tok essay 2023 rubric

Understanding the TOK essay rubric

TOK Home > Free TOK notes > TOK essay guidance > Understanding the TOK essay rubric

After understanding the of the basics of the essay, your next step is to grasp how it is evaluated and marked, which is outlined in the ‘assessment instrument’. Your TOK teacher will give you a copy of this, or you can find it online in the 2022 TOK Guide.

The overall assessment objective of the TOK essay is to answer the prescribed essay title in a clear, coherent, and critical way. In order to do this, the assessment ‘instrument’ looks for five different skills.

STEP 1: Understand the TOK essay rubric

1. making links to tok.

The discussion within your TOK essay should be linked very effectively to the  areas of knowledge . Most, TOK essays expect you to discuss two AOKs, which will provide you with the context to explore and answer the prescribed title you’ve chosen.

2. Understanding perspectives

Your TOK essay should show a clear awareness of different points of view, and should offer an evaluation of them. This means considering how different perspective might approach the question in different ways.

3. Offering an effective argument

The arguments within your TOK essay are clear and coherent, and are supported by strong examples.

This means expressing your opinions clearly, and supporting them with original and meaningful real-life situations.

4. Keeping discussions relevant

Your essay’s discussions should offer a ‘sustained focus’ on the title. This means that you should be able to pick out any section of your essay, and be able to identify what question it is answering.

5. Considering implications

Your essay needs to not just present and evaluate arguments, it also needs to say why these arguments are significant, and what their implications are.

After you have grasped the rubric strands, you are ready to move on to choosing your prescribed title from the choice of six that are published in March or November – which we provide guidance on here .

Creating a TOK essay: our four-step guide

Click on the buttons below to take you to the four steps of creating a great TOK essay. Don’t forget that we have plenty of videos on this and other aspects of the course, and members of the site have access to a huge amount of other resources to help you master the course and assessment tasks.

How to write a TOK essay: webinar

This 80-minute webinar video and presentation gives you a clear, engaging, step-by-step guide to the task, helping you to understand the assessment rubric, choose the right PT, and produce an essay that hits all the assessment targets.

The video is supported by a presentation, and a Q&A debrief answering some of the most common questions asked about writing a TOK essay. Purchase your ticket here .

More support for the TOK essay

Make sure that your TOK teacher has given you access to all the documents and online material that support the essay. These include the TOK Subject Guide, the TOK essay rubric, and exemplar TOK essays (found in ‘MyIB’, which is accessible to teachers).   Make sure you go through our other pages on writing the TOK essay. You’ll find help on understanding what the is looking for, that works for you, what each of the should focus on, how to an effective TOK essay, and how to fill in your .   If your school is a  member  of theoryofknowledge.net, we have designed a series of lessons on the essay, with two formative assessment tasks. These will familiarize you with the essay rubric, knowledge questions, real-life situations, how to deal with perspectives and implications, and structuring an essay. If you are signed into the site, you can access these lessons  here .   You can also find out our thoughts on the TOK essay (and the TOK exhibition) in several webinars that we have delivered. The main one is the TOK Assessment 2022 webinar, but we also consider this form of assessment in our free webinars on the 2022 course. You can see these webinars on  this page  of the site.

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Example essays

As part of theory of knowledge (TOK), each student chooses one essay title from six issued by International Baccalaureate®(IB). 

The titles change in each examination session. 

Upcoming and past questions include: 

• “To what extent are areas of knowledge shaped by their past? Consider with reference to two areas of knowledge.”
•  “'There is no reason why we cannot link facts and theories across disciplines and create a common groundwork of explanation.' To what extent do you agree with this statement?”
• “There is no such thing as a neutral question. Evaluate this statement with reference to two areas of knowledge.”
• “'The task of history is the discovering of the constant and universal principles of human nature.' To what extent are history and one other area of knowledge successful in this task?”

Further guidance on the TOK essay and exhibition can be found in the IB’s Programme Resource Centre (PRC) .

Materials in the PRC are only available to existing IB World Schools. These materials are free.

There are a number of resources on TOK in the IB Store , which are available to everyone.

Find out how to become an IB World School .

• [email protected]

IB TOK Essay Rubric. Grading Criteria

As someone deeply immersed in the IB curriculum, I’ve encountered difficulty writing Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essays more times than I can count. Today, I’m here to tell you about the IB TOK essay rubric and grading criteria, offering insights I’ve gathered over the years. Trust me, understanding these elements can transform your TOK essay from good to exceptional.

What Is IB Theory of Knowledge Essay?

The International Baccalaureate TOK essay is a critical element of the IB Diploma Programme that pushes students to ponder the nature and acquisition of knowledge. This task requires students to examine and articulate their understanding of how we come to know what we claim to know, engaging them in a deep reflection on knowledge itself, its sources, and its application in various contexts.

This essay is a philosophical research that encourages critical thinking and analysis across different areas of knowledge, including ethics, science, mathematics, and the arts. At the heart of the IB TOK essay are several key components that students must know:

• The essay prompts students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we come to know what we claim to know. It is an exercise in critical thinking and philosophy, where students examine the bases of knowledge and how it intersects with the world around them.
• Students choose from a list of prescribed titles the IB organization releases annually. These titles prompt discussions on various topics in knowledge, ethics, science, mathematics, human sciences, and more.
• There is a maximum TOK essay word count of 1,600 words. This strict limit requires students to articulate their thoughts clearly and concisely.
• The essay is assessed using criteria that evaluate students’ ability to identify and research knowledge issues, contrast TOK key concepts , demonstrate critical thinking, and organize their ideas coherently.
• Students are encouraged to start early, select a topic that interests them, and engage in extensive research and critical thinking. Collaboration with TOK teachers for guidance and feedback throughout the writing process is also crucial.
• Through the TOK essay, students develop skills in critical thinking, analysis, synthesis of information from various disciplines, and the ability to argue coherently and persuasively.

The TOK essay and the TOK exhibition contribute up to three points towards the total score of the IB Diploma. The performance in TOK is combined with the Extended Essay (EE) to determine the number of additional points awarded.

IB Theory of Knowledge Essay Rubric

As an IB writer and mentor, I’ve seen these guidelines as a checklist and a map for writing insightful, coherent works in the IB Theory of Knowledge . My goal here is to explain these criteria.

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Addressing the Knowledge Question (0-2 points)

A central component of the TOK essay is its focus on a knowledge question directly related to the chosen title. This question must be explicitly identified early in the essay as a foundation for your analysis and arguments. The clarity with which you state this question and the extent to which it informs the development of your essay is crucial for scoring in this category.

Grasping Knowledge Issues (0-2 points)

Your essay must profoundly comprehend the knowledge issues connected to your central knowledge question. It includes recognizing the diverse methods through which knowledge is obtained and acknowledging the potential limitations and biases influencing our perception of the world. A high score in this area reflects your ability to dig into these complexities and present them thoughtfully within your essay.

Critical Analysis and Evaluation (0-2 points)

A critical dissection and assessment of the knowledge question are imperative in your TOK essay. It involves using relevant examples and evidence to bolster your arguments alongside a meticulous examination of the various approaches to knowledge, highlighting their strengths and pitfalls. Additionally, it includes appraising the comparative worth of these different approaches and showcasing your ability to engage with the question at hand critically.

Incorporating AOKs and WOKs (0-2 points)

our essay must showcase an adept understanding of the multifaceted nature in which knowledge is acquired, highlighting the roles of empirical evidence, logical deduction, and personal experiences. Equally important is demonstrating a thorough grasp of the various Ways of Knowing (WOKs) — including reason, emotion, perception, and language — and articulating how these intersect and interact with the central knowledge question. A high score in this criterion indicates a comprehensive integration and consideration of AOKs and WOKs in your analysis.

Demonstrating Personal Engagement (0-2 points)

Your TOK essay should vividly reflect your connection and engagement with the knowledge question. It should show your awareness of how the arguments presented resonate with your experiences and perceptions and their broader implications for the world you inhabit. Achieving high marks in this area means successfully conveying how researching the knowledge question has influenced your understanding and perspective, integrating personal insight with academic analysis.

Coherence and Structure (0-2 points)

A well-written TOK essay is characterized by its organization and clarity, featuring a distinct introduction, body, and conclusion. The arrangement should be logical and enhance the essay’s central argument, ensuring a seamless flow of ideas from start to finish. High scores in this domain are awarded to essays demonstrating meticulous planning and an ability to guide the reader.

Clarity in Presentation (0-2 points)

Your TOK essay should be articulated clearly, concisely, and well-structured, paying close attention to the accuracy of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It is also essential to adhere to the proper referencing and citation style throughout the document. Essays that score well in this category prioritize readability and scholarly integrity, making it easy for the reader to follow and appreciate the depth of the analysis. So, follow the IB TOK essay structure in detail.

Innovative Approach and Creativity (0-2 points)

Your TOK essay should exhibit originality and inventiveness in addressing the knowledge question and selecting examples and evidence to bolster your arguments. High-scoring essays in this category are characterized by their creative insights and the ability to think outside the box, demonstrating a proactive approach to elucidating the knowledge question.

IB TOK Essay Grading Criteria Explained

The grading criteria for the TOK essay follow a holistic approach, considering all aspects of the rubric. Essays are marked on a scale, with each level reflecting a range of performance in the criteria mentioned above. Here are some insights:

• Excellent Performance . Essays in this category exhibit a deep understanding of knowledge issues, sophisticated analysis, and clear, coherent organization. They effectively incorporate multiple perspectives and are enriched with well-integrated examples.
• Good Performance . These essays demonstrate a good understanding and analysis of knowledge issues, though they may lack the depth or coherence of the top-tier essays. The organization is solid, and examples are used effectively, though perhaps with less sophistication.
• Satisfactory Performance . Here, essays adequately understand the knowledge issues but may struggle with in-depth analysis or coherent organization. Using examples and considering different perspectives is present but not fully developed.
• Basic Performance . Essays in this range have a basic grasp of the knowledge issues but significant weaknesses in analysis, organization, and examples. They may overlook essential perspectives or implications.

From my experience, the key to excelling under these grading criteria lies in understanding what each criterion asks for and integrating these elements into a cohesive, compelling narrative. Crafting your essay with an awareness of these grading nuances can elevate your work from satisfactory to exceptional.

