What is IB CAS (Creativity Action Service)?

What’s the IB (International Baccalaureate) CAS (Creativity Action Service)? Read this article and learn all you need to know from the experts from the Best IB Schools in the World!

One of the most popular programs of the International Baccalaureate (IB) is the Diploma Program (IBDP), a two-year educational programme for 16 to 18-year-old students. This programme is made up of the 3 core components: Extended Essay (EE), Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS). But what does CAS mean?

What is the IB Creativity Action Service?
How is CAS structured?
Read What IB Experts say

What is the IB Creativity Action Service?

CAS (Creativity Action Service)is a core component of the IBDP that encourages students to develop their personal and interpersonal growth by learning through experience and by providing them opportunities to self-determination and collaboration with others. CAS is an essential counterbalance to the academic rigor of the IB Diploma Programme, as it motivates students to show initiative and perseverance and to develop collaboration, problem-solving and decision-making skills.

Experts Say:
Creativity Action Service (CAS) enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning. A meaningful CAS program is a journey of discovery of self and others. For many, CAS is profound and life-changing. Each individual student has a different starting point and different needs and goals. A CAS program is, therefore, individualized according to student interests, skills, values, and background.

Experts Say:
Creativity, Activity and Service is a core part of the IBDP making it a holistic educational system. The IB recognises that students need to give back to their community through Service opportunities and that students need to balance their academics with creativity and activity. What is more important, however, is how the lessons learnt through these “out of classroom” experiences can be applied to their learning within the classroom.

Experts Say:
Creativity, Activity and Service is a core element of the IB Diploma and one that students must meet in order to receive the IB Diploma. Students have to pursue creative activities, engage in sports or other types of physical activities and also spend time doing service. These elements are not only found in the Diploma programme, but throughout the IB, and they help students become well balanced, caring individuals who contribute to their communities.

Experts Say:
Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) are outcomes-based requirements that focus on student-centered, intrinsically motivated experiences. Students who participate in CAS have been shown to demonstrate developed soft skills such as collaboration and communication.

How is CAS structured?

CAS (Creativity Action Service) is structured in three main components often linked to specific activities briefly described as follows:
Creativity – which includes arts, and experiences that involve creative thinking.
Activity – physical action necessary to achieve a healthy lifestyle, completing academic work.
Service – voluntary exchanges that teach students the values of individual rights, dignity, and autonomy of all those involved.

Experts Say:
The students gain experience in project management through their CAS project, which is an excellent set of skills for their future. The key idea through CAS is that students are able to really take risks with their learning. They are able to try new things without concern that this will impact their academic results, they can fail and learn and try again.

How is CAS structured?

We asked the Experts of The Best IB Schools in the World to explain what is the IB CAS. Read the full answers they gave us!

KIS International SchoolBangkok, Thailand

Creativity, Activity and Service is a core element of the IB Diploma, and one that students must meet in order to receive the IB Diploma. Students have to pursue creative activities, engage in sports or other types of physical activities and also spend time doing service. These elements are not only found in the Diploma programme, but throughout the IB, and they help students become well balanced, caring individuals who contribute to their communities.

The American International School · ViennaVienna, Austria

Creativity Action Service (CAS) enables students to enhance their personal and interpersonal development through experiential learning. A meaningful CAS program is a journey of discovery of self and others. For many, CAS is profound and life-changing. Each individual student has a different starting point and different needs and goals. A CAS program is, therefore, individualized according to student interests, skills, values, and background.

Ruamrudee International SchoolThailand

Creativity, Action, and Service (CAS) are outcomes-based requirements that focus on student-centered, intrinsically motivated experiences. Students who participate in CAS have been shown to demonstrate developed soft skills such as collaboration and communication.

Collège Alpin Beau SoleilSwitzerland

The IB programme does not focus only on academics, but requires students to also think of others through Service and to care for their own wellbeing through reflection, Activity and Creativity. A student on the IBDP cannot simply shut themselves away for two years and study!
Creativity, Activity and Service is a core part of the IBDP making it a holistic educational system. The IB recognises that students need to give back to their community through Service opportunities and that students need to balance their academics with creativity and activity. What is more important, however, is how the lessons learnt through these “out of classroom” experiences can be applied to their learning within the classroom.
The students gain experience in project management through their CAS project, which is an excellent set of skills for their future. The key idea through CAS is that students are able to really take risks with their learning. They are able to try new things without concern that this will impact their academic results, they can fail and learn and try again.