenges students to show initiative, demonstrate perseverance and develop skills such as problem solving, and decision making. The project can address any single strand of CAS or combine two or all three strands. Oftentimes a CAS project involves Service. The CAS stages (investigation – preparation – action – reflection – demonstration) needs to be used to plan and implement the project.

7. What does a good CAS portfolio look like?

Key to a student’s CAS programme is personal engagement, choice and enjoyment of CAS experiences. A CAS programme should be both challenging & enjoyable – a personal journey to self-discovery. The CAS coordinator/ supervisor will assess if the student has worked towards personal growth in his CAS portfolio and will constantly push her/him to do so.

8. Where should I keep my CAS portfolio?

Students record their CAS portfolio on ManageBac, they will start creating it as soon as they begin their CAS programme. Here they will record their evidence, categorise it by experiences and keep an overview of different aspects completed.

9. My daughter/son doesn’t have a CAS project idea yet.

Students are working in groups with their mentors on 3 macro themes: Library, LGB campus & Arts Centre. Different CAS project ideas/opportunities were presented at the CAS Fair in Sept for Y12. Students who want to pursue different projects or in need of additional ideas, can reach out to the CAS coordinator for guidance.

10. Historically religious devotion did not count as CAS. In an effort to give back to our community my son/daughter is teaching religion to smaller kids in our Muslim community? Does that count as a CAS project?

IB does not define the word community on purpose as it can refer to the different types of communities including religious ones. Yes it can count as a CAS project provided it is a weekly engagement where planning is involved (eg: curriculum planning, etc.)

11. Taking a CPR course counts as CAS?

Yes, it does. In Switzerland CPR courses are part of the preparation for the driver’s license. Potentially lots of Y12 can embed it into their CAS portfolio.

While the CPR course counts as Service, the driving license course does not count as CAS.

12. My daughter/ son is very passionate about sports and has structured all his CAS portfolio around his passion: creativity, service, action & CAS project. Is that an acceptable CAS portfolio?

Yes, it is an acceptable CAS portfolio although the CAS coordinator & CAS supervisor (mentor) will try to push him to expand his portfolio out of his comfort zone in order to ensure personal growth. In this case best scenario is for the student to build his passion into a CAS project involving other CAS strands: eg: organise a photography exhibit on his favourite sport or a drawing exhibit around his favourite sport.

13. Does internship count as CAS?

As long as it is not remunerated an internship can count as CAS. Any remunerated activity cannot count as CAS.

14. What are invalid CAS activities?

Any existing class activity or project already part of the curriculum; any paid activity; simple tedious repetitive work; all forms of duty within the family; work experience which only benefits the student; raising money with no project in mind.

15. Does International Award/ Duke of Edinburgh activities count as CAS?

Yes, they do count as CAS. However, although CAS and IA Gold requirements are aligned in terms of creativity, activity & service, IA cannot totally replace CAS logs in ManageBac. IA pdf reports can be uploaded as evidence in ManageBac reflection tab but it is required that the student adds a final reflection demonstrating how he/she met the learning outcomes set for the activity.

16. Is there a list of available CAS opportunities?

Students can find a list of opportunities offered by the school under CAS & ULP Opportunities@LGB and Service opportunities under Service Learning. The students also have the opportunity to meet our partners from various charities during the annual CAS Fair. If the students cannot find service experiences ads that resonate with their interests they can meet up the CAS coordinator who will make personalised proposals.