IB CAS Project: Requirements, 5 Stages and Examples
What the IB requires for a CAS project, the five CAS stages, 10 project examples, and when a CAS expedition counts. Correct for the classes of 2026 to 2028.
14 minRead guide
CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) Guides
Navigate CAS requirements with confidence - from planning meaningful experiences to effective reflection.
CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) is the experiential part of the IB Diploma core. It is not graded, but you cannot receive the diploma without completing it. Every student now in the DP follows the same CAS guide, as the IB has delayed its new CAS curriculum until 2030. The requirements: CAS experiences across the three strands over at least 18 months, evidence of the seven learning outcomes, at least one CAS project, three documented interviews with your CAS coordinator and a portfolio of reflections. Our guides cover each part, from finding experiences and planning your project to writing reflections that count.
Key Takeaways
- Choose experiences you genuinely care about - authenticity matters
- Document as you go; regular reflection is more valuable than summaries
- Your CAS project is mandatory - plan collaboratively and start early
- Balance across all three strands throughout your IB journey
- Focus on learning and growth, not hour-counting
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Guides in This Category
IB CAS Ideas and Expeditions: 50 Examples That Work
50 IB CAS ideas for creativity, activity and service, each with why it works, plus how CAS expeditions and trips count. Same rules for 2026 to 2028.
13 minRead guide
How to Write a CAS Reflection: Length and Examples
How long a CAS reflection should be, the IB's four elements of reflection, a weak and a strong example, and how many CAS reflections you actually need.
11 minRead guide
The 7 CAS Learning Outcomes: Examples and Evidence
The seven IB CAS learning outcomes in the IB's wording, what each one means, and examples of the evidence that shows it. Unchanged for 2026 to 2028.
10 minRead guide
Frequently Asked Questions
There's no set number of hours. Focus on genuine engagement with activities that cover creativity, activity, and service, plus at least one CAS project. Quality and depth matter more than counting hours.
A CAS project is a collaborative series of experiences lasting at least a month, carried out with others through the five CAS stages: investigation, preparation, action, reflection and demonstration. It can involve one strand or several, and you can join an existing project as long as you take real responsibility for part of it.
"CAS expedition" is not an IB term. Schools and travel companies use it for trips abroad or outdoors. A trip can count as CAS experiences, or as part of a CAS project, when it meets the normal requirements: clear goals, genuine engagement, reflection and safe organisation through your school.
Yes, but you need to approach them with intention. Document what you're learning, set new goals, and reflect on your growth - don't just log hours in activities you were already doing.
If you don't complete CAS requirements satisfactorily, you cannot receive your IB Diploma. Take it seriously from the start, engage authentically, and document your experiences regularly.