Creativity, Activity, Service — or CAS — is a core component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. More than just an extracurricular requirement, CAS gives students the opportunity to extend their learning beyond the classroom and apply their knowledge in meaningful, real-world contexts.
Through CAS, students engage in activities that challenge them personally and socially, helping them grow into balanced, reflective, and responsible individuals. The experience builds confidence, develops empathy, and instills a strong sense of social responsibility.
What Does CAS Involve?
- Creativity: Engaging in the arts and other creative pursuits, such as learning an instrument or studying a new language.
- Activity: Participating in physical exertion and wellness-based experiences, like taking up a new sport or committing to a fitness challenge.
- Service: Involvement in community service projects that benefit others, from local outreach to long-term social initiatives.
These elements allow students to gain new skills and perspectives while fostering personal and interpersonal development. The focus is on experiential learning — encouraging curiosity, initiative, and collaboration.
Impact Through Action
In recent years, students around the world have adapted their CAS projects in response to global and local challenges. Some have hosted virtual music and art sessions to support the elderly. Others have created and donated face masks for vulnerable groups or volunteered with inclusive sports and accessibility programs for individuals with disabilities.
Whether sewing supplies for healthcare workers or organizing inclusive sporting events, CAS participants learn firsthand the value of civic engagement and compassion.
Why CAS Matters
CAS nurtures essential life skills that students carry well beyond high school: resilience, initiative, adaptability, and empathy. It encourages students to explore their passions, challenge their assumptions, and connect meaningfully with the world around them.
For many IB students, CAS becomes one of the most memorable and formative parts of their education — a journey of discovery and contribution that shapes who they are and who they want to become.
Below, international and private schools share examples of how they support students through their CAS journeys — helping them build stronger communities and deeper personal purpose through creativity, activity, and service.