CAS will show you how to discover your true potential, develop
your passions and get out of the comfort zone. Throughout the
entire process you are going to be guided and supported by your
Coordinator and school community.
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Do you already know who IB Learners are?
Inquirers
people who are curious, developing their research and inquiry skills, and knowing how
to learn – on their own and in a team. They cherish value of knowledge and are eager to learn
throughout their whole life.
Knowledgeable:
think conceptually across different disciplines and get involved with globally and locally
important issues
Thinkers:
Critical thinking is as important for them just as much as creative process. Their decisions
are responsible and ethical
Communicators:
Can show their confident, creative side in more than one language and in various ways.
They collaborate and listen to other perspectives.
Principled:
Fairness oriented, approaches actions with their consequences
Open-Minded:
Can appreciate other cultures and their own, is aware of the values and traditions and
knows how to evaluate different points of view and draw conclusions from their experience
Caring:
Is compassionate, respectful and empathic. Is committed to service and making the world a
better place
Risk-Takers:
They approach
the unknown with new
ideas and fresh concepts
working resiliently
Balanced:
They understand how important is balance in our lives – the physical aspect, intellectual one and
their emotions
Reflective:
They know how to work with ideas and experience and use both weaknesses and strengths they
have to learn from them – personal development is the key
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The 3 Strands of CAS: Creativity, Activity, Service
Creativity:
When you wish to extend ideas that lead to an original product or
performance
Activity:
When you get involved in actions that lead to a healthy lifestyle
Service:
When you want to engage as a response to authentic society’s needs
4 Types of Service Experiences
:
Direct Service: You interact directly with people, the environment, or animals.
(examples: tutoring, working in an animal shelter)
Indirect Service: Though you do not interact directly with the recipients of your service
experiences, you have verified that your actions will benefit the community or
environment (examples: designing a website for a non-profit; fundraising for an
international service project)
Advocacy: You speak on behalf of a cause or concern to raise awareness and promote
action on an issue of public interest. (examples: initiating an awareness campaign on
hunger; making a video about bullying)
Research: You collect information through varied sources, analyze data, and report on a
topic of importance to influence policy or practice (examples: an environmental study to
influence your school community; conducting social research on topics such as
homelessness or unemployment)
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You will learn how to:
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Identify your own strengths and develop areas for growth
Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken, developing new skills in
the process
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Demonstrate how to initiate and plan a CAS experience
Show commitment and perseverance in CAS experiences
Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
Demonstrate engagement with issues of global significance
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Recognize and consider the ethics of choices and actions
What are main aspects of a CAS experience?
Collaboration: The main purpose of the CAS project is to give students the opportunity
to participate in sustained collaboration. When working with others, you discover the
benefits and challenges of teamwork and engage in an exchange of ideas, perspectives,
and abilities. Collaboration can be undertaken with other students or members of the
wider community.
Initiative: The opportunity to initiate or be responsible for a part of or the entire project
allows you to put your own ideas into action and provides valuable leadership training.
Planning, Perseverance, Problem-Solving and Decision Making: You will be
expected to demonstrate that, over the course of the project, you have engaged in
planning, shown perseverance and commitment in attempting to fulfill your goals, and
engaged in the process of thoughtful problem-solving and decision making.
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Examples of CAS Projects
 Creativity: A group of students plan, design and create a mural
 Activity: Students organize and participate in a neighborhood sports team, including
training sessions and matches with other students
 Service: A group of students organize and lead a reading class in the afterschool program
at a local elementary school
 Creativity and Activity: A group of students choreographs and performs in a dance
routine for a school play
 Service and Activity: A group of students organizes and teaches an after-school
volleyball class for younger students
 Service and Creativity: Students organize a musical ensemble to perform at senior
homes and hospitals
 Creativity, Activity and Service: A group of students creates a non-profit that offers
free skating lessons to children with disabilities
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How do I complete my CAS experience?
You will Demonstrate in your written reflections that you have fulfilled all of the learning
outcomes for CAS
You will Complete at least one meaningful, long-term CAS project that lasts for a
minimum of one month
You will Obtain supervisor reviews for all your CAS experiences
You will Complete a total of 100 CAS hours, with a minimum of 30 creativity hours, 30
activity hours, and 40 service hours in order to ensure a balance between the three strands
of CAS
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FAQs….
When do I start working on CAS?
CAS does not “formally” begin until the start of Grade 11; if you would like to begin
working on CAS the summer before, you must get permission from the CAS
Coordinator. At the latest, you should begin working on CAS at the beginning of Grade
11 and continue for a minimum of 18 months.
Can I write my reflections after I complete a CAS experience or project?
The process of reflection and documentation should begin when you write your initial
reflection BEFORE you actually begin a CAS experience or project and continue
throughout the period of involvement. The only reflection you should write AFTER you
complete an experience or project is the final reflection.
How long should my written reflection be?
There is no minimum or maximum number of words, but keep in mind that the process of
reflection is a VERY important part of CAS; the reflections you write should be
meaningful, thoughtful, in-depth, honest and personal.
Who can read my reflections?
The CAS Coordinator, your adviser, and possibly an IB monitor.
Is it better to have a long list of CAS experiences in my portfolio?
Better than accumulating a lot of hours for one-time activities, you should aim to
participate in long-term, ongoing core CAS experiences and projects that will give you
the opportunity to learn more about yourself, others and the world around you.
Is it possible to do my CAS project alone?
No. Since one of the main requirements of a CAS project is collaboration, you must
work, on an equal level, with at least one other person.
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Advice from former IB Students
Choose CAS activities and projects you are genuinely interested in or passionate about;
don’t do anything “just for the hours” or to click off a box. Make CAS a meaningful, ongoing
part of your life for the next two years.
Don’t be afraid to do things that are completely new and challenging! Look at CAS as an
opportunity to push beyond your limits and get outside of your comfort zone.
Say NO! to procrastinating! Get started on CAS right away (at the beginning of junior year) and
be sure to stay on top of the process of documentation and reflection. Do your reflections as you
go, which is more fun and less stressful. The worst mistake you can make is to put CAS “on the
back burner” and try to do everything in senior year or right before the deadline.
Don’t see CAS as just one more requirement; look at it as an antidote to the stress of the
academic requirements for the IB and an opportunity to step up, engage with the world, and make
a difference.
Please don’t hesitate to ASK!
Yours,
Maryna Motylińska CAS Coordinator for SOKRATES INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
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