Most students treat CAS as the part of the IB they'll “sort out later”. 

Then later arrives, and they're scrambling for a project with a deadline, a team and a reflection log they haven't started.

If you’re trying to plan your IB CAS project, start with these ideas across all three strands. You’ll also find a simple way to turn one into a project with clear goals, meaningful outcomes and reflections you can build on. 

Before you begin, it’s worth understanding what the IB expects from CAS.

Here's what each strand covers:

• Creativity: exploring and extending ideas, from music and art to coding and design
• Activity: physical effort, which doesn't have to mean competitive sport
• Service: working with your community on a real need

Alongside your ongoing experiences, the IB asks for at least one CAS project. That's where most students get stuck, so it's worth knowing the rules:

• It's collaborative: you work with others, not alone
• It runs for at least one month from start to finish
• It can cover one or more strands, combining two or all three or focusing on just one.
• It should create genuine value by addressing a genuine community need rather than simply looking good on paper.

The IB also sets seven learning outcomes, so your experiences should show growth, not just hours. With that in mind, here are ideas that fit.

IB CAS Project Ideas by Strand

Each idea below can be run as a team project lasting a month or more. Adapt them to your school, your skills and your community.

1. Creativity Project Ideas

• Write, illustrate and publish a short storybook for younger students
• Produce a short documentary on a local tradition or craft
• Design and build an app or website for a school club
• Stage a short play or music performance for a charity evening
• Create a mural for a community space, with permission

Creativity projects work best when you're stretching a skill you already have. Activity projects, on the other hand, are about pushing your body somewhere new.

2. Activity Project Ideas

• Train as a group for a charity run or walkathon
• Start a lunchtime fitness or yoga club for your year group
• Learn a new sport as a team and play a friendly match at the end
• Organise an inter-school sports day

The strongest projects, though, usually reach beyond your own group.

3. Service Project Ideas

• Run weekly reading or maths support sessions for younger students
• Organise a clothing or book drive for a local charity
• Set up a recycling or waste-reduction scheme at school
• Teach basic digital skills to older members of your community
• Organise a beach or park clean-up with a local environmental group

And if you want one project that ticks more than one box, combine strands.

4. Combination Project Ideas

• Creativity + Service: design and sell artwork, then donate the proceeds to a local cause
• Activity + Service: coach a sports session for children who don't usually get to play
• Creativity + Activity + Service: choreograph a dance performance that raises money for a community project

A list gives you a starting point. Turning one of these into a project that meets the IB's requirements takes a plan.

How to Plan an IB CAS Project

A good CAS project starts with a real need or interest, involves a team, and runs long enough for you to grow and reflect.

Step 1: Start with what you care about

What do you already enjoy, or what problem do you see around you? Projects built on real interest last the month.

Step 2: Find your team

The CAS project has to be collaborative. Bring together two or three people with different skills.

Step 3: Check there's a real need

For service, ask the people you want to help what they actually need, rather than guessing.

Step 4: Plan it over at least a month

Set clear goals, split the roles and agree on check-in dates. Then talk the plan through with your CAS coordinator.

Step 5: Reflect as you go

Keep notes, photos and short reflections throughout, not just at the end. That's your evidence of growth.

A clear plan gives your project the best chance of meeting the CAS requirements. Here are the common mistakes to avoid before you begin.

Common IB CAS Mistakes

1. Treating CAS as a box-ticking exercise: The IB values quality over quantity. One meaningful project beats a pile of one-off activities.

2. Doing a “service” project nobody asked for: If the community doesn't actually benefit, it isn't service. Start by asking what's needed.

3. Going solo on the CAS project: The project has to be collaborative. A one-person project won't meet the requirement, however impressive it is.

4. Leaving reflection to the end: Reflections written months later sound vague. Short, regular notes show real growth.

CAS is meant to be the part of the IB you enjoy. But with DP workloads piling up, many students struggle to find the time for it at all.

Make Room for CAS in Your IB Schedule

Struggling to balance CAS with your IB workload? 

The problem is often time, not motivation. Getting your subjects under control can create space for a CAS project you genuinely care about.

Mentor Match’s 1:1 IB tutoring can help you:

• Identify where you’re losing time and marks
• Build a focused study plan around your subjects
• Improve your approach to exam questions and coursework
• Create more time to manage the rest of your IB Diploma

Your tutor works alongside your school teachers, not in place of them.

Book a free session.

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FAQs

What is a CAS project in the IB?

A CAS project is a collaborative project that runs for at least one month and addresses one, two or all three CAS strands: creativity, activity and service.

What are good IB CAS project ideas?

Good ideas meet a real need or build a real skill, such as running reading sessions for younger students, organising a charity run, or producing a short documentary on a local tradition.

How long does CAS last in the IB?

CAS experiences run over 18 months of the Diploma Programme, and the CAS project itself must last at least one month.

Does a CAS activity have to be a sport?

No. Activity means physical effort, so hiking, dance or learning a new physical skill can all count.

Can I do my CAS project alone?

No. The IB requires the CAS project to be collaborative, so you'll need to work with others.