IB Diploma CAS Programme at BSB

Our Year 12 and 13 students pursue the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), one of the most respected educational programmes in the world that prepares students for excellent university careers ahead. Through the IBDP, BSB provides necessary academic preparation using a holistic curriculum that allows our students to develop a lifelong passion for learning.

The academic programme requires students to study 6 subjects, 1 from each of the 6 groups, as well as the requirements of the 3 Core components.

6 Subject Groups:

• Group 1: Studies in Language and Literature
• Group 2: Language Acquisition
• Group 3: Individuals and Societies
• Group 4: Sciences
• Group 5: Mathematics
• Group 6: The Arts and Electives

3 Core Components:

• Creativity, Activity and Service (CAS)
• Theory of Knowledge (TOK)
• Extended Essay (EE)

The wide range of subjects we offer at BSB Shunyi allows our students to devise a portfolio that is well suited to their interests and abilities and supports their career aspirations.

Today, let’s find out more about CAS.

1. What is CAS?

CAS stands for Creativity, Activity and Service and it is one of the three core elements of the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP).

CAS is organized around the three strands of Creativity, Activity and Service defined as follows.

• 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.

CAS complements a challenging academic programme in a holistic way, providing opportunities for self-determination, collaboration, accomplishment, and enjoyment.

2. How is it marked in the IB Diploma Programme?

IBDP students will engage in a variety of CAS experiences and CAS projects for at least 18 months and build a robust portfolio that will demonstrate achievement of the seven learning outcomes, with a reasonable balance between creativity, activity, and service.

Students must have three formal documented interviews with their CAS coordinator/adviser. The first interview is at the beginning of Year 12, the second at the end of Year 12, and the third interview is at the end of the CAS programme in Year 13.

3. What do we hope our BSB students will learn from CAS?

Reflection is critical to develop a deep and valuable experience in CAS. Reflection helps students’ learning and growth by allowing students to explore ideas, skills, strengths, limitations, and areas for further development and consider how they may use prior learning in new contexts.

CAS helps students to develop their personal and interpersonal development. A meaningful and impressive CAS programme is a journey of self-discovery and others. CAS is deep and life changing. No one student has the same starting point, and every student has different goals and needs. A CAS programme is, therefore, individualized according to student interests, skills, values, and background, and at BSB Shunyi, we want students to be ambitious!

4. Examples of CAS activities at BSB

Last year, BSB IB students participated in setting up of the Eco-committee in primary school to ensure sustainability, ice skating, jazz dancing, stray animal shelter and many great CAS experiences and CAS projects.

For this year 2022/23, we are introducing projects like Future Thinkers, organising Spelling Bee Competition, assisting Primary Cocurricular Activities (CCA) Sports and whole school aquatics swim team, National Economic Competition, Envirothon, ASDAN, Social Impact Programmes that support Sustainable Development Goals, and many other exciting CAS experiences and CAS projects.

Updates from: Mr. Alex Goh, IB CAS Coordinator, IB Economics and Business Management Teacher