IB Diploma core · CAS
CAS ideas for students who love maths
67 original ideas for creativity, activity and service with a maths flavour: clubs, peer tutoring, data projects for charities, maths art, puzzle hunts, coding and active maths. Each shows the strand it fits, how to evidence it, questions to reflect on and the safety and ethics to check. Free.
CAS in brief
Provisional Our short summary of the IB's CAS requirements, being checked against the IB's current CAS guide. Your CAS coordinator's guidance comes first.
| Strand | In short | Maths examples |
|---|---|---|
| Creativity | The arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking. | Start a lower-school maths club; Organise an inter-house maths competition |
| Activity | Physical exertion that contributes to a healthy lifestyle. | Records and planning for a community garden; Start a running club that tracks pace |
| Service | Unpaid, voluntary work with others that also has a learning benefit for you. | Start a lower-school maths club; Run a competition training group |
- How long: CAS runs throughout the Diploma Programme, alongside your subjects. Your school sets the timeline.
- CAS project: A CAS project is required. Your CAS coordinator will tell you what your school expects it to involve and how long it should run. Plan a maths CAS project.
- Learning outcomes: seven, from strengths and growth to ethics; you show each one at least once across CAS. The outcomes, with questions for each.
- Assessment: CAS does not add to your Diploma points total, but authenticated participation is a requirement for the Diploma. It is not formally assessed.
Our summary in our own words. Official requirements: the IB's CAS page.
Ideas by theme
- Maths clubs and competitions9 ideas
- Peer tutoring and teaching9 ideas
- Data projects for charities8 ideas
- Community statistics8 ideas
- Maths art and making8 ideas
- Puzzles, games and puzzle hunts9 ideas
- Coding and technology8 ideas
- Active maths: sport and the outdoors8 ideas
A few to start with
- Start a lower-school maths clubServiceCreativityProject-ready
- Analyse demand for a food bankServiceProject-ready
- Build a maths escape roomCreativityServiceProject-ready
- Design and paint a tessellation muralCreativityServiceProject-ready
- Set up a peer-tutoring programmeServiceProject-ready
- Start a running club that tracks paceActivityProject-ready
Guides
The rest of the DP core and your maths coursework
- Maths Extended Essay: ideas, research questions and a planner
- Maths IA hub: ideas, criteria and tools
- TOK and maths: knowledge questions, exhibition objects and essay help
Keep CAS separate from your IA and EE. CAS itself is not formally assessed.
Frequently asked questions
Can maths count for CAS?
Yes, as long as it is not part of your coursework or exam preparation. Running a maths club, tutoring, designing maths art or using statistics for a charity are experiences beyond the classroom, and each fits one or more strands. Your CAS coordinator decides what counts at your school.
Which CAS strand does a maths activity fit?
Making something new (art, puzzles, code) is usually creativity. Helping others (tutoring, data work for a charity) is usually service. Activity needs physical exertion, so a maths idea only fits activity if you are genuinely exercising, for example orienteering or a running club that uses pace data.
Is tutoring younger students a good CAS project?
It can be, if it meets a need the school or group has identified, and your CAS coordinator agrees. Agree the arrangements with a teacher and follow your school's safeguarding rules.
How long does CAS last?
CAS runs throughout the Diploma Programme, alongside your subjects. Your school sets the timeline. Check your school's own timeline.
Can you write my CAS reflections?
No, and nobody should: reflections must be your own thinking about your own experience. We give you questions to think about and a structure to organise your evidence. That is all.
Is this the official IB CAS guide?
No. IB Math Revision is independent and not affiliated with the IB. The requirement summaries here are our own short descriptions; your CAS coordinator has the IB's guide and your school's rules.
IB Math Revision is independent and not affiliated with or endorsed by the IB. Requirement summaries are our own words; for the official requirements see the IB's CAS page and ask your school's CAS coordinator.