Introduction
The IB CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) program is one of the three core requirements of the IB Diploma, alongside TOK and the Extended Essay. Students must complete a wide range of experiences across creativity, physical activity, and community service, usually totaling about 150 hours over two years.
But many IB students wonder: Can activities like chess — especially if played against an AI — count toward CAS? What if you spend 50 hours playing chess against an AI program? Would that qualify as creativity, activity, or service?
This guide breaks down what CAS is really about, whether AI chess counts, and how you might still include chess in your CAS portfolio with the right approach.
What IB CAS Is Designed to Do
CAS is not about logging hours just for the sake of it. The purpose is to help students:
- Develop new skills through creative or physical challenges.
- Build balance between academics and personal growth.
- Engage with others through service and collaboration.
- Reflect meaningfully on learning and personal development.
The IB CAS guide emphasizes learning outcomes rather than simply time spent. Examiners want to see evidence of growth, reflection, and balance — not just a log of activities.
Does Playing Chess Against AI Count as CAS?
The short answer: No, playing chess against AI alone does not count as CAS.
Here’s why:
- Lack of social interaction: CAS requires activities that involve collaboration, service, or engagement with a community. Playing against AI is solitary.
- Limited reflection opportunities: While chess develops strategy and focus, simply playing against AI doesn’t naturally encourage the kind of reflection IB is looking for.
- Not service-oriented: CAS expects students to contribute beyond themselves in at least some areas. AI chess does not provide service or meaningful engagement.
So, if you submit 50 hours of AI chess as CAS evidence, your coordinator is almost certain to reject it.
How Chess Can Count Toward CAS (The Right Way)
While AI-only chess doesn’t qualify, chess itself can absolutely be a CAS activity if framed properly. Here are acceptable ways:
1. Creativity
- Joining a chess club and reflecting on strategy development.
- Teaching yourself new openings and documenting the process.
- Organizing a chess tournament at your school.
2. Activity
- Competitive chess is mentally demanding and can count as “activity” if it’s part of a structured program.
- Pairing chess with memory or focus exercises can strengthen the case for it as an active discipline.
3. Service
- Teaching younger students how to play chess.
- Volunteering to run after-school chess lessons.
- Hosting community chess events.
In all of these cases, the key is reflection. CAS isn’t just about the act — it’s about what you learned, how you grew, and how it connects to IB’s learning outcomes.
Why CAS Rejects AI-Only Activities
Some students ask: If learning coding or using apps counts, why not AI chess? The difference is in intention and reflection:
- Coding with AI still involves skill-building and creativity.
- Chess against humans involves strategy, communication, and community.
- Chess against AI alone is repetitive and lacks a reflective, social dimension.
The IB does not consider time spent on video games or AI games to fulfill CAS goals unless they’re tied to a larger project.
Creative Ways to Turn AI Chess Into CAS
If you really want to include AI chess, consider reframing it:
- Reflection journal: Play against AI while keeping a strategy journal. Then, teach these strategies to peers in your chess club.
- Service project: Use AI games to train, then coach younger players.
- Creativity project: Build your own chess puzzles using AI games as a foundation.
In these ways, AI chess becomes a tool, not the activity itself.
FAQs About IB CAS and Chess
1. Can chess count as CAS at all?
Yes. Chess can count under creativity or service if you engage with others, reflect, and show personal growth.
2. What if I practice alone for many hours?
Solo practice alone (especially against AI) does not meet CAS requirements. However, you can include some individual practice if it supports a larger CAS project.
3. Does IB care about the number of hours?
Not really. Coordinators usually track hours, but IB emphasizes learning outcomes and reflection over raw time.
4. Could AI be part of my CAS reflections?
Yes — if you reflect on how AI helped you train, improve, or innovate, and if that learning connects to human engagement (like teaching or competing).
5. Would 50 hours of chess against AI be rejected?
Almost certainly yes, unless tied to a broader creative or service project.
Conclusion
While 50 hours of chess against AI may sharpen your skills, it doesn’t meet the IB CAS requirements on its own. CAS is about growth, reflection, and community engagement — and AI chess lacks those elements.
However, chess can still be an excellent CAS activity if approached the right way: teaching, organizing events, joining clubs, or combining AI training with real-world service. The difference lies in framing your experience around learning outcomes rather than just time spent.
With thoughtful planning and reflection, you can make chess a valuable part of your CAS portfolio — just not by playing against AI alone.
RevisionDojo Call to Action
Managing IB CAS alongside Extended Essays, TOK, and IAs can feel overwhelming. RevisionDojo helps you stay organized, understand CAS requirements, and turn everyday activities into meaningful reflections that IB examiners value.