Passing Grade for the Theory of Knowledge Essay

The TOK essay and the TOK presentation form part of the core of the IB Diploma Programme, and students must pass both components to receive their diploma. The TOK essay and presentation are graded on a letter scale of A (excellent) to E (elementary), with D considered a passing grade. However, it’s important to remember that the final TOK grade is combined with the Extended Essay grade, which can significantly impact your overall diploma points.

You generally need to avoid receiving an E grade to pass the TOK component. The combined points for TOK and the EE can contribute up to 3 bonus points towards your diploma, depending on their combined quality. Scores are determined by a matrix that the IB updates periodically, so aiming for the highest possible grades in TOK and EE is crucial to maximizing your diploma points.

Remember, the specific criteria for passing can vary slightly with changes to the IB curriculum and assessment guides, so it’s always a good idea to consult the latest materials or speak with your TOK teacher for the most current information.

In summary, passing the TOK essay requires a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge issues, a critical and reflective approach to the essay question, and a commitment to articulate your thoughts clearly and coherently.

So, mastering the IB TOK essay rubric and grading criteria is a worthwhile path. It’s not just about securing high marks; it’s about developing a nuanced understanding of knowledge. As you prepare to tackle your TOK essay, carry with you the insights and strategies shared.

So, start early, seek feedback, and let your understanding of the rubric infuse every paragraph of your essay. With the right approach, the TOK essay expands your horizons of learning. Good luck, and remember, our experts are always by your side and can help you with the TOK essay .

Valerie Green

Valerie Green is a dedicated educator who spends her time helping high school and college students succeed. She writes articles and guides for various online education projects, providing students with the tools they need to excel in their studies. Friendly and approachable, she is committed to making a difference in the lives of students.

How Long Is IB IA? Average IA Word Count

From my experience as IB tutor, a frequent question among students is, “How Long Is IB IA?” This question is crucial as the IA represents a significant component of the IB diploma, reflecting a student’s ability to apply classroom knowledge in a real-world context.

IB Extended Essay Rubric. Grading Criteria

Understanding the IB extended essay rubric is essential for success. The rubric provides a framework that grades students on several key criteria including the sharpness of their research question, the rigor of their methodology, the breadth and depth of their knowledge, the fluidity and clarity of their argumentation, and their personal engagement with the research topic.

This article provides essential insights and strategies for understanding the assessment process and helping you write essays that meet and exceed the rigorous standards of the IB curriculum. Whether you’re striving for clarity of argument, effective integration of knowledge, or personal engagement, our tips will help you achieve a higher score.

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The IB IA rubric is carefully structured to assess students’ understanding, skills and application of subject matter in a nuanced and comprehensive manner. Each subject rubric, whether for sciences such as Biology and Chemistry, humanities such as History and Psychology, or Mathematics, emphasizes a unique set of criteria tailored to assess specific competencies and skills.

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In the vast world of art, the possibilities for your IA topic are nearly limitless. Yet, this abundance of choice can sometimes feel overwhelming. Whether you’re drawn to traditional painting techniques, the avant-garde movements of the 20th century, or the intersection of digital media and art, your chosen topic should ignite a spark of curiosity and passion within you.

Theatre IA Topics: SL and HL Topic Ideas

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Guide to the TOK Essay

What’s covered:.

• What is Theory of Knowledge (TOK)?
• What is the Theory of Knowledge Essay?

How is the Theory of Knowledge Essay Scored?

How to structure your theory of knowledge essay.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB/IBDP) is a rigorous and rewarding internationally based educational program that offers courses in numerous studies, from humanities to chemistry. Students take part in a two-year curriculum that includes external examinations, internal assessments, research papers and community service hours. Essentially, students will have to do a bit of everything, especially with IB’s core, which is CAS, TOK, and the extended essay (EE). Understanding how TOK, IB’s flagship class, is assessed with its essay is important to success in the course overall. 

What is Theory Of Knowledge (TOK)?

Theory of Knowledge is IB’s way of introducing a more intuitive way of thinking into classrooms. TOK is at its surface as simple as it sounds: you essentially learn the “what” and “why” of how we learn and understand knowledge. In order to assess students of their skills in TOK, IB uses an essay and a presentation. The essay makes up 67% of your total TOK score, making it the most important task to focus on for getting a high score. 

What is the Theory Of Knowledge Essay?

The TOK essay is a 1600 word essay written about topics usually given to students from their teachers from a list of numerous options. It is an essay that promotes arguments and counterarguments for the topic at hand. Understanding your ways of knowing (WOKs) and areas of knowledge (AOKs) is extremely crucial before you even start choosing a topic to write on, as your essay will revolve around and structure itself based on these two concepts. Being able to demonstrate higher-level thinking and using examples to solidify the points you make in your essay is also important. Additionally, you’ll need to reference every source of information that you use, since that is something examiners look for as well.

As said earlier, 67% of your grade is from the essay, and your overall TOK score receives a letter grade using a calculated score out of thirty. Your essay score and presentation score are each out of ten. The grades for your TOK presentation and essay are determined by sending material to the board of IB, from which they designate a grader/examiner to read your essay and grade based on a rubric that determines the level of knowledge you exhibit in your writing.

The following formula should better explain how to find your TOK grade. 

(presentation score) + (essay score * 2) = overall score out of 30

The grade boundaries out of 30 that determine your letter grade can vary each year so checking in with your school for the most recent ones is the best course of action, but an example set would be like this:

Once you have a letter grade for IB, your extended essay, which is another part of the core, is also included into a larger grading schema to calculate your core score, which is three additional points required to complete and earn the diploma. The following table details this grade further:

Doing well in the core is important to passing IB and getting three points out of the total 45 attainable points. 

There’s a trick that most IB students use in writing the TOK essay, and it boils down to understanding four key components of learning:

• Content : Understanding knowledge issues
• Clarity : Structuring your essay in a legible and clear/easy to read manner
• Creativity : Using your personal ways of thinking and applications of knowledge specific to your understanding of the knowledge issue
• Critical Thinking : Using a counter argument for every argument you have to analyze your own claims constantly 

Dividing your actual essay into three main chunks helps, starting with an introduction. Your introduction should be where you state your knowledge question, the central point of your essay, and you should make use of jargon specific to the concept. As the basis of your essay, the introduction should be where you form claims and counterclaims that either support or challenge the knowledge question through heavy analysis and evaluation. 

The body of the essay follows the introduction, and it is where most of the conceptual analysis of your knowledge question takes place. Every argument and its counterargument should have a dedicated paragraph of its own, and make sure to not jump back and forth too much throughout the essay. to avoid creating messy transitions for the reader and potentially harming your score. Understanding the essay from the reader’s point of view is important, as it will help you better understand how to structure the body of your essay.

A conclusion in the TOK essay is mainly for finding closure among the numerous arguments that have been taking place thus far in the essay. Make sure to summarize but not repeat previous information entirely to refresh the reader. A conclusion should essentially loop back to the beginning of the essay, the knowledge question. The knowledge question’s answer should be the conclusion and the stopping point of the essay, and by now the answer you provide should be backed by paragraphs of supporting claims and counterclaims. If done right, concluding the essay can be how you earn most of your points. 

Start Early

Starting early is an obvious and effective advantage to students. Aside from TOK, let alone the presentation, IB has substantial work that requires focus and allocated time dedicated to it, such as external examinations and the extended essay. These tasks are equally as important as the TOK essay, so starting your outlining, drafting or even just planning early will set you up for success.

Send Your Drafts to Your Teacher

Your TOK teacher is a great resource for drafting essays and making edits to perfect your final product. Making use of time outside of the classroom to catch your teacher for a quick review of your essay could be a bigger advantage than you realize. Making use of an outside perspective is essential to forming a great essay. 

While your final IB grade isn’t as important as you’d think regarding college admissions, understanding how to pass TOK and using the lifelong practices you’ll learn in the class is even more important. TOK creates students who think outside conventional methods, making them excellent candidates in the eyes of college admissions offices. Taking TOK and showing proof of understanding it as well as capability of academic rigor is what colleges are looking for. For more information on how your chances of college admissions might look, use CollegeVine’s admissions calculator !

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• May 20, 2023

Unpacking the 2023 November TOK Titles: A Comprehensive IB Solved Guide

The November 2023 titles for the IB Theory of Knowledge Essay have been released! Let's face it – the TOK essay can be very intimidating. With so many topics to choose from and so many ideas bouncing around, it can be hard to know where to begin. That's where we come in. In this post, we'll take a closer look at each of the titles and give you some tips for approaching them.

General Tips to Unpacking a Title

Whenever we approach a prompt, we always want to think in terms of perspectives and counter-perspectives (for those who are familiar with the old syllabus, these were previously known as claims and counterclaims). This allows us to structure the essay within the two selected AOKs, creating four paragraphs directly addressing the title and with consideration of varying perspectives on the title. While the final conclusion that we draw will likely lie somewhere in the middle, or argue that each perspective is more/less correct in different circumstances, it is often helpful to think of the two extremes first before trying to come up with a more nuanced conclusion.

So let’s get into unpacking them – here is everything you need to know about each of the November 2023 TOK Essay titles:

Title 1: Are facts alone enough to prove a claim? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Natural Sciences, Human Sciences, History

For this title, the perspective and counter-perspective are straightforward – either facts alone are enough to prove a claim, or they are not.

Some ideas to think about which support the first perspective:

Facts are objective – By providing objective evidence for a claim, facts can be a highly reliable form of evidence to support claims made by knowers. This objectivity allows for the same claim to be proven across time, in different cultures and by unique knowers.

Facts allow for conclusions to be drawn through logic – By combining an array of established facts, deductive reasoning can be utilised to draw conclusions about the world and produce new knowledge. Often facts form the premises from which knowledge claims can be made, allowing a knower to prove a claim by first establishing a series of interconnected facts.

Facts can be tested – This is particularly important for science-based AOKs which rely upon falsification as an important method of producing new knowledge. Since facts can be tested, the veracity of a knower’s claim is always available to be disproven by empirical evidence.

