IB CAS

What Counts as a CAS Project vs. a CAS Experience?

RevisionDojo
••5 min read

Introduction

The IB Diploma Programme’s CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) component is a cornerstone of student development. But one question confuses many students: What’s the difference between a CAS Project and a CAS Experience? Understanding this distinction is critical for meeting IB requirements and building a successful portfolio.

In this guide, you’ll learn the key differences, real examples, and how to structure your CAS efforts effectively—so you never fall short of the IB standards.

What Is a CAS Experience?

A CAS Experience is any significant activity under Creativity, Activity, or Service. It could be a one-time or ongoing action that promotes personal growth and engages with one or more of the CAS strands.

Examples of CAS Experiences:

  • Attending a painting workshop (Creativity)
  • Running in a 10K charity race (Activity)
  • Participating in a beach clean-up event (Service)

Key Characteristics:

  • Can be individual or group-based
  • Often short-term, though it can be extended
  • Must demonstrate at least one learning outcome
  • Requires reflection to be valid

What Is a CAS Project?

A CAS Project is a longer-term, collaborative endeavor. It requires at least one month of planning and execution and must demonstrate multiple CAS learning outcomes.

Examples of CAS Projects:

  • Planning and hosting a school fundraiser (Creativity + Service)
  • Starting and running a fitness club for peers (Activity)
  • Organizing a literacy campaign with a local NGO (Service)

Key Characteristics:

  • Involves collaboration with others
  • Must last at least four weeks
  • Integrates planning, execution, and reflection
  • Designed to meet at least five of the seven CAS learning outcomes

Major Differences Between CAS Project and Experience

Here’s how to clearly distinguish them:

  • Duration: Projects last over a month; experiences can be one-time events.
  • Collaboration: Projects involve working with others; experiences can be solo.
  • Structure: Projects require intentional planning; experiences can be spontaneous.
  • Outcomes: Projects must hit multiple learning outcomes; experiences can be limited to one.
  • IB Requirement: You must complete at least one CAS project to fulfill CAS requirements.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Assuming attending club meetings counts as a CAS project (without planning or collaboration)
  • Failing to reflect on each experience or project properly
  • Treating routine or personal chores as CAS activities
  • Forgetting to document activity duration, objectives, or outcomes

How to Plan for CAS Success

  1. Balance Both: Include a mix of creativity, activity, and service across experiences and your project.
  2. Document Everything: Use your CAS portfolio to log activity details, learning outcomes, and thoughtful reflections.
  3. Use the Learning Outcomes: There are seven learning outcomes. Projects must show evidence of at least five.
  4. Don’t Delay: Plan your CAS project early in Year 1 to avoid last-minute stress in Year 2.

FAQs

Q: Can a CAS project be done alone?
No. CAS projects must involve collaboration. That’s one of the IB’s requirements.

Q: How many CAS projects are required?
Only one CAS project is required, but you can do more.

Q: Do CAS experiences need to be long?
Not necessarily. A meaningful experience could be a one-hour event—if it includes reflection and a clear learning outcome.

Q: Can I do a project that’s only Creativity?
Yes. Your CAS project can focus on one strand or combine multiple.

Q: How is a CAS project assessed?
It’s not graded, but your CAS coordinator must verify that it meets the time, collaboration, and reflection requirements.

Q: Can I turn a CAS experience into a project?
Only if it evolves into a planned, collaborative, month-long initiative.

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