Frequently
Asked Questions about CAS
Choose a question to get the answer:
What are the guidelines
for determining the appropriateness of a CAS activity?
How do I document
my activities?
I am volunteering
for a non-profit organization's sleep-over camp for one week. Since
I sleep in cabins with the kids, I am essentially working 24 hours per
day. How many hours may I claim for CAS?
May I work for free
at my parent's business and receive CAS credit?
May I receive CAS
credit for classes taken at school?
May I receive CAS
credit for taking a community art class?
May I receive CAS
credit for being a teacher's aide during school?
May I receive CAS
credit for participation in religious devotion (worship services)?
What is an example
of a good CAS project that is balance between creativity, action, and
service?
What happens if I
don't meet the minimum requirements for CAS by the deadline?
Q.
What are the guidelines for determining the appropriateness of a CAS
activity?
A. Does the activity serve a need?
Does the activity serve a need in the community (local, national or
international) or environment? Does the activity serve a need for a
nonprofit organization? Is an adult supervisor willing to document what
I have done? Am I getting school credit or payment-in-king for what
I am doing? If so, the activity is ineligible for CAS credit. Are my
CAS hours a balanced combination of Creativity, Action, and Service?
NOT permissible as a CAS activity: "a passive activity, such as
a visit to a museum, the theater, art exhibition, concern or sports
event, unless it clearly inspires work or performance in another activity
in which a student is already engaged." [Back
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Q.
How do I document my activities?
A. Forms are available in this booklet
to allow you to document both Pre-IB and IB CAS Hours. Remember that
all CAS activities must be adult supervised and documents signed by
the supervisor. Sometimes a letter from the supervisor is more suitable.
(Use the guidelines under "Record Keeping." [Back
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Q.
I am volunteering for a nonprofit organization's
sleep-over camp for one week. Since I sleep in cabins with the kids,
I am essentially working 24 hours per day. How many hours may I claim
for CAS?
A. Forty hours for one week.
[Back to Top]
Q.
May I work for free at my parent's business and receive CAS credit?
A. Probably not. CAS Activities
are to meet a community need. The activity should serve the environment
or someone or something that is disadvantaged in the school, local,
or international community. [Back
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Q.
May I receive CAS credit for classes taken at school?
A. The usual answer is no; however,
hours outside of the school day for band, chorus, and drama may count
for 25 hours if the required outside of class time is more than for
another class. See the IB/CAS Coordinator for individual questions.
[Back to Top]
Q.
May I receive CAS credit for taking a community art class?
A. If 1) you receive no credit on
your transcripts, 2) are not rewarded with beneft-in-kind, 3) the art
class inspires you to actively participate in a CAS activity that serves
a need--teaching art techniques to an after-school care program at an
elementary school, for example. [Back
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Q.
May I receive CAS credit for being a teacher's aide during school?
A. Usually not. CAS hours are gathered
outside of regular school hours. [Back
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Q.
May I receive CAS credit for participation in religious devotion (worship
services)?
A. No. Worship is considered a family
choice. However, if your service to the nonprofit religious organization
goes beyond the typical 2-3 hours of weekly organized worship, the those
hours beyond the worship hours may be counted. Hours in addition to
worship service may include such activities as choir practice or teaching
worship classes. [Back
to Top]
Q.
What is an example of a good CAS project that is balanced between creativity,
action, and service?
A. Two students began working at
a soup kitchen together. They realized that many homeless persons were
unable to make it to that soup kitchen. They received permission to
deliver food on a daily basis to the homeless for those who could not
come to the soup kitchen. Their supervisor was comfortable with them
doing this because they were supporting and accompanying each other
in this activity. This project meets the requirements of Creativity,
Action, and Service as the students have come up with a creative solution
to a problem, are actively carrying out the solution, and are providing
a service to the needy. [Back
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Q.
What happens if I don't meet the minimum requirements for CAS by the
deadline?
A. Pre-IB: You will not be admitted
into the IB program. IB: you will not be eligible to receive an IB diploma.
[Back
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