For your counter-perspective, you have a far greater degree of freedom in your discussion. This is where you can really differentiate your essay from others, as it is your job to decide which other important elements beyond facts alone may be necessary to prove a claim. Some ideas from us:

Opinions – Whilst opinions lack the objectivity of facts, they are often important to proving knowledge claims, as these claims are often unable to be proven by facts alone. Rather inferences must be drawn to create meaning from facts. This can be illustrated through a very simple claim: Imagine for instance that we were trying to prove the claim that Germany were responsible for World War I. Whilst we could drawn upon facts, such as the fact that they issued a blank cheque to Austria-Hungary or the fact that they invaded Belgium in August 1914, ultimately we rely upon the opinions of historians in making a judgement on how important this was in the context of the war.

Personal Experience – Whilst personal experiences only provide anecdotal evidence and cannot allow us to draw broader conclusions, they may be necessary to prove a claim which involves emotion or personal beliefs.

Creativity – Creative thinking may be necessary to prove claims, particularly in the sciences, where facts alone are insufficient. For instance, scientific theories, whilst based in fact, are often dependent on analogies, comparisons and metaphor to explain abstract concepts for which there may not yet be any measurable or empirical evidence.

Title 2: If “the mathematician’s patterns, like the painter’s and the poet’s, must be beautiful” (G.H. Hardy), how might this impact the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to mathematics and the arts.

This title is far more intricate than the others, relying heavily upon the definitions you impose upon key terms. The concept of the “mathematician’s patterns” and the term “beautiful” must be defined in the opening of the essay, as this will restrict the scope of your knowledge exploration. The way in which we would recommend splitting up this topic would be to first discuss the impact upon the production of knowledge in mathematics and then within the Arts. Some ideas for the perspectives and counter-perspectives which you may explore include:

Beauty in Mathematics – You will want to consider the importance of beauty in Mathematics. This is not referring to beauty in the traditional sense but perhaps considering other ways in which Mathematics may be considered beautiful such as in its way of transforming complex real-world problems into simple symbols which can be solved. This can impact the production of knowledge as mathematicians may choose to ignore solutions which are complex and rough – in other words, ‘mathematically ugly’.

Beauty in Art – In discussing this AOK, you may consider the debate between aestheticism and purpose within the Arts – In other words, is Art merely supposed to ‘look good’ or does it have a greater purpose, and how does this relate to the production of knowledge in and through the Arts.

Title 3: In the acquisition of knowledge, is following experts unquestioningly as dangerous as ignoring them completely? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Human Sciences and Natural Sciences/History/Math

This title presents a very contemporary issue which is the questioning of experts and trust in the knowledge produced by experts. Nonetheless, there is a clear perspective and counter-perspective presented by this title – it is either more dangerous to follow experts unquestioningly or more dangerous to ignore them completely.

Some ideas relevant to the first perspective:

Evidence over Experts – By following experts unquestioningly, rather than examining the quality of their evidence and research methods, we fall into the trap of making arguments from authority without confirming that their conclusions are actually correct.

Subjective Experiences – While experts are helpful in drawing general conclusions/findings about the world, they do not account for subjective, individual experiences. This is particularly relevant in the Human Sciences, as theories and claims of human behaviour may not apply to all people due to the uniqueness of humans.

Lack of Progress – It is only by questioning established paradigms and claims made by existing experts that we are able to progress and acquire new knowledge. If all experts are followed unquestioningly, there can be no overhaul of existing knowledge when necessary.

Some ideas relevant to the counter-perspective:

Established Research Systems – Experts are trained in effective research methodologies and have systems to maximise the reliability of the claims they make. By ignoring experts, we are instead relying upon knowledge of laypeople whose claims have not been rigorously assessed for their veracity.

Manipulation and Logical Fallacies – By ignoring the claims of experts and instead acquiring knowledge through prominent figures such as celebrities and the media, we expose ourselves to manipulation and the array of logical fallacies employed by these individuals who have their own agenda beyond the dissemination of knowledge.

Knowledge Framework – Experts develop knowledge frameworks which can guide the production of new knowledge. By ignoring experts, we are often left to deal with problems on a case-by-case basis which can lead to a lack of consistency and structure within the knowledge which is acquired.

Title 4: Is it problematic that knowledge is so often shaped by the values of those who produce it? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: History, Arts, Human Sciences

This title has a focus on context and values, integral elements of the knowledge framework within the new syllabus. It also has two clear perspectives to be explored – the claim that it is problematic or the claim that it is not, keeping in mind that across both perspectives, it must be specified how knowledge is shaped by individual values.

Some ideas for the first perspective:

Bias – The shaping of knowledge by one’s individual values can create bias which may impede the reliability of knowledge produced through the lens of these values.

Subjectivity – If subjective beliefs founded in one’s values are imported into the production of knowledge which should be based on facts and evidence, this can be problematic for this knowledge.

Lack of Diversity/One-Sided Knowledge – When entire banks of knowledge are produced by individuals from the same background, culture, beliefs or school of thought, this can lead to the omission of other perspectives on an issue, which can limit the knowledge which is produced.

Individual Perspective are Important – It is often important for a knower to incorporate their own personal perspective in the production of knowledge as this is ultimately the only way in which interpretations and opinions beyond mere facts can be drawn.

Knowledge about the Knower – We can often learn more about a knower, their values and the social norms of their time when evaluating knowledge claims which are shaped by individual values, providing a second layer of ‘knowledge within knowledge’.

Specific Knowledge – Whilst not broadly applicable to people or contexts with different values, knowledge produced by those with particular individual values can be more specific and applicable to knowers within the same value system. This form of ‘insider knowledge’ may be shaped by the personal experiences of an individual, which is an asset to the production of knowledge rather than a hinderance.

Title 5: Is it always the case that “the world isn’t just the way it is, it is how we understand it – and in understanding something, we bring something to it” (adapted from Life of Pi by Yann Martel)? Discuss with reference to history and the natural sciences.

This title touches upon the debate between objective and relativistic views of knowledge and the world. The phrase ‘is it always the case’ allows us to derive two perspectives to explore – it either is always the case or it is not. The first perspective requires arguments which explain why this may always be the case, whereas the second only requires you to provide some exceptions/circumstances in which this would not be the case.

Interpretation creates Meaning – It may be argued that all elements of the world must be interpreted and doing so involves the unique lens of each individual knower. In this way, what we bring to the production of knowledge is our own distinct interpretation of the world around us.

Questioning creates Meaning – We could also consider how the questions which knowers ask are unique and based upon our own individual understanding of the world. This means that something new is created each time a new knower attempts to understand the world, as the questions asked and curiosity of each individual provides a distinct approach to knowledge.

Some ideas for the counter-perspective:

Objectivity Exists – It may be argued that there are some elements of the world which are fixed, unquestionable and objective. These components of knowledge are not dependent upon the interpretation of the individual, as there should be objective standards from which everyone should draw the same conclusion.

Repeatability – Particularly in the Natural Sciences, there are some elements of knowledge which are repeatable and not reliant upon the interpretation of the individual knower. This concept of repeatability is a foundational tenet of the sciences and the production of new knowledge of the world around us.

Title 6: Faced with a vast amount of information, how do we select what is significant for the acquisition of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Natural Sciences and Human Sciences/History/Arts

This title questions the way in which we determine whether a piece of information is significant for knowledge. Since this is a ‘how’ question, there are many perspectives which can be explored, rather than a clear binary of perspectives. Some ideas from us:

Selection through Merit – This concept is particularly relevant to the Natural Sciences, as the theories which are ultimately deemed as significant are those which are not falsified. This merit-based approach pits scientific theories against each other to determine which are significant for the acquisition of knowledge.

Selection through Structure and Processes – By establishing set systems and procedures for filtering the vast amount of information available within an AOK, we can make selections as to which knowledge is significant.

Selection through Applicability – When judging what is significant for the acquisition of knowledge, a knower may have to consider the vast amount of information and decipher which piece of information is most applicable to their context, values or specific circumstances.

So there you have it! By now, you should have a better idea about which TOK essay title stands out the most to you and maybe even a few ideas about what to write. But where do you begin? Don't worry, we understand that writing a Theory of Knowledge essay can be a daunting task, but with the help of our expert IB tutors, you'll be on your way to success in no time. Plus, with online IB tutoring available, you can get the help you need from anywhere in the world. Don't let the TOK essay stress you out – contact us today to learn more about our IB tutoring services and how we can help you succeed in your IB studies.

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The Secrets to Success in the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay

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IB TOK Essay Rubric and Assessment Criteria

Luke MacQuoid

As a seasoned IB writer, I’ve seen my fair share of IB Theory of Knowledge essays. Let me share some insights on the TOK essay rubric that can transform your writing experience from daunting to manageable. In my opinion, knowing this rubric is your golden ticket to excelling in the TOK component of the IB program.

What Is the TOK Essay Rubric?

The TOK essay rubric is not just a scoring guide but a map for intellectual exploration. According to general IB criteria, this rubric assesses your ability to engage critically with different ways of knowing and areas of knowledge. It’s about how well you can intertwine personal reflection with academic rigor.

As I understand it, the rubric primarily evaluates two key areas: your grasp of knowledge questions and your skill in developing a cohesive and coherent argument. The first part, dealing with knowledge questions, is where you demonstrate your understanding of the complexities and nuances of knowledge itself. It’s about probing into what we know and how we know it.

Equally important, as per the rubric, is the organization and clarity of your essay. From my experience, a well-written TOK essay presents ideas logically, making them more persuasive and impactful. Remember, clarity and coherence are your allies in conveying complex thoughts.

The TOK essay rubric also places a significant emphasis on real-life relevance. It’s not enough to theorize; you must connect your ideas to the real world. In my experience, essays that effectively bridge theoretical insights with practical examples tend to score higher.

So, understanding and skillfully applying the TOK essay rubric can be a game-changer. It’s a tool that, when used wisely, can improve your essay from good to great. Remember, this rubric is your guide to expressing your critical and reflective thinking.

Key Components of the TOK Essay Rubric

The rubric for evaluating the TOK essay focuses on several components. Understanding these components is crucial for writing an effective essay. Here are the primary aspects of the TOK essay rubric.

