CAS Experiences
See 'Does This Count As CAS?' in the Frequently Asked Questions Page.
Students engage in CAS experiences involving one or more of the three CAS strands.
A CAS Experience can be a single event (e.g. volunteering at the Festival of Nations) or may be an extended series of events (e.g. playing on a sports team or going to choir practice every Wednesday and Thursday).
It’s always best to have a collection of experiences that offer engagement over a longer period of time rather than one-off experiences. For one it helps reduce the amount of "paperwork you need to complete” but more importantly you can reflect over time on the experience which often leads to a more meaningful experience.
There must be a reasonable balance between CAS experiences. Choosing suitable activities in each strand helps ensure you meet the aims and requirements of CAS. Keep in mind the spirit of each strand so you can get the best experience possible. The CAS Coordinator and/or your CAS Advisor can help you determine which strand(s) an experience can fit under.
Because we are all different, what makes a good CAS experience for one person may not make a good experience for another. Students are encouraged to discuss their potential CAS experiences with the CAS Coordinator and/or your CAS Advisor, but the following may also help you determine if an activity qualifies as a CAS experience.
A CAS experience must:
fit one or more of the CAS strands
be based on a personal interest, skill, talent, or opportunity for growth
provide opportunities to develop attributes of the IB learner profile
not be used or included in the student’s IB Diploma course requirements
not be paid
address one or more of the CAS learning outcomes (best to focus on only one or two)
be verifiable through proposals, reflections, evidence, and supervisor’sreports.
When choosing a CAS experience you may also like to ask yourself the following questions:
1. Will the experience be enjoyable?
2. Does the experience allow for development of my personal interest, skills,and/or talents?
3. What new possibilities or challenges could the experience provide?
4. What might be the possible consequences of this CAS experience for myself, other, and the environment?
Your experience will fall into the following categories:
(When adding a new CAS experience on Managebac, you will be asked to select the appropriate categories)
Please note that students attempting an individual programme such as learning to play an instrument or running by themselves, should present an action plan to ensure regular involvement so that their goals can be met.