IB DP Core: CAS Stages 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following scenarios shows a student moving from the Reflecting stage back to Investigating?
- A student finishes her project and submits her CAS portfolio
- A student realizes through reflection that she needs to explore a new area of personal growth and researches new opportunities (Correct answer)
- A student begins executing her planned fundraiser after weeks of preparation
- A student shares her CAS journey at a school assembly
Correct answer: A student realizes through reflection that she needs to explore a new area of personal growth and researches new opportunities
When reflection reveals new areas for growth, a student may return to Investigating to research new opportunities, illustrating the cyclical nature of CAS stages.
Question 2: In the context of CAS, what does 'demonstrating' growth mean?
- Accumulating the maximum number of CAS hours possible
- Providing evidence through artifacts and conversations that learning outcomes have been met (Correct answer)
- Getting a supervisor to certify that activities were completed
- Scoring high on CAS-related exams
Correct answer: Providing evidence through artifacts and conversations that learning outcomes have been met
Demonstrating in CAS means providing tangible evidence — such as portfolios, presentations, or discussions — that CAS learning outcomes have been achieved.
Question 3: A student identifies that she has never engaged in physical activity outside of school. Which CAS strand should she prioritize, and at which stage does she make this realization?
- Service; Acting
- Activity; Reflecting
- Creativity; Preparing
- Activity; Investigating (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Activity; Investigating
Recognizing a gap in physical engagement during self-assessment is characteristic of the Investigating stage, pointing toward the Activity strand of CAS.
Question 4: What is the role of a CAS supervisor during the Acting stage?
- To complete all CAS paperwork on behalf of the student
- To observe the student and provide feedback or verification of participation (Correct answer)
- To choose what activities the student should do next
- To write the student's CAS reflection entries
Correct answer: To observe the student and provide feedback or verification of participation
During the Acting stage, a CAS supervisor observes the student's participation, provides feedback, and can verify that the activity took place.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes how reflection should be used across all five CAS stages?
- Reflection is only required at the end of each activity to assess completion
- Reflection is woven through every stage, prompting students to evaluate and learn continuously (Correct answer)
- Reflection is only necessary when something goes wrong during a project
- Reflection is conducted by the CAS coordinator, not the student
Correct answer: Reflection is woven through every stage, prompting students to evaluate and learn continuously
Reflection is integral to all CAS stages, not limited to the Reflecting stage, as it helps students learn from each step of their CAS experience.
Question 6: A student preparing a CAS project on climate awareness creates a risk assessment and contingency plan. Which CAS stage does this most clearly represent?
- Investigating
- Acting
- Demonstrating
- Preparing (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Preparing
Creating a risk assessment and contingency plan is a hallmark of the Preparing stage, where students plan for potential obstacles before taking action.
Question 7: Which of the following statements about the five CAS stages is INCORRECT?
- The stages can overlap and occur simultaneously in complex projects
- Reflection is confined strictly to the Reflecting stage and cannot occur elsewhere (Correct answer)
- Investigating helps students choose purposeful and meaningful CAS activities
- Demonstrating requires students to show evidence of meeting CAS learning outcomes
Correct answer: Reflection is confined strictly to the Reflecting stage and cannot occur elsewhere
Reflection is not confined to the Reflecting stage; it should occur throughout all stages of CAS as an ongoing, integrated practice.
IB DP Core: CAS Stages 5
Which of the following scenarios shows a student moving from the Reflecting stage back to Investigating?