1. Understanding Knowledge Issues

Grasping the essence of knowledge issues is fundamental to your TOK essay. When I approach these essays, I ensure that my understanding of the knowledge issues related to the prescribed title is not just superficial. The discussion should go beyond textbook definitions, drawing deeply from real-life situations and examples. It makes the essay relatable and intellectually engaging.

2. Quality of Analysis of Knowledge Issues

As I know from my years of writing, it’s not enough to simply identify knowledge issues; you must dissect them. That means considering different points of view, understanding the implications, and untangling the complexities. A well-analyzed question demonstrates your ability to think critically and reflect on the nature of knowledge.

3. Organization of Ideas

As per the general IB criteria, the organization of your essay is crucial. In my experience, a well-organized essay begins with an introduction that does more than just outline the main points; it should captivate the reader’s interest. Each paragraph should be a logical progression from the previous one, building your argument step by step. The conclusion is your final opportunity to make an impact. It should not only wrap up your argument but leave a lasting impression on the reader, tying together all your points cohesively and persuasively.

4. Clarity and Precision of Expression

I can’t stress enough the importance of expressing your ideas clearly and precisely. You need to communicate complex thoughts understandably and engagingly. It’s perfectly fine to use specialized terminology, but it’s crucial to explain it clearly, especially considering the diverse audience of the IB community. Your goal should be to make your essay accessible and understandable without oversimplifying the complex concepts inherent in TOK.

5. Supporting Examples

In my essays, I always reinforce my arguments with relevant examples. These can be drawn from personal experiences, which add a unique touch, or from historical events and various areas of knowledge. The key here is relevance and how well these examples illustrate your point.

6. Critical Thinking

In my opinion, the heart of a TOK essay lies in its demonstration of critical thinking skills. It isn’t just about presenting information; it’s about engaging with it. Whenever I write, I make it a point to question underlying assumptions and explore counter-arguments. It’s essential to look at the strengths and limitations of the arguments you present. It shows a depth of understanding and a willingness to engage with complex ideas.

7. Engagement with the Prescribed Title

From my experience, a successful TOK essay maintains a laser focus on the prescribed title . It’s easy to get sidetracked with interesting side discussions, but according to general IB criteria, the essay should directly and thoroughly address the title. It means every argument, every example, and every analysis should be relevant and contribute towards exploring the title. It’s about showing how each piece of your essay contributes to a more extensive understanding of the title’s theme.

8. Adherence to the Word Limit and Formal Requirements

As any seasoned IB writer would tell you, respecting the word limit and formal requirements of the IB is not just a recommendation; it’s a necessity. It includes adhering to the prescribed word count and following the formal guidelines for citations and referencing. From my perspective, these constraints are not just bureaucratic necessities. They challenge you to be concise, to distill your thoughts, and to present your ideas in a clear, direct manner.

9. Personal Engagement and Reflection

Finally, the most compelling TOK essays, in my view, reflect a personal thought. The essay should be more than a scholarly discussion; it should reflect your engagement with the topic. How do the knowledge issues you discuss resonate with your experiences and thoughts? This personal touch doesn’t undermine the academic rigor of your essay; rather, it enriches it, providing a unique perspective and demonstrating a deep, thoughtful engagement with the subject matter.

How to Use TOK Essay Rubric and Write A-Grade Work?

The TOK essay is graded on a scale of A to E, with A representing an excellent performance and E representing an elementary performance. This assessment, combined with the student’s performance in the TOK exhibition, contributes to their overall IB score.

Writing an A-grade TOK essay for the International Baccalaureate curriculum involves a deep understanding of the TOK essay rubric and how to apply it effectively. Here’s a guide based on my extensive experience with IB essays.

Deeply Understand the Rubric

My first and foremost tip is a profound understanding of the TOK essay rubric. This understanding is crucial because each rubric criterion guides your essay’s essential aspects. It’s not just about knowing the criteria but also about understanding how they interconnect and what they mean for the TOK essay’s structure and content.

Select the Right Prescribed Title

Choosing the right prescribed title is more than just picking a topic. It’s about finding a question that resonates with you and where you can demonstrate a strong understanding of the knowledge issues. This choice is crucial because it shapes your essay, from your argument to your chosen examples.

Plan and Structure Your Essay Thoughtfully

As I begin writing, I always emphasize the importance of planning and structuring the essay. It involves creating a basic outline and thinking about how each part of your essay will contribute to a coherent and compelling argument. A well-structured essay guides the reader through your points logically and effectively.

Engage Deeply with Knowledge Issues

Engaging with knowledge issues is at the heart of a TOK essay. It’s about more than just mentioning these issues; it’s about exploring them in depth. It means analyzing them from different perspectives, understanding their implications, and relating them to real-life situations.

Demonstrate Critical Thinking

In your essay, showcasing critical thinking is essential. It involves questioning assumptions, considering various viewpoints, and weighing the strengths and weaknesses of different arguments. Critical thinking elevates your essay from merely describing knowledge issues to an insightful analysis.

Need help with your IB TOK essay?

From research and analysis to structuring and editing, our skilled mentors will be by your side, helping you write an exceptional TOK essay that meets the word count and stringent IB criteria.

Maintain Clarity and Precision in Expression

Clarity and precision in writing are critical. You must express complex ideas understandably and engagingly. Avoid unnecessary jargon; if technical terms are used, ensure they are well-explained.

Use Relevant Examples Effectively

Using relevant examples is a powerful way to strengthen your arguments. These examples should be carefully chosen and well-integrated into your essay. They should illustrate your points and add depth and context to your analysis.

Reflect on Your Personal Perspective

Finally, personal engagement and reflection are what make your TOK essay unique. It is where you show your personal connection to the topic, how you relate the knowledge issues to your own experiences, and what you think about them. This personal touch adds depth and authenticity to your essay.

The Bottom Line

In conclusion, understanding and adhering to the TOK essay rubric is essential. It’s a guide that, when followed, can lead to academic success in the IB program. Remember, this rubric is your ally, not your enemy. Also, you can contact our experts from EEW Service if you need help with writing the TOK essay .

Luke MacQuoid has extensive experience teaching English as a foreign language in Japan, having worked with students of all ages for over 12 years. Currently, he is teaching at the tertiary level. Luke holds a BA from the University of Sussex and an MA in TESOL from Lancaster University, both located in England. As well to his work as an IB Examiner and Master Tutor, Luke also enjoys sharing his experiences and insights with others through writing articles for various websites, including extendedessaywriters.com blog

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How To Write A ToK Essay - Updated 2023

Ace your ToK Essay with our expert tips & tricks! Get the latest and greatest techniques on "How To Write A ToK Essay" and impress the IB examiners.📝💡

Table of content

Purpose of tok, assessment of tok, the game plan, execution of the gameplan, planning for tok essay, structure of tok essay, introduction, conclusions, bibliography.

How to write a TOK Essay? 

To answer that, you must familiarise yourself with what a TOK Essay is about.

Before you start reading this article,  Amanda  has some excellent TOK tips for you!

Theory of Knowledge is one of the most meta subjects that IB offers. Despite its complexity, TOK helps in providing a base for holistic learning and allows students to have a multidisciplinary experience. 

To understand TOK is to understand the essence of IB, a task that most people consider unattainable.

But not for you! 

Thank your lucky stars who made you land on Nail IB. How exactly will Nail IB help you? 

Well, nailing International Baccalaureate is something we will discuss later. 

Let's focus on cracking your TOK essay, shall we?

TOK demonstrates how students  can apply their knowledge  with  greater awareness  and  credibility .

Big words, huh? 

Now that we know that we cannot just slide through the Theory of Knowledge, let's understand how we can conquer this battle all guns blazing.

ToK essay’s primary objective is to answer the  why  behind our studies. 

It makes one aware of the real-life implications of their subjects. The students gain greater awareness of their personal and ideological assumptions and appreciate the diversity of different perspectives. It helps the students find their unique perception, a prerequisite for excelling in the IB TOK essays.

Before we dive into our gameplan, let’s overview the rules of the game.

There are two assessment tasks in the TOK: an essay and a presentation . While a presentation encourages students to explore a real-life situation through the lens of TOK, an essay is written on the basis of the various questions provided by the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

• The presentation is to assess a student’s ability to apply TOK thinking to a real-life situation whereas IB TOK essay is more conceptual.
• The essay is externally assessed by IB and must be on any one of the prescribed TOK essay titles issued by the IB for each examination session.
• Word limit of a TOK essay is 1600 words ( excludes extended notes, footnotes, bibliography).

Now that we have unleashed the game, let’s move ahead towards the gameplan of acing both, your presentation and your essay.

One of the fundamental tasks of TOK is to examine different areas of knowledge and find out their similarities and differences.

The TOK essay requires the students to investigate two Areas of Knowledge (AOK)  and two Ways of Knowing   (WOK) . AOKs and WOKs are investigated via questions such as:

• How do we know what we know? (WOK)
• What counts as evidence for X? (AOK)
• How do we judge which is the best model of Y? (WOK)
• What does theory Z mean in the real world? (AOK + WOK)

The aforementioned are  Knowledge Questions  which help combine the Areas of Knowledge and the Ways of Knowing that they are using. This eliminates the superficial way of learning and makes an individual sensitive to the nature of the information.   Our acquisition of Knowledge can be broadly divided into Shared Knowledge and Personal Knowledge.

Shared knowledge: What WE know It is the product of more than one individual. Although individuals contribute to it, shared knowledge does not solely depend upon the contributions of a particular individual—there are possibilities for others to check and amend individual contributions and add to the body of knowledge that already exists.

Personal knowledge: What I know It is essentially dependent on the experiences of a particular individual. Also known as procedural knowledge, it is gained through experience, practice and personal involvement and is intimately bound up with the particular local circumstances of the individual such as biography, interests, values, and so on.

The best hack to ace TOK essay is to develop a habit of making connections between the construction of knowledge, its acquisition and its relevance in the real world. 

After that one needs to develop an interest in understanding the difference between diversity and cultural perspectives and personal assumptions.

One also needs to critically reflect on their own beliefs and assumptions, leading to more thoughtful, responsible and purposeful lives.

Yes, this is what you signed up for. It may sound a little intimidating but once you get the hang of it you will be able to see the matrix and understand this beautiful world a little better.

