IB
@ PMSS
EMPOWERING PMSS IB STUDENTS
Get the full run-down on your options, receive advice from those who know what you're going through, and make the most of the sweat, blood and tears you're putting into your education.
EE and CAS
Extended Essay
Ah yes, the bane of existence of every IB Diploma student: the Extended Essay.
So what is it?
The Extended Essay is a 4000 word (max) research essay on a topic chosen by the student. It is an independent activity that must be completed on the student's terms (within the given deadlines, of course).
What's the purpose of the EE?
It is a fabulous introduction to the kind of research and writing process you will need to know for college/university. It forces you to manage your time and figure things out for yourself as there is little guidance and no time given to work on it in school.
What do you do?
1. Choose a precise, focused and answerable research question.
2. Figure out how you’re going to answer your research question. 3. Research, research, research (or collect data)! Start taking notes and recording your sources.
4. Analyze your findings until you have thoroughly answered the research question. Make sure you acknowledge ALL the sources you consulted.
5. Format and finalize the essay, making sure you have stayed within the word limit.
6. Turn it in and never worry about it again!
What's it like?
The EE is annoying at best, but it's really what you make it. If you choose a topic you are seriously interested in and passionate about, it's just an on-the-side exploration. Getting started on it earlier (i.e. during grade 11) and not waiting until right before the deadline to finish it will also make the EE less daunting.
Creativity - Action - Service
REFLECTIONS, REFLECTIONS, REFLECTIONS!
What is CAS?
CAS is another on-the-side "course" that requires students to spend at least one hour a week on each of creativity, action and service. These activities are tracked on ManageBac (an online learning platform for IB schools) and students add reflections on them every week.
What counts as creativity?
Practicing guitar, painting a portrait, designing a website, baking, dancing...anything that requires imagination, artsy skills or an inventive mindset. School music courses such as choir all count, as long as they are not IB courses.
What counts as action?
Sports (organized or not), dance, running, scuba diving, mountain climbing...anything that gets the blood flowing and requires some physical exertion.
What counts as service?
Visiting seniors at a retirement home, volunteering at Golden Spike Days, facilitating an event to raise funds for a charity...anything that is putting your time and effort to the use of helping others. Any activity that you are paid for DOES NOT COUNT! (Neither does cleaning your room, unfortunately.)
What is a CAS Project?
A CAS project is a group project that combines at least two of creativity, service and/or action that takes 4 to 6 months to plan and execute. This could take many forms; for example, some former PMSS students did their peers' grad makeup free of charge. Our CAS project is this website! Each IB student is required to complete one CAS project.
What's it like?
CAS is kind of like an all-consuming black hole that is constantly looming in the back of your mind. Because you don’t have to sit in a classroom every day to do it, it’s easy to forget and lose track of. And yet if you fail CAS, you don’t get an IB Diploma. For this reason, make sure you ATTEND THE CAS MEETINGS! Otherwise, as long as you update your reflections on ManageBac and try to do at least one hour of each of the activities (creativity, action, service) every week, then you should be good. Also, if possible, finish your CAS project in your grade 11 year or over the summer between grade 11 and 12; this will save you from lots of stress and will most likely make your project better.
