CREATIVITY, ACTION, SERVICE

'Creativity, Action, Service' (usually referred to as just 'CAS') is a component of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, with the aim of providing a 'counterbalance' to the academic rigour of the educational programme. Students are expected to spend at least 150 hours during the two-year programme participating in different activities that have a function of developing them creatively, physically, and socially. The component is often thought of merely social service, but it is in fact more than just that.
All the portions (Creativity, Action, and Service) are vaguely defined and should, according to the IBO, be interpreted as imaginatively as possible, so that a wide array of different activities can qualify for CAS. As the total required amount of hours is 150, and as they should be equally divided between the three portions, there is a ''de facto'' requirement of at least fifty hours each.
While individual schools or regions have different methods of documentation, all require some form of proof or the signature of the activity coordinator to be presented after completion of the activity. Students must also personally keep track of their total records in either a log or "diary" format. This allows for students to monitor their required hours and to present a coherent documentation of their entire CAS experience.
CAS is not assessed, but a failure to complete and report the full 150 hours is a failing condition for the IB Diploma. However, the candidate has one year to make up the 150 hours following the end of the school year to receive the diploma. Occasionally students in the IB make up hours by means of non-IB friends. Pretending they have tutored these non-IB students, or that the latter have accompanied IB students on camping trips (travel is counted in the hours) are both options that are occasionally used when a student finds it necessary to create false CAS hours. However, these courses of actions may be regarded as falsifying CAS hours and may merit a disqualification of the Diploma.
Those not doing the full the IB Diploma but instead the associate program are only required to have 100 CAS hours.