Understand that to provide the best version of your writing, it will take you more than one or two drafts. First and foremost, you need to pick your essay topic diligently. Try to choose an essay topic that best interests you. The topic should also allow you to explore the Areas of Knowledge towards which you are naturally inclined. Here are a few sample questions:

a) 'Ways of knowing are a check on our instinctive judgments.' To what extend do you agree with this statement?

b) With reference to two areas of knowledge discuss the way in which shared knowledge can shape their personal knowledge.

c) How can we know if knowledge is produced more through 'Passive Observation' or 'Active-Experiment' within the Human and Natural-sciences under a Mathematical-Perspective?

d) "The whole point of knowledge is to produce both meaning and purpose in our personal lives". Assess the validity of this statement.

Great things take time. It took me more than a couple of weeks to finalize this TOK essay guide. It is completely okay if the first few drafts may not look pleasing or award-winning to you. You will require sharpening your perspective towards the topic each time you polish your draft. Your writing journey from a dull draft to a masterpiece will be a whole process that you will have to be patient with. Have faith in yourself and proceed stepwise.

You need to consider the opinions of others who have devoted hours of research and a lifetime of dedicated studying the topic that surrounds your writing. Unravelling the realms of your mind palace is so Sherlock but let’s not deny the fact that at times, Watson is the one whose expertise helps Sherlock through pretty difficult times. I mean even Batman needs a Robin. In support of my awesome sauce examples, the point I am trying to make is that  finding support for our claims and counterclaims through research is a good thing .

Use real-life examples to support your claims and counterclaims. These examples need to be documented researched examples like studies, experiments, articles, presentations by well-known people, etc. Examples that stem from your diploma subjects are highly encouraged, but those will need to be supported by research as well.   

It is suggested that you choose a title, stick to it, tackle it and not be afraid. Do not change your mind unless there is a good reason. Also, try choosing Areas of knowledge that you truly enjoy. You know slaying a known devil is much easier than an unknown one. Allot a TIMELINE to your essay. Start with creating an outline of your essay. This will help you to track your progress and accomplish your goals

You can use tools like  Trello  to organize your ideas and plan your TOK essay.

Areas of Knowledge (AOKs): TOK distinguishes between eight areas of knowledge. They are mathematics, the natural sciences, the human sciences, the arts, history, ethics, religious knowledge systems, and indigenous knowledge systems. It is suggested that students study and explore six of these eight.

Ways of knowing (WOKs): TOK identifies eight specific WOKs- language, sense perception, emotion, reason, imagination, faith, intuition, and memory. It is suggested that studying four of these eight in-depth would be appropriate. WOKs underlie the methodology of the areas of knowledge and provide a basis for personal knowledge.

Moving ahead, let us discuss the structure of your TOK essay.

Your essay will consist of 4 broad segregations

Before breaking down further on the pillars, keep the following in mind

• Please note what the TOK essay title is asking you. (Read it a couple of times. We highly recommend that you brainstorm ideas with your TOK coordinator)
• Make sure you understand the command term and the question it is asking.
• What kind of knowledge is being elicited?
• When choosing your areas of knowledge (AoK) and ways of knowing (WoK) make sure that you are able to draw contrasts and comparisons, that is, you are able to find evidence that supports as well as challenges your claims.
• Identify key terms in your TOK essay title. Make sure you define them. Your essay will gravitate around them. Key terms/words in your titles are your essay anchors. Your response should be built around them.
• Your writing skills come in handy while you work on your IB TOK essay. Like any other essay make sure you have proper thesis statements and topic sentences to guide the evaluator through your work.
• Respect the TOK essay title. Rephrasing the topic is not encouraged . Your main job is to address the title.

Introduce your topic accurately and state your thesis statement for the essay carefully.  A thesis statement is like a teaser to your entire essay wherein you define your key terms and introduce your interpretation of the question. Make sure that you do not reword the prescribed title in your thesis. Instead, it needs to, as the word says, INTRODUCE your readers to what your essay is about. A strong introduction allows the reader to deduce what knowledge question(s) you are trying to answer.

So, in a nutshell

• Write interesting things about the given TOK essay title .
• Define key terms
• Narrow in on the particularly interesting aspect
• State your thesis statement . This will be your short answer to your given title if you don't know how to write a killer thesis statement check out this blog from SparkNotes .
• State your Roadmap. This will help the readers in understanding the direction of your essay.

The body can be mainly divided into 3 segments.

Body (1st Segment)

• AoK Claim:  Here you investigate your first Area of Knowledge and draw parallels between your AoK and the question. This is done by stating your claim. Claims can be general in nature and need not reference a particular area of knowledge. They help you shape your essay and investigate the question further. 
• Evidence: Example of a real-life situation, describe thoroughly and accurately, which supports your stated claim. (AoK)
• Counter-Claim: State your counter-claim: like claims, those can be general and need not reference a particular area of knowledge. Counterclaim helps you show the other side the coin and gives your essay a holistic nature. 
• Evidence: A referenced real-life situation/example. Describe thoroughly and accurately, show how this supports your counterclaim (AoK ).
• Don’t forget to weave in your WoKs:  You need to take into account the source of your knowledge. Here you can also investigate if your nature of acquiring the knowledge has, in any way, affected it. It is good practice to question if your knowledge would be different had it been acquired through a different source/method
• Mini-conclusion: Here you analyze your examples in reference to your claims and counterclaims. You must connect to your thesis statement and the prescribed title. How does your proposed argument, in this particular part of the body, connect to the prescribed title and the knowledge questions you are trying to answer?

Body (2): Follow the above process for your second AOK.

• Use this part of your essay to compare and contrast your varying AoKs. You need to connect them to your thesis and your prescribed title clearly showing how your arguments respond to the PT.

Your conclusion section will make your essay come together. It is the glue that will make your essay stick together. Herein, you need to

• Reiterate your thesis (initial response).
• Use your mini conclusions to write a final conclusion.
• Tell the reader what the significance is for knowing what we know in this particular PT.
• Discuss implications as well.
• Offer another perspective, how will the perspective of a different person affect the claims/counterclaims you make in the essay?
• Don’t forget to make the end strong.

We recommend all the ib students use the  citation machine  (It's FREE) to organize or generate a bibliography for your TOK essay. Please go through this extensive guide provided by the IB before you start working on your citations.

If you are still struggling heaps with your TOK essay feel free to subscribe to our tok notes bundles or get access to more than 500+ IBDP notes and past papers here .

Nail IB is your virtual companion that helps you hustle through your diploma and provide you with the right resources at the right time. To know more about acing IB, click  here .

I hope this article will become the foundation for figuring out how to write a TOK Essay.

Remember to have faith in yourself.

I hope you NAIL your TOK essay!

Quoting the great Napolean Hill

"Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

IB Resources you will love!

Nan + free ib flashcards, -1 + free ia samples, nan + ib videos by experts, -1 + ib sample practice questions, ib resources for nan + subjects.

TOK Exhibition

On this page: TOK Exhibit Prompts, TOK Exhibition Rubric, 

2023 Examples with Examiner Comments, and the 2023 TOK Subject Report

Exhibit Prompts

What counts as knowledge?

Are some types of knowledge more useful than others?

What features of knowledge have an impact on its reliability?

On what grounds might we doubt a claim?

What counts as good evidence for a claim?

How does the way that we organize or classify knowledge affect what we know?

What are the implications of having, or not having, knowledge?

To what extent is certainty attainable?

Are some types of knowledge less open to interpretation than others?

What challenges are raised by the dissemination and/or communication of knowledge?

Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs?

Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge?

How can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past knowledge?

Does some knowledge belong only to particular communities of knowers?

What constraints are there on the pursuit of knowledge?

Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?

Why do we seek knowledge?

Are some things unknowable?

What counts as a good justification for a claim?

What is the relationship between personal experience and knowledge?

What is the relationship between knowledge and culture?

What role do experts play in influencing our consumption or acquisition of knowledge?

How important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge?

How might the context in which knowledge is presented influence whether it is accepted or rejected?

How can we distinguish between knowledge, belief and opinion?

Does our knowledge depend on our interactions with other knowers?

Does all knowledge impose ethical obligations on those who know it?

To what extent is objectivity possible in the production or acquisition of knowledge?

Who owns knowledge?

What role does imagination play in producing knowledge about the world?

How can we judge when evidence is adequate?

What makes a good explanation?

How is current knowledge shaped by its historical development?

In what ways do our values affect our acquisition of knowledge?

In what ways do values affect the production of knowledge?

TOK Exhibition Rubric

TOK Example Exhibitions and Scores/Comments May 2023

TOK Subject Report May 2023

• Jul 10, 2023
• 12 min read

November 2023 TOK Essay Titles Explained with Examples

The prescribed titles for the November 2023 TOK Essay has been released! Here are all the titles with detailed explanation and examples to get you started:

Are facts alone enough to prove a claim? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge.

If "the mathematician's patterns, like the painter's and the poet's, must be beautiful" (G.H. Hardy), how might this impact the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to mathematics and the arts.

In the acquisition of knowledge, is following experts unquestioningly as dangerous as ignoring them completely? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Is it problematic that knowledge is so often shaped by the values of those who produce it? Discuss with reference to any two areas of knowledge.

Is it always the case that "the world isn't just the way I is, it is how we understand it - and in understanding something, we bring something to it" (adapted from Life of Pi by Yann Martel)? Discuss with reference to history and the natural sciences.

Faced with a vast amount of information, how do we select what is significant for the acquisition of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Below are the explanations. If you need help with TOK concepts and how to write a good essay, check out the resources in the TOK subject page!

While an initially simple prompt, sometimes the simplest statements are also the hardest to prove. I definitely feel that this is the case here. This prompt hinges on how you would personally define facts. In the TOK course, we know that knowledge is produced when someone proposes a knowledge claim, which is subsequently justified or disproven by suitable evidence. This title essentially asks of you to decide whether "facts" by themselves are sufficient evidence for us to prove a claim to be true, and hence consider it knowledge.

You may think that you have a good understanding of what 'facts' are. You have seen quick facts, cold facts, fun facts, etc... all pointing to little nuggets of information which we consider true. The question is though, how did they become true in the first place? In some areas of knowledge, 'facts' are pretty obvious. 1 + 1 = 2 is a true fact within the area of Mathematics. A Helium atom has 2 protons is a fact within the Natural Sciences. However, what constitutes facts in the Arts, History or Human Sciences?

Every single AOK has a different way of producing and dealing with 'facts'. Mathematics has their foundational axioms, the most basic set of facts that sets out how the whole AOK itself works so that things like 1 + 2 = 2 + 1 is true without us having to prove it. From there, mathematical knowledge builds upon these axioms and into a variety of sub disciplines within the AOK, developing into things like the Pythagoras Theorem or the triangle inequality, etc. Natural Science research nowadays builds upon the research done in the past. So knowledge we know to be true from before is applied to further what is to be known within the AOK to verify new claims. So it seems that perhaps facts play an important role at least in some AOKs, but is it the only requirement to produce new knowledge and justify claims? We know that in natural sciences, we tend to experiment and observe to ultimately prove or disprove a hypothesis. Without experimentation, and only using the facts we already know, it seems a bit tricky to further what we know!

I encourage you to revisit the TOK 101 page and find out more about the different stages of knowledge. Consider how facts are important in each stage of knowledge, but focusing primarily on how knowledge is produced in each AOK. How does knowledge evolve in each AOK? Can it develop organically solely from the facts we have now or does it require some additional input from other types of evidence?

The title is very specific, requiring discussion of mathematics and arts inline with the quote. It seems to propose that mathematics shares similar artistic properties with the arts (with examples such as paintings and poetry). You may have heard of the saying that Mathematics is a beautiful language or something to that effect. There have been discussions on the internet that beyond high school mathematics, mathematics can develop into quite a creative and artistic discipline. Mathematics has been used to creatively construct art! One obvious example (thus one that you probably shouldn't use in your essay) is fractals :

You can read more about the mathematical patterns behind fractals, but it is one artistic representation of mathematics.

While this prompt seems quite abstract at first, it does raise a good question about the intentions of producing knowledge in each AOK. Is it the purpose of the Arts to 'look pretty' and make us go "WOW that's so beautiful"? Conversely, is mathematics meant to be function first, form second or vice versa?

There are plenty of examples where art isn't meant to be pretty. There is a famous photograph of the chaos and brutality of the Vietnam war that is pretty infamous (do a quick google search!). Even if it isn't beautiful in the traditional sense, can it be considered beautiful in another perspective, especially considering the intention of why this was produced and what knowledge this produced? Similarly, mathematics tends to have the association that it is practical to real life and helps us solve some problems. Does mathematics have value if mathematical knowledge is produced without an immediate benefit or application? This is the world that pure mathematicians live in. While applied mathematicians can directly show their relevance and practicality of produced knowledge, it might not always be 'beautiful' in the artistic sense, but it can be 'beautiful' in its ability to capture the complex world. At the same time, if mathematics is purely beautiful in a satisfying sense (think when you factorise a quadratic and how it simplifies down to something solvable), but with no immediate practicality, is it still worth producing?

The key to this prompt is not to dispute the notion of the given quote. Yes, I know it's probably not the best quote, but think about the variations of how you can interpret the quote, rather than being either for or against the quote.

This title might be very appealing to students. I'm sure we have all experienced the importance of good scientific communication from trusted experts during the pandemic. We based our behaviour on them. When they told us to stay home, we (mostly) did, and we followed advice to get vaccinated, etc. At the other end of the spectrum, there are some that are completely ignorant of expert advice, calling this pandemic a hoax, and the vaccine a conspiracy. While there is common consensus that this ignorance is very dangerous, this prompt is quite interesting in prompting us to think about whether we should be trusting these experts completely, especially when the stakes are so high!

Experts often get things wrong, and when they do, we hope they will admit it readily even if it hurts their credibility. Credibility is key for us to accept expert advice. So this raises an important point - what makes an expert? Is it truly a person with the most knowledge about a topic or who is PERCEIVED to be so? Ideally, experts fit both of those criteria, but sometimes it is one or the other. At the same time, are experts immune from bias and other common human failures? NO! Then again, even if they have their failings, we can think about what is our level of tolerance for expert opinions and 'going at it alone' by not trusting them at all.

The prescribed AOK of human sciences is quite interesting. As you know, we are some complex people. Economists are either praised or blasted for their predictions about the economy all the time! Do you listen to economists about their market predictions? There is a joke that there will always be an economist somewhere in the world saying a recession is imminent no matter how the actual economy is doing. Can we really capture something as complex as humanity and let some experts give us advice that we trust to be 100%, unfailingly true? That doesn't seem to be wise. At the same time, it also doesn't seem wise that when 99% of economists warn us that inflation is getting out of hand for us to do nothing about it. So is it a numbers game? As more 'experts' say the same thing, and corroborate each other, we have a confidence to trust them unquestionably?

Ultimately, the conclusion seems pretty clear from the get go for this prompt. It is almost always unwise to just trust something or someone 100% and also unwise to go to the other extreme. While we can be tempted to do so, it is important we maintain a critical lens. If you are tackling this title, focus on the nuance between these two extremes presented, and show that both share common flaws in their approach to how knowledge is considered and acquired.

This prompt starts with the assumption that knowledge is produced according to the values of the producers. To what extent this is a problem is the issue here at hand here. First think of how knowledge is influenced by values. There was once a time when slavery was considered acceptable, and if you look all literary works around that time, it wouldn't be unusual to see examples of such and the use of what we now consider inappropriate language when referring to African-Americans, for example. Social values do change over time, examples including gay marriage, sexualisation and nudity of the body, dealing with minorities and racism, and even climate change. In some AOKs, this may be more apparent (i.e. History and the Arts) but what of something like mathematics? Can societal values influence them too?

When discussing whether this is problematic, other than considering the extent that values influence knowledge, also consider the implications this has on the perspectives of knowledge that are made available. Who determines these values is also of contention. This brings to mind propaganda and the various ways the 'values' of some power behind knowledge creation can greatly distort the knowledge that is produced. You may have some ideas on the problems that arise when we bring our values into the knowledge we produce, but to some extent this is inevitable. After all, the knowledge we produce simply reflects what we are interested in learning about, and willing to discover more of. The question is, how does each AOK handle changing values over time?

Every AOK has a different way of handling changing values. Long ago, we believed that we were the centre of the earth. How did the Natural Sciences overcome this long held belief? Conversely, how do we ensure that history remains accurate and isolated from the potential bias that could be introduced due to the values of the people that first wrote it? In History, revisionism describes the process of how we reevaluate history consistently to ensure that we always have the most accurate depiction of the past according to our current lens. There will be a time when our lens becomes outdated in the future, so what is the role of the Historian? Remember, knowledge is rarely ever fixed or 'done'. There is always more to know and more to discover, so how WE view knowledge in the past, and how someone in the future views the knowledge we make now will have large implications on the approach we take when producing knowledge. How can you ensure that someone interpreting knowledge in the future won't misconstrue what we are trying to say now? Could having differing interpretations according to different values be a benefit?

For some AOKs, the issue of values isn't that prominent. Why is that the case? It is good to explore in this title, the reasoning behind why values often influence the knowledge we produce, how we decide to mitigate or deal with this reality and how these approaches to do so differ between AOKs according to the nature that the knowledge is initially produced and then now consumed.

Is it always the case that "the world isn't just the way it is, it is how we understand it - and in understanding something, we bring something to it" (adapted from Life of Pi by Yann Martel)? Discuss with reference to history and the natural sciences.

In some less convoluted English, this prompt essentially asks whether we colour the knowledge we acquire and bring our own perspectives and interpretation to knowledge. If you think this is quite abstract, think about this example: you have likely done a book report before. It will almost always ask you what you thought of the book and people will have different thoughts. This demonstrates the essence of this title! We all have our own thoughts and ideas about the knowledge we acquire. When we learn new things, we might put our own spin to it, and try and explain it to ourselves and our friends in our own unique way. So, it is likely that there are some cases where this idea of us bringing our own ideas into the knowledge we acquire is valid, but there maybe other times that this doesn't happen. As with most things in TOK, there is a spectrum of the extent in which we 'bring something' to the things we learn.

Some AOKs actively encourage this sort of self-inquisition. While artists probably created their art to have a specific meaning, you are often encouraged to come up with your own interpretation of the art, as it may mean something very personal to you according to your background and life experiences. No one person would interpret a work the same way as you, and that is how the AOK of Art intends it. So clearly, some AOKs encourage this sort of interpretation, why might they do so? On the other hand, some AOKs require some very exact and objective interpretation of evidence and knowledge, so it might be that this sort of malleability when we acquire it is undesired. What issues do you foresee might arise when we bring our own interpretation to knowledge acquired? How each AOK deals with the idea of bring our own perspectives into acquired knowledge speaks a lot about its intention and purpose.

The prompt also asks us to consider whether we are really getting the knowledge of the 'true world as it is' or just the way we perceive the world. This is most prominent in the natural sciences where we try to observe the natural world by attempting to minimise our effects on it. We are effective at doing so to various extents, but can we ever really observe something as they are? Similarly, and perhaps even more difficult for the Human Sciences, how can you observe a human being's behaviour knowing that they are being watched, or that they are participating in an experiment? Does this invalidate any findings within the human sciences because we know we might be involved in it? In most cases, knowledge is generated from the lens of humanity - individuals like us! And for the most part, it is consumed by individuals like us as well. Can we ever have knowledge that is independent of humanity so that we are really watching the world as it is, rather than having our own input on it?

Big data and data science is a hot field right now because of exactly this problem - we have too much data and we don't really know how to handle it! You might have experienced this personally during your studies in the IB. Out of a 500 page textbook, what will you choose to learn? You likely won't know every exact detail within that textbook for your exams, but you will understand the key points as it pertains to the syllabus and the key techniques that you need to answer exam problems. In a similar way, people select knowledge they wish to acquire all the time. With the advent of search engines and wikipedias, there are limitless amounts of knowledge to be known, but only so much that we want to know. So it makes sense to ask ourselves, what criteria do we use to select what information we choose to get, what knowledge to acquire? That is the essence of the title.

When we choose some knowledge and leave out others, does this create any risk? What if we were missing out on some important perspectives? We must all have experienced a familiar feeling of thinking we are prepared for an exam, but it turns out that we missed a crucial part of the topic and subsequently bombed the exam. Now imagine this effect magnified to more important applications - in the medical context, how can medical professionals make the most informed decision for their patients? It is not like they can consider all possible available scenarios and knowledge about their condition! Again, it goes to what we consider to be important for us to acquire and so let's think deeply about why we learn some things over other things. Is it interest that is driving us? Practicality?

Finally, one last thing to consider for this topic is what is the point of having more knowledge if most are going to be selected away?

So hopefully these explanations have helped you in deconstructing what initially might appear to be some intimidating prompts! Before you write your essay, make sure you plan it out and select good examples to back up your points. Check out some 10/10 TOK essay examples and identify their strengths will help a lot as well!

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TOK Essay Grading Rubric

The TOK essay is a required component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program. It is a strict word count – 1600-word essay that requires students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we know what we claim to know . The essay is assessed using a specific TOK rubric provided by IBO that evaluates various aspects of the essay.

TOK essay rubric in detail:

The TOK essay rubric consists of eight criteria , each of which is given a score of 0-2 points. The total score for the essay is a maximum of 16 points. The IB criteria are as follows:

• Knowledge question  (0-2 points) : TOK essay must address a knowledge question that is relevant to the specified title . The knowledge question should be clearly stated and should guide the analysis and argument of the essay.
• Understanding of knowledge issues  (0-2 points) : The essay should demonstrate a deep understanding of the knowledge issues related to the knowledge question. This includes an understanding of the different ways in which knowledge can be acquired and the limitations and biases that can affect our understanding of the world.
• Analysis and evaluation  (0-2 points) : Theory of knowledge essay should provide a critical analysis and evaluation of the knowledge question, using appropriate examples and evidence to support the argument. This includes an examination of the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches to knowledge and an evaluation of their relative value.
• Integration of AOKs and WOKs  (0-2 points) : The essay should demonstrate an understanding of the different ways in which knowledge is acquired, including the use of empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and personal experiences. It should also show an understanding of the different Ways of Knowing (WOKs) , such as reason, emotion , perception, and language , and how they relate to the knowledge question.
• Personal engagement  (0-2 points) : TOK essay should demonstrate personal engagement with the knowledge question and show an awareness of the implications of the argument for the student’s own life and the world around them.
• Structure and organization  (0-2 points) : The essay should be well-structured and organized, with a clear introduction, body, and conclusion. The structure should be logical and coherent, and should support the argument of the essay.
• Presentation  (0-2 points) : Theory of knowledge essay should be presented in a clear and concise manner, with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It should also use appropriate referencing and citation style.
• Creativity and initiative  (0-2 points) : The essay should show creativity and initiative in the approach to the knowledge question and in the use of examples and evidence to support the argument.

What is the passing grade for TOK essay?

To pass the TOK essay, a student must score at least an “E” grade, which corresponds to a minimum of 9 points out of 16. An “E” grade indicates that the essay meets the minimum requirements for a passing grade, but may have some weaknesses in one or more of the criteria.

Students who score higher than an “E” grade will be awarded scores ranging from “D” (10-11 points) to “A” (14-16 points). 

• A  “D” grade  indicates that the essay is of a satisfactory standard, but may have some limitations. 
• A  “C” grade  (12-13 points) indicates that the essay is of a good standard, with only minor weaknesses. 
• A  “B” grade  (14 points) indicates that the essay is of a very good standard, with only minor weaknesses. 
• An  “A” grade  (15-16 points) is the highest possible grade and indicates that the essay is of an excellent standard, with no major weaknesses.

You should note that the TOK essay rubric is highly subjective and the grading may vary depending on the individual assessor. Therefore, it is important for students to carefully consider the criteria and ensure that they meet the requirements as fully as possible to maximize their chances of receiving a passing grade, even if they want to write a TOK essay in a week .

Follow the TOK essay rubric to score well

Overall, the TOK essay rubric evaluates the student’s ability to think critically and reflectively about the nature of knowledge and how we acquire it. 

It is a challenging and rewarding task that requires students to engage with some of the most fundamental questions of human existence. Same thing with following the main 12 TOK concepts , other IB TOK criteria.

In some cases, it’s also important not to miss the moment when is the TOK essay due for submission. So, if you need assistance with your TOK essay, we are always ready to help you. 

Need help with your IB TOK essay ?

Unlock your potential and unleash the brilliance of your TOK essay with the help of our experts at BuyTOKEssay.com! Whether you’re starting from scratch or fine-tuning your existing essay to meet the demands of your supervisor, our team is here to make your dream of a perfect paper a reality. Say goodbye to writer’s block and hello to success with just one click.

Contact our team and we will give you expert assistance with any TOK essays.

Liliana Duman

Liliana Duman has a strong background in teaching English language, having graduated from Hacettepe University’s English Language Teaching Department in 2008. With over two decades of experience in the field, she has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share with her students. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, Liliana holds a master’s in Teaching Turkish as a Second Language and has previously worked at Başkent and Hacettepe University in Ankara. Currently, she is an EFL instructor at Sakarya University, teaching various skills, including methodology, speaking, reading, writing, and listening. In addition to her teaching, Liliana has also contributed to material development and testing efforts. As well as her work as a teacher, Liliana is an experienced private online ToK essay tutor, providing personal help for both IB ToK students and teachers in all aspects of IB ToK essays and exhibitions. She is dedicated to helping her students succeed and achieve their full potential. In her spare time, Liliana also writes articles for buytokessay.com, sharing her expertise and insights on ToK with a wider audience.

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Prompt #1 – Is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge?

8 thoughts on “tok essay grading rubric”.

Thanks for the read. Maybe you can help to understand, how do I analyze my TOK essay before submission. I know it should follow the provided rubric, but what main points should I consider before submission?

Before you turn in your TOK essay, you should make sure that you have done the following:

1) Answered the question the essay is asking. 2) Organized your ideas in a clear way. 3) Used examples to support your points. 4) Used proper language, spelling and grammar. 5) Included information from reliable sources. 6) Used ideas from the class that you have learned. 7) Thought about other points of view and addressed them. 8) Summarized your main ideas in the end.

It’s also a good idea to have someone else read your essay and give you feedback before you turn it in.

Isn’t the IBO responsible for finally marking your TOK essay?

The International Baccalaureate Organization does not mark the TOK essays themselves. Instead, the essays are assessed by the student’s own teacher (supervisor), who is trained and certified by the IBO to grade the TOK essays.

The teacher uses a specific set of assessment criteria and guidelines provided by the IBO to evaluate the student’s understanding and application of the TOK course material. The teacher then assigns a grade for the essay, which is sent to the IBO for moderation. Moderation is a process where the IBO checks the consistency of grading across different schools and teachers.

Can you explain how I can get an A for my TOK essay in simple words?

If we sum up the article above, to get an A for your TOK essay, you should:

– Understand the essay requirements and choose a good topic. – Use TOK concepts and theories to explore your topic. – Write clearly and logically, with good grammar and punctuation. – Develop a strong argument supported by evidence and examples. – Reflect on your own biases and perspectives, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your knowledge. – Show creativity and originality in your ideas.

Remember to follow the guidelines and demonstrate a deep understanding of TOK concepts. By doing so, you increase your chances of getting an A for your essay.

After sifting through the labyrinthine explanations on the IBO website, I was relieved to find a clear and concise guide right here. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Hey Peter, we really appreciate your kind words. We will keep posting our future articles, trying to be as transparent as we were here.

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What are the examiners thinking about the ToK Essay in 2023 ?

• February 12, 2024
• Student Support , Teacher Support , ToK Essay , Uncategorized

The Theory of Knowledge (ToK) Subject Report is written by examiners after each exam session, it is a reflection on what examiners have seen in the work submitted for the exam session. The report includes details on common mistakes made, and recommendations for avoiding those mistakes in the future. As such the ToK Subject Report is the most definitive document for understanding “what the examiners want”. I strongly recommend close reading of the TOK Subject Report for all ToK teachers. The ToK Subject Reports can be found in the Programme Resource Centre of MyIB.

In this blog post I summarise some of the pertinent and interesting points about the ToK Essay arising from the May 23 ToK Subject Report. I will publish a similar post about The Exhibition in a couple of days. I have written similar posts about previous ToK Subject Reports in the past ( linked & linked ). 

What do we learn about the ToK Essay from the May 23 ToK Subject Report ?

1, Students need to address all parts of the prescribed title. Don’t ignore parts of the question, this affects coherence of the answer (top of P5.)

2. Precise and direct reading of question is important (e.g Q2 M23 “For artists & natural scientists” many students did not consider artists & natural scientists, they just considered ‘for the general public’.).

3. A stepped approach to build an argument is most effective for complex essays that contain multiple elements (eg #4M23: “Do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (Russell)? Discuss with reference to the NS & one other AoK”). This essay requires students to deal with each element in turn, and to develop knowledge arguments relating to each. Contrasting claims / counterclaims / evaluation points are particularly important in complex essays (eg #4 M23, bottom of pg 6/top of 7).

4. Visual representations (eg charts & graphs) are now appropriate in ToK essays (Essay 5 M23).

5. Focus on writing a critical exploration of the PT (the driving question) rather than on a descriptive essay. A critical exploration includes: 

• Arguments supported by examples
• Implications
• Awareness of & evaluation of different points of view. 
• Limitations of arguments

6. Use of “points of view” rather than counterclaim . Points of view allows for a more nuanced range of points than a counterclaim. Points of view do not necessarily contradict, nor cancel out, the initial claim.

7. Examples should be explicitly connected to the knowledge argument and shown to justify a point.

8. Examples drawn from the student’s own studies, or own life, generally make better examples because it is easier for the student to analyse them and to understand the implication of the example (para 3, Pg 8).

9. AoK History should consider:

• The history of events that are at least 10 yrs old.
• The history of events that have been investigated by historians (rather than e.g. by journalists).
• The process of the production of historical knowledge rather than the event itself.

10, Geography & Economics are often used well as Human Science disciplines.

11. The Planning & Progress Form is of increasing importance as an academic integrity check given the growth of AI etc.

OK – this is just a very brief summary of some of the main points. Some of these points are included because they are surprising, or new, to me. If you want more details on the subject report I recommend downloading it from the Programme Resource Centre. A similar summary of points about the ToK Exhibition in the May 23 Subject Report will be out soone.

Stay ToKTastic,

Daniel, Lisbon Feb 24

Watch this post as a video:

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IB TOK Exhibition Rubric: Learn About the Assessment Criteria

by  Antony W

January 9, 2024

This guide covers everything you need to know about TOK exhibition rubric. We’ve included everything you need to know about the assessment criteria so that you can have an easy time working on the assignment.

Introduced to the TOK syllabus in 2022, the ToK Exhibition  subject is a replacement for the ToK Presentation. 

The exhibition is an individual project worth 33% of the total grades awarded to the Theory of Knowledge subject.

Although the TOK Exhibition is a relatively new subject, it’s not complicated because the concepts taught in the subject are easy to understand.

Your TOK teacher is the one to moderate the work, so you do have the opportunity to ask as many questions as you can to get the assignment right.

The aim of the Theory of Knowledge Exhibition is to assess your ability to apply ToK concepts  to the real world.

If you can demonstrate your ability to discuss the subject matter that you’ve studied in the classroom, based on evidence, you’re already a step ahead to score good marks for the exhibition.

Once you have looked at exhibition examples and understood the basic requirements of the TOK exhibition, spend some time to understand how your teacher evaluates and marks the work.

You will get the information in the assessment instrument that your teacher will share with you.

TOK Exhibition Rubric Explained

Below is a detailed explanation of the TOK Exhibition rubric:

Scoring a zero means you failed to meet the standards that IB set for the TOK exhibition project.

In other words, either you’ve failed to submit your assignment or it doesn’t reflect the standards set out by other levels in this assessment criteria.

Also, it’s possible to get a zero if your TOK exhibition doesn’t answer one of the topics provided in the IA prompts .  

Rudimentary (1 to 2)

A student who earns rudimentary score has identified the three TOK exhibition objects but failed to explain their real-world context.

Also, you score 1 to 2 marks if you present generic images instead of real-world objects - or images of objects.

IB teachers also award 1 to 2 points to students who link minimally between their IA prompts and the objects.

More often than not, tenuous linking means a student isn’t sure about what they’re trying to communicate.

Rudimentary marks show that a student offered minimal justification for including the three objects in their exhibition.

Also, the commentary isn’t descriptive enough or includes assertions that you haven’t attempted to support.

Basic (3 to 4)

IB students who earn 3 to 4 marks for their exhibition are those who have identified the three objects in their exhibition but failed to state the real-world context of these objects.

They have made link between their selected IA prompt and the objects, but they don’t offer a comprehensive and convincing explanation of the link.

If you score the basic marks, it’s because your justification for including the objects in the commentary is but superficial. And although you’ve given reasons for including the three objects in your work, you’ve not backed them with relevant evidence.

Basic marks is also an indication that your commentary has a series of repetition in the text.

Satisfactory (5-6)

You have successfully identified three objects in the TOK exhibition. However, your objects’ real-world context is vague.

While you’ve explained the link between the IA prompt and the three objects, your explanation doesn’t meet the standards set by the TOK Exhibition assessment criteria because it’s weak.

 In other words, you only include brief explanation for including each object in the exhibition, backing only a few of your points with evidence.

If you score a 7 or an 8, it means you’ve identified the three objects, explained their real-world context, linked the three objects to each other, and explained how each object (or image of objects) relates to your IA prompt.

In addition to justifying the contributions the objects make to the exhibition, you’ve included evidence and reference link to the IA prompt to make your work as comprehensive as you possibly can.

However, your work isn’t suitable for the excellent marks because it lacks clarity and precision in some parts.

Excellent (9-10)

It’s the highest score awarded to TOK learners whose exhibitions identify three objects, their definite real-world contexts, and make clear links between the selected IA prompts and the three objects.

Your exhibition demonstrates strong justification for the specific contribution that individual objects make and provides appropriate evidence for all the   points you’ve made.

Also, your work includes clear references from each object back to your chosen IA prompt.

The TO Exhibition Assessment Cornerstone

The overriding objective of the TOK exhibition is to show how theory of knowledge (TOK) manifests itself in the real world.

To do this, you have to demonstrate four skill sets in your exhibition.

These include the following:

1. Interlinking Ideas

 Your exhibition commentary should explain the links or connections between your chosen objects and the IA prompt.

You also need to make distinct references to the IA prompt

2. Justification for Ideas

Your TOK commentary should feature a bold justification for why you have chosen the objects for your exhibition.

You should do this within the core theme context or one of the optional themes in TOK .

3. Using Evidence

Support all the points you make in your commentary with evidence.

Hinge all opinions and ideas you use on real-life situations and you can even use ideas by top thinkers to support your points or opinions.

4. Identifying the Real-world Context

In TOK exhibition, you have to go beyond identifying the three objects – or images of the objects. You also have to explain their real-world context.

In other words, you have to choose images of objects or real objects as opposed to just generic objects.

Final Thoughts

Page 47 of the TOK subject guide outlines the rubric for the exhibition.

The criteria include information on what you should do to get the highest marks, so you should aim to get a 7 to an 8 if not a 9 to a 10.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

How to get an A in TOK essay? Rubric + A-grade SAMPLES

Table of contents

• Writing Metier

Writing a Theory of Knowledge essay can seem challenging to most students because they guess how hard is it to get an A in TOK. No matter how hard they try, they feel like they just can’t crack the IB TOK essay, and one of the major reasons for this is that the structure of this essay is very different from other essays. It has to be written in a different format from the rest.

Moreover, to get an A for TOK essay, it should also follow specific IB criteria , and this can also be challenging for most students.

Btw… you can ⏩ Calculate the price for custom ToK essay written for you ⏪

Listen up, all you bright-eyed, bushy-tailed IB students! If you want to impress your TOK teacher and earn those coveted points, before starting with your TOK essay, you’ve gotta get your act together and fill out those pesky PPD and TOK PPF forms . Trust me, it’s not as fun as it sounds. But hey, at least it’ll give you a chance to flex those brain muscles and prove that you’re not just a bunch of know-it-alls with no depth or substance. Plus, it’ll give you a great excuse to procrastinate on all your other homework. Win-win.

If you are also a student who floats the same boat, and you do not want to fail and want to know how to score high in TOK essay, continue reading!

Tips to score Ⓐ on a TOK essay

Here are a few valuable tips from those who have managed to score very high grades on their TOK essays. Follow our TOK essay guide and use these tips to do better with your TOK essay.

1. Don’t Jump on to a Title

You are given a list of titles that you have to work on. What students mostly do is that they jump on to the easiest-sounding question they find. They think that they can easily work on such a question without having to research a lot.

The truth is that you can never know how easy a title is to work on, till you actually conduct research on it. When you ty to find out more about it, then you will know what it is all about. Once you know, you can definitely get things done in the right way.

You need to pay the most attention to the title that you choose. Once you choose the right TOK essay prompt , you can surely get your essay flowing in the right direction. Try to make sure that you spend a lot of time working on selecting the right essay title. This is the only way that you will be able to do things right.

2. Define Key Terms

Sometimes, you might feel like the key terms are very easy . You might even feel like they are very self-explanatory. Having said that, you need to make sure you work on them in a certain way to help you through the situation. You need to define the key terms in a way that helps you operationalize those terms to help you work your way through them. The idea is to give your own explanation of the key terms first.

This is one of the most important things there is. Not only does it help the examiner understand things in the best way, but also helps get you thinking about the different ways that you can explore the topic. Once you know, things definitely start becoming much easier for you, and you can then work on this essay in a much better and much more comprehensive way.

3. Choose a Research Question Wisely

Once you have selected a title, it is time for you to work on a research question. When selecting a research question, try to be as smart as you can about it. It needs to be one that you can very well answer in the right way. Not just that, but it also has to be one that is very relevant to title that you have selected.

If you go for something unrelated, then that only reflects very badly on you because it shows that you haven’t even understood what was expected from you in the first place in terms of the title that you have worked on.

A wise way to start off is to write down every research question that comes to mind. When you do that, you will be able to be more sorted with things. You will better be able to work your way through things. Brainstorming almost always helps get done with things in the best way possible. It helps you draft a solid outline, which also eventually helps you write.

4. Choose Your Area of Knowledge

Alongside that, you also have to choose your area of knowledge wisely. Your examples will only be as good as your area of knowledge. To choose an area of knowledge, you have to make sure that you have things sorted in front of you. From amongst the many areas of knowledge that you have to choose from, pick one that you think you can write on the best. This can be anything at all that you think you can work on best.

When thinking about your areas of knowledge, also think about your claims and your counterclaims within those areas of knowledge. Not just that, but also think about the arguments that you are going to give in this. To add more value to what you are doing, come up with very unique examples. This way, you will be able to defend your viewpoint in the best way possible, which is again very important to help you get through the argument.

5. Formulate a Good Knowledge Question

More often than not, you will realize that the prescribed title is your knowledge question. Having said that, you might even sometimes be required to work on a question within a question to help you work on this.

To do this, try to understand the prescribed title first. Then, based on that, you can form another question within that can help you work your way through things correctly.

6. Be Sensible About Your Real Life Situation

When picking a real-life situation , be as sensible as you can. Go for something that is relevant to the current times, but at the same time is also one that helps you get through things in the best way possible. The idea is to pick something that you like, and something that you have ample information on as well.

Your real life situation should be interesting and should give the readers something that they have to ponder about. When you do this, it makes your argument stronger, and gives a good image to the examiner. It tells the examiner that you are aware of what you are saying  and that you know exactly how you are supposed to go about these things. This will help you work your way through your TOK essay easily.

7. Follow the Right Structure

Then, it is also important to follow the right structure . This helps you write your essay in a flow. Not just that, but it also helps you structure your essay right. When you do so, it shows the examiner that you have a fair idea of what you are working on.

You need to start off with the introduction. This is where you introduce the topic in great detail. You talk about all the key terms as well here. Once you do that, it helps you introduce to the examiner what is to come