Tiger IB
CAS, EXTENDED ESSAY & TOK (IB)
The 3 core components in the IB program
Theory of Knowledge (TOK): a class that's on the more philosophical side, in which students reflect on the nature of knowledge and on how we know what we claim to know.
Through discussions of these and other questions, students gain greater awareness of their personal and ideological assumptions, as well as developing an appreciation of the diversity and richness of cultural perspectives.
The Extended Essay (EE): is a 4,000-word mini-thesis. You get to research a topic of interest to you with support from a teacher-supervisor.
It is an independent, self-directed piece of research, finishing with a 4,000-word paper.
Participation in this process develops the capacity to analyze, synthesize and evaluate knowledge.
Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS): The three strands of CAS, which are often interwoven with particular activities, are characterized as follows:
Creativity – arts, and other experiences that involve creative thinking.
Activity – physical exertion contributing to a healthy lifestyle, complementing academic work elsewhere in the DP.
Service – an unpaid and voluntary exchange that has a learning benefit for the student. The rights, dignity and autonomy of all those involved are respected.
Career Connections
Graduates of this program develop lifelong employability skills, such as:
- developing an argument
- communicate ideas
- effective communication and interpersonal skills
- critical thinking and problem-solving
- experience creating social media campaigns
- planning and executing events
- prioritizing goals and workload while managing stress
- show initiative
IB Alumni Testimonials
Completing the IB program has helped my transition to university in a variety of ways. I learned how to conduct research and write papers throughout IB, which prepared me well for the challenge of writing research papers and citing sources in university. During the IB program, I learned how to prioritize tasks and manage a heavy workload, which made balancing my first year of university much easier. I also became familiar with university content, writing styles, and expectations through the IB. Furthermore, taking the IB program saved me money! I earned credits from the IB that allowed me to skip two university courses, as well as received an IB scholarship. Best of all, IB gave me a tight knit community of like-minded classmates and I will always cherish the memories we made together throughout the program. IB is a challenge, but it truly does set you up for success in university and give you meaningful experiences to carry through life.
- Whitney C, U of A Nursing Student & McNally Class of 2022
IB's biggest focuses include its academic rigour, and involvement in leadership activities. While the program is challenging, my first year of university felt a lot like my grade 12 year in high school. Doing the IB assessments and exams, and learning the challenging course material, all while being involved in leadership activities and supporting my mental and physical health, built the exact skills needed for university. These include things like time management, prioritization of tasks, developing effective study habits, and maintaining your health and well roundedness. The challenges of university are similar to the one's in the IB Program, and having been through it once allowed for the workload in university to become more manageable and less stressful.
- Anwi P. U of A Student and McNally Valedictorian, 2023
