The International Baccalaureate (IB) recognizes Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) activities in three strands: Creativity, Activity (physical activity), and Service (community service). Throughout the entire IB Diploma, students must be active in all three areas while demonstrating personal growth and reflective learning. Activities without learning goals or reflection, paid work, regular lessons, and religious practices generally do not count.
The following sections answer the most frequently asked questions about recognized CAS activities in detail.
What Strands Does CAS Include in the IB Diploma?
CAS in the IB Diploma consists of three equally weighted strands:
- Creativity covers creative and artistic activities.
- Activity stands for physical exercise and sports.
- Service refers to volunteer work for the benefit of others.
Together, these three pillars form the heart of the CAS program and are designed to support students beyond academic lessons.
Is There a Fixed Number of Hours per CAS Strand?
The acronym CAS stands for exactly these three areas. It is important to note that the IB does not prescribe a fixed number of hours per strand. Instead, the IB expects students to be engaged regularly over an extended period and to reflect on their experiences in a learning journal. What matters is not quantity but quality and the personal development that results from the activities.
All CAS activities must also be reflected on in relation to seven so-called CAS Learning Outcomes, which cover areas such as self-awareness, teamwork, ethical action, and global awareness.
What Counts as a Creativity Activity in the IB?
In IB CAS, Creativity includes all activities in which students use, develop, or newly learn creative or artistic skills. These include music, drama, visual arts, photography, writing, film production, design, and programming, as long as a creative design process is at the forefront.
What matters is that the activity presents a genuine creative challenge. Someone who has played the piano for years and simply continues without pursuing new goals may not sufficiently meet the criterion. The IB expects students to develop further and to actively reflect on this process.
Concrete examples of recognized Creativity activities include:
- Taking part in a school drama production or a school orchestra
- Learning a new instrument or a new art technique
- Creating your own blog, podcast, or YouTube channel
- Developing an app or a digital project
- Creative writing or journalism for a school newspaper
- Entering an art or design competition
Activities that combine creativity with service can also be credited in this strand, as long as the creative component is clearly recognizable.
Which Activities Are Recognized as Activity in the IB?
In IB CAS, physical activities that focus on exercise, fitness, sports, or physical skill are recognized as Activity. Students are meant to promote their physical health and, ideally, acquire new skills or develop existing ones.
Here, too, it is not about competitive sports. What matters is personal commitment and the willingness to challenge oneself physically. Those who try a new sport, train regularly, or take part in competitions generally meet the requirements well.
Typical examples of recognized Activity experiences include:
- Membership on a school team or in a sports club (soccer, basketball, volleyball, etc.)
- Regular swimming, running, or cycling
- Yoga, martial arts, or dance
- Mountaineering, climbing, or other outdoor activities
- Taking part in a fitness program or rehabilitation sports
- Learning a new physical skill such as skateboarding or horseback riding
It is important to note that purely recreational pastimes without learning goals and reflection do not automatically count as CAS activities. Students must be able to show what they learned or how they developed along the way.
What Counts as a Service Activity in the IB?
In IB CAS, Service refers to voluntary engagement that benefits other people, the community, or the environment, without the student being paid for it. The key lies in real added value for others and an awareness of social responsibility.
The IB places particular emphasis on service not only being “done” but also reflected on. Students should understand why their contribution matters, what impact it has, and what they learn about themselves and society in the process.
Recognized Service activities include, for example:
- Tutoring younger students
- Volunteering at social service organizations, hospitals, or animal shelters
- Organizing fundraisers or charity events
- Environmental projects such as cleanups or tree planting
- Involvement in nonprofit organizations or NGOs
- Caring for older people or people with disabilities
Paid work is generally not recognized as Service, even if it serves a good cause. Likewise, caregiving within the family, such as looking after siblings, usually does not count as Service in the IB sense.
Can CAS Activities Cover Several Strands at Once?
Yes, CAS activities can cover several strands at the same time. The IB calls such undertakings CAS projects and explicitly provides for them. A project that involves organizing a sports event for disadvantaged young people, for example, can cover both Activity and Service.
Projects that combine all three strands are particularly valuable. One example would be founding a school band that gives concerts for charitable causes:
- Creativity lies in the musical work.
- Activity lies in the regular rehearsals and physical effort on stage.
- Service lies in the charitable nature of the performances.
Does the IB Recommend a Larger CAS Project?
The IB even recommends carrying out at least one larger CAS project that runs over several months and covers several learning outcomes. Such projects show particularly well how students can plan independently, collaborate, and take responsibility. What matters is that each strand to be credited is genuinely and substantially represented in the project.
Which Activities Are Not Recognized as CAS by the IB?
Not every activity that seems meaningful or valuable is recognized as CAS by the IB. Activities that are part of regular school lessons, paid work, religious practices, or activities without identifiable learning goals and reflection generally do not fall under CAS.
Specifically, the IB usually does not recognize the following activities as CAS:
- Regular school lessons, homework, or exam preparation
- Paid part-time jobs or internships for which compensation is received
- Religious activities such as worship services or prayer groups
- Household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, or looking after siblings day to day
- Passive consumption, such as going to the movies or watching TV series, even if a creative connection is claimed
- Activities without any reflection or documentation
As a general rule, if an activity does not present a personal challenge, does not pursue learning goals, or cannot be reflected on, it is not suitable for CAS. The final decision rests with the school’s CAS coordinator, who approves and supervises the activities.
How Does ISR International School on the Rhine Support Students in the CAS Program?
The CAS program is a central part of the IB Diploma, and at ISR International School on the Rhine in Neuss, near Düsseldorf, Germany, we support our students on this journey with genuine enthusiasm and concrete help. Our goal is for every student not only to meet the formal requirements but to truly grow through CAS.
What sets us apart:
- Our CAS projects at ISR are diverse and hands-on, and they are supervised by experienced coordinators who actively help students choose and plan their activities.
- We offer a wide range of in-school CAS opportunities, from sports teams and art projects to social initiatives, so students can find suitable activities right within the school environment.
- Three full-time University & Career Counselors help students meaningfully incorporate their CAS experiences into application materials for universities worldwide.
- As a certified IB World School, we ensure that all CAS activities comply with current IB guidelines and are properly documented.
- Our modern infrastructure with IT rooms, science labs, and sports facilities opens up creative and physical opportunities for students right on campus.
Would you like to learn more about how we support your children on their journey through the IB Diploma? We look forward to meeting you in person at one of the ISR Info Days.
