IBEC CAS Program 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which of the following BEST describes the role of the CAS coordinator in an IB school?
- Grading students on their CAS activities
- Supporting students in planning, executing, and reflecting on CAS experiences (Correct answer)
- Selecting all CAS activities on behalf of students
- Reporting CAS hours to the IB organization quarterly
Correct answer: Supporting students in planning, executing, and reflecting on CAS experiences
The CAS coordinator guides and supports students through the process rather than grading or selecting activities for them.
Question 2: A student completes a marathon to raise funds for charity. Which CAS strand(s) does this MOST clearly represent?
- Creativity only
- Activity and Service (Correct answer)
- Activity only
- Creativity and Service
Correct answer: Activity and Service
Running a marathon addresses Activity (physical exertion) and Service (raising funds for charity).
Question 3: How does CAS differ from a traditional community service requirement in other curricula?
- CAS requires a minimum number of logged hours per week
- CAS emphasizes reflection, personal growth, and learning outcomes rather than just hours (Correct answer)
- CAS is graded on a letter scale by the teacher
- CAS focuses solely on volunteering in the local community
Correct answer: CAS emphasizes reflection, personal growth, and learning outcomes rather than just hours
CAS is distinguished by its emphasis on intentional reflection and demonstrable learning outcomes, not merely accumulating hours.
Question 4: Which of the following is an example of a CAS project?
- A student independently reads novels for personal enjoyment
- A group of students organizes a month-long environmental awareness campaign at school (Correct answer)
- A student attends a required school sports practice
- A student completes homework for an art elective
Correct answer: A group of students organizes a month-long environmental awareness campaign at school
A CAS project is a collaborative, well-considered series of sequential CAS experiences that must involve planning, doing, and reflecting.
Question 5: Which learning outcome focuses on a student's ability to identify their own strengths and areas for growth?
- LO2 – Demonstrate that challenges have been undertaken
- LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth (Correct answer)
- LO5 – Demonstrate the skills and recognize the benefits of working collaboratively
- LO4 – Show commitment to and perseverance in CAS experiences
Correct answer: LO1 – Identify own strengths and develop areas for growth
LO1 explicitly addresses self-awareness about personal strengths and areas needing development.
Question 6: What does 'authentic engagement' mean in the context of CAS?
- Completing activities that are officially listed on the IB-approved activity registry
- Genuine personal investment and real-world interaction rather than token participation (Correct answer)
- Activities that take place outside the school campus only
- Engagement that is formally assessed by an external IB examiner
Correct answer: Genuine personal investment and real-world interaction rather than token participation
Authentic engagement means students are genuinely involved and affected by their experiences, not simply going through the motions.
Question 7: A student wants to count their paid part-time job as a Service experience. How should the CAS coordinator respond?
- Approve it automatically since work experience is always acceptable
- Explain that paid work generally cannot count as Service because it lacks the voluntary, community-benefit dimension (Correct answer)
- Require the student to donate their wages to make it count as Service
- Count it as Activity instead because physical effort is involved
Correct answer: Explain that paid work generally cannot count as Service because it lacks the voluntary, community-benefit dimension
Service in CAS must be voluntary and benefit others without personal financial gain, so paid employment does not qualify.
IBEC CAS Program 2
Which of the following BEST describes the role of the CAS coordinator in an IB school?