How long does it take?

The three Award levels are Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The main differences between them are the minimum length of time it takes to complete each level, how challenging they are, and the minimum age at which you can start. Most people start with Bronze and work upwards.

Remember that at LAS you are already doing after-school activities and sports that likely qualify toward your Award. The difference is that to earn an Award, you must set goals and demonstrate commitment toward attaining them. If you're already doing CAS in IB, then recording your activities is especially easy.

You can take a break, for holidays, exams or just because you feel like it. As long as you’ve finished the activities before your 25th birthday you can still achieve an Award.  

The tables at the bottom of this page display the minimum timescales for each level and section. During this period, you need to show regular activity and commitment averaging at least an hour a week. You can't achieve an Award in a short burst of enthusiasm!

Picture
Bronze
  • You can do a Bronze International Award once you’re 14. (Or nearly 14, which sometimes happens when you and your friends start your adventure together.)
  • A Bronze program has 4 sections: Service, Physical Recreation, Skills, and Adventurous Journey (a.k.a. Expeditions). You must do a minimum of 3 months of activity in each of the sections. You must also plan, train for, and do a 2-day (1 night) Adventurous Journey. 
  • You also have to spend an extra 3 months on one of the main sections (Service, Physical Recreation, or Skills). Choose the one you like the most.
  • This means that it will usually take you at least 6 months to complete your Bronze Award.
  •  Each week or month you must fill out your Online Record Book explaining your progress.
Picture
Silver
  • You need to be at least 15 to start doing your Silver Award. 
  • A Silver program also has 4 sections: Service, Physical Recreation, Skills, and Adventurous Journey. You need to do at least 6 months of Service; a minimum of 6 months on either Physical Recreation or Skills; and 3 months on the other one (Physical or Skills). You choose which one.
  • If you've already done Bronze, you can choose the same activity for Silver, but you need to show continued development in it. Why not try something new?
  • The Adventurous Journey section involves planning, training for, and doing a 3-day (2-night) expedition.
  • If you "direct enter" into Silver without doing Bronze first, you’ll have to do an extra 6 months of Service or the longer of your Physical or Skills sections. Though you can change your mind later, it's best to choose wisely first and stick with your plan. 
  • It will take you at least 6 months for Silver if you've already achieved your Bronze; direct entry will take 12 months.
  • Each week or month you must fill out your Online Record Book explaining your progress.
Picture
Gold
  • Once you are 16 you can do your Gold Award. No activities can be counted for this before your 16th birthday.
  • If you did a previous level, you can choose the same activity for Gold, but you need to show development in it. Why not try something new?
  • You’ll spend 12 months on your Service section. For Physical Recreation and Skills, you must spend 12 months on one and six months on the other—you pick which.
  • Your expedition will be for 4 days (including 3 nights) and should take place in "wild country."
  • The big difference at Gold is you'll also do a Residential section, where you spend five days and four nights doing a shared activity away from home with people you don't know. It's great fun and a real chance to do something different. 
  • If you’ve "direct entered" straight into your Gold Award, you’ll need to do an additional six months either volunteering or the longer of your Physical or Skills sections.
  • It will take at least 12 months to achieve a Gold Award if you already have Silver, or 18 months to direct enter into Gold (even if you're already done a Bronze).
  • Each week you must fill out your Online Record Book explaining your progress.
The tables below should help sort all this out. (Note: the tables are from the UK website, where they use "Volunteering" instead of "Service" and "DofE" instead of "International Award.")