IB Diploma: Do TOK, the Extended Essay and CAS Really Matter? A Parent's Guide

If your child is starting the IB Diploma Programme (DP), you will hear three abbreviations in the first week: TOK, EE and CAS. Parents often ask whether these are extras or whether they decide the result. Here is what the IB itself says.

What the DP core is

The DP is a two-year programme for students aged 16 to 19. Alongside courses from six subject groups, every student completes the DP core. The IB describes the core as three required components that broaden students' educational experience and challenge them to apply their knowledge and skills.

How the core affects the diploma score

Each subject is graded from 7 (highest) to 1. The final diploma score combines the subject scores. The IB says TOK and the EE receive individual grades and together can add up to 3 extra points to the total. CAS does not add points, but authenticated participation is a requirement for the award of the diploma.

The IB also says the diploma is awarded to students who gain at least 24 points, subject to certain minimum levels of performance, including successful completion of all three core elements. So the core is not optional extra credit. A student can be strong in every subject and still not receive the diploma if a core element is missing.

What CAS asks of your child

CAS has three strands. Creativity covers arts and other experiences that involve creative thinking. Activity means physical exertion that supports a healthy lifestyle. Service is an unpaid, voluntary exchange with a learning benefit for the student, where the rights, dignity and autonomy of everyone involved are respected. Students also complete a CAS project that asks them to show initiative and perseverance and to build collaboration, problem solving and decision making. The IB says students reflect on their experiences and provide evidence of seven learning outcomes.

A parent's checklist

• Ask the school for the Extended Essay timeline: when the topic is chosen, when drafts are due, and who the supervisor is.
• Ask how the school records CAS evidence, and whether your child already has a plan for each strand.
• Encourage your child to start the 4,000-word essay early. It is independent work, and it is easy to leave it too late.
• Check how the school handles TOK assessment, since the IB says the TOK essay is assessed externally.
• Keep the minimum in mind: 24 points plus completing all three core elements.