IB CAS Learning Outcomes (The 7 Requirements) + Examples & Reflection Tips

How do IB students demonstrate growth beyond academic achievements?

The CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) program provides a framework for students to develop diverse skills and engage in purposeful experiences that foster personal growth and global awareness.

By actively participating in local and international initiatives, students address real-world challenges while building leadership, resilience, and problem-solving abilities.

Whether you’re just starting your IB journey or refining your CAS portfolio, understanding these learning outcomes will help you maximize your personal and academic development.

What is IB CAS?

IB CAS stands for Creativity, Activity, Service—one of the required core elements of the IB Diploma Programme (DP). CAS is designed to balance academic study with purposeful experiences that build skills like initiative, collaboration, leadership, and ethical decision-making.

To complete IB CAS, students plan and carry out ongoing experiences across the three strands, document evidence in a CAS portfolio, and use reflection to show growth over time.

Next step: If you’re looking for a complete overview of IB CAS requirements (not just the outcomes), start here: Understanding CAS in the IB Diploma Programme.

In this guide, we’ll take a look at:

Understanding the Core CAS Requirements

The CAS programme has several essential components that every IB student must complete:

The Three CAS Strands

Creativity: Exploring and extending ideas leading to an original or interpretive product or performance
Activity: Physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle
Service: Collaborative and reciprocal engagement with the community in response to an authentic need

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Key Programme Requirements

Continuous engagement over 18 months
Regular weekly CAS experiences
Three formal documented interviews with your CAS coordinator
At least one CAS project (collaborative, minimum one-month duration)
Maintained CAS portfolio documenting experiences and reflections

IB CAS requirements (official notes)

IB describes CAS as a required DP core element, completed through ongoing experiences and reflection. A CAS project is a collaborative series of experiences that lasts at least one month. Your school’s CAS coordinator confirms completion based on evidence and reflections in your CAS portfolio.

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What Are the CAS Learning Outcomes?

The seven CAS learning outcomes serve as guideposts for your personal growth throughout the IB Diploma Programme. These learning outcomes articulate what a CAS student is able to do at some point during his or her CAS programme.

IB CAS outcomes: evidence + reflection ideas (quick map)

Use this quick map to connect each IB CAS learning outcome to the kind of evidence and reflection that usually makes your portfolio clearer.

Learning outcome	Evidence ideas (examples)	Reflection prompts (copy/paste starters)
1) Strengths + growth	Before/after skills notes, feedback screenshots, goal check-ins	“I used to…, but now I can… because…”
2) Challenges + new skills	Practice logs, drafts, training notes, outcome metrics	“The hardest moment was…, so I changed…”
3) Initiate + plan	Plan doc, timeline, roles, risk notes, approvals	“My plan worked because…, but I would improve…”
4) Commitment + perseverance	Attendance streaks, progress photos, milestone updates	“I wanted to quit when…, but I kept going by…”
5) Collaboration	Team roles, meeting notes, peer feedback, conflict resolution notes	“I contributed by…, and I learned from others when…”
6) Global significance	Research notes, stakeholder interviews, impact summary	“This issue matters because…, and our action affected…”
7) Ethics	Decision log, sourcing notes, transparency notes, consent notes	“A key ethical choice was…, and the trade-off was…”

Each outcome encourages specific aspects of development, from self-awareness to global citizenship, helping students critically discuss and reflect on their experiences.

Through meaningful and purposeful CAS experiences, students develop the necessary skills and various abilities to achieve the seven CAS learning outcomes.

Let’s explore how these learning outcomes shape student completion of the CAS programme:

1. Identify Own Strengths and Develop Areas for Growth

This outcome focuses on improvement and growth opportunities through appropriate personal challenge. Students learn to:

Recognize their existing abilities and align activities their own interests
Identify areas that need increased expertise
Set meaningful goals that demonstrate a responsible attitude
Track progress in previously undertaken activities

Real-World CAS Project Example: A student who excels at mathematics but struggles with public speaking might initiate a math tutoring program, developing skills in the process of teaching others while working in unfamiliar environments.

Identify Your Strengths On A Trip To Cambodia

2. Demonstrate that Challenges Have Been Undertaken, Developing New Skills in the Process

This outcome encourages students to embrace new or familiar experiences that push beyond comfort zones. Students should:

Undertake team activities that require collaboration.
Embrace personal challenge in various forms.
Document developed skills through concrete and appropriate actions.
Show evidence of growth through CAS activities.

Real-World CAS Project Example: A student launches a virtual music education platform, generating creative ideas and valid alternatives to make music education accessible globally. This new idea combines digital content creation with cross-cultural teaching, demonstrating how students develop varied abilities through perseverance in CAS experiences.

3. Demonstrate How to Initiate and Plan a CAS Experience

Planning and organization are crucial life skills developed through this outcome. This shows responsible attitude to CAS project planning. Students learn to:

Identify meaningful project opportunities
Create detailed action plans
Consider resource requirements
Establish realistic timelines
Anticipate potential challenges

Real-World CAS Project Example: A student organizes a community clean-up initiative, coordinating volunteers, securing necessary permits, and arranging equipment and disposal services.

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4. Show Commitment to and Perseverance in CAS Experiences

Students demonstrate regular involvement and active engagement in CAS. Long-term dedication and resilience are essential qualities developed through this outcome.

Regular participation in ongoing activities
Consistent effort despite challenges
Ability to overcome obstacles
Long-term dedication and resilience are key to achieving this outcome

Real-World CAS Project Example: A student maintains a year-long commitment to teaching elderly community members digital skills, adapting their teaching methods based on feedback and challenges.

5. Demonstrate the Skills and Recognize the Benefits of Working Collaboratively

Teamwork and cooperation are central to this outcome. Students learn to:

Work effectively in groups
Share responsibilities
Respect diverse perspectives
Resolve conflicts constructively
Contribute to team goals

Real-World CAS Project Example: Students from different grade levels collaborate to organize a cultural festival, sharing tasks and learning from each other’s strengths.

Work Together On A CAS Trip To Costa Rica

6. Demonstrate Engagement with Issues of Global Significance

This outcome connects students to broader global issues while considering global implications. Students should:

Research challenges of global importance.
Take cultural context into account in their approach.
Take action on global issues in the local or national community.
Consider potential and varied consequences of their initiatives.

Real-World CAS Project Example: During a Rustic Pathways CAS travel program in Thailand, students made valuable contributions to local environmental organizations, implementing sustainable waste management solutions in coastal communities. This experience helped them foresee potential challenges in cross-cultural collaboration while addressing issues of global significance.

7. Recognize and Consider Ethics of Choices and Actions

Ethical awareness and responsible decision-making are key focuses. Students learn to:

Consider ethical issues in various contexts
Understand different ethical principles
Make ethical decisions with awareness
Reflect on varied consequences of their choices
Apply ethical principles in unfamiliar environments

Real-World CAS Project Example: Students organizing a fundraising event carefully consider transparency in financial reporting and ethical sourcing of materials, demonstrating how ethical principles guide concrete and appropriate actions in CAS activities.

History And Culture CAS Trip To Ghana

How to Successfully Meet CAS Learning Outcomes

Students use the CAS stages (investigation, preparation, action, reflection and demonstration) as a framework for CAS experiences and the CAS project.

Essential Tips for Success:

1. Regular Documentation

Keep detailed records of your activities
Take photos and videos as evidence
Maintain a consistent reflection journal
Save any relevant documents or certificates

2. Quality Reflections

Connect experiences to specific learning outcomes
Describe both challenges and achievements
Consider personal growth and impact on others
Include plans for future improvement

3. Balanced Engagement

Participate in a mix of creativity, activity, and service experiences
Ensure activities span the required 18-month period
Engage in both group and individual projects
Include both short-term and long-term experiences

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Understanding the CAS Stages

1. Investigation:

Identify interests and talents to be used.
Determine the purpose of the CAS experience.

2. Preparation:

Clarify roles and responsibilities.
Develop a plan of actions.
Identify resources and timelines.
Acquire any skills needed

3. Action:

Implement the plan.
Make decisions and solve problems.
Work collaboratively with others.

4. Reflection:

Describe what happened.
Express feelings.
Generate ideas.
Raise questions.

5. Demonstration:

Make explicit what and how you learned.
Share your learning with others.
Celebrate your accomplishments

While the portfolio isn’t formally assessed, it must contain sufficient evidence of:

Regular involvement over 18 months
Achievement of all seven learning outcomes
Engagement with all three CAS strands
Completion of at least one CAS project
Understanding of the CAS stages

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Frequently Asked Questions About CAS Learning Outcomes

IB CAS FAQs

How Are Learning Outcomes Evaluated?

CAS coordinators assess learning outcomes through student reflections and documentation, supervisor feedback and observations, evidence of completed projects and activities, and the final CAS portfolio presentation.

Can You Fail CAS? Or Not Pass the CAS Course?

Yes, students can fail CAS if they do not meet all seven learning outcomes, fail to maintain regular CAS involvement, provide insufficient evidence or reflection, or miss the required 18-month engagement period.

How Many Experiences Should Address Each Outcome?

While there is no fixed number, students should demonstrate each outcome multiple times, show evidence through different types of experiences, present clear growth over time, and include a variety of contexts and challenges.

How Do I Choose the Right CAS Experiences?

Choose CAS experiences that align with your interests and passions, challenge you to develop new skills, offer opportunities for meaningful reflection, connect to multiple learning outcomes, and allow for sustained engagement.

What Makes a Strong CAS Reflection?

Strong CAS reflections include specific examples of learning and growth, connections to relevant learning outcomes, honest assessment of challenges faced, plans for future improvement, and clear consideration of impact on both self and others.

Can International Travel Count Towards CAS?

Yes, international travel and cultural immersion programs can count towards CAS when they meet the CAS learning outcomes criteria, include structured reflection opportunities, demonstrate meaningful engagement, show evidence of personal growth, and create lasting impact.

Planning Your CAS Journey

If you feel like CAS advice starts to sound repetitive, this is the simplest way to use it: plan one meaningful experience, collect clear evidence, and write reflections that explicitly connect to the learning outcomes. The sections below show how to do that step-by-step.

Success in CAS requires thoughtful planning and consistent effort. Consider these strategies:

1. Start Early

Begin planning CAS experiences as soon as possible
Set clear goals aligned with learning outcomes
Create a timeline for completing experiences
Allow time for reflection and documentation

2. Seek Diverse Experiences

Choose activities that challenge you in different ways
Look for opportunities that combine multiple outcomes
Consider both school-based and community projects
Include individual and collaborative experiences

3. Maintain Regular Reflection

Schedule regular time for reflection
Use various reflection methods (writing, video, discussion)
Connect experiences to specific outcomes
Document growth and challenges

Remember, CAS is not just about completing activities; it’s about personal growth, skill development, and making meaningful contributions to your community. By understanding and actively working toward these learning outcomes, you’ll create a rich and rewarding CAS experience that extends far beyond your IB diploma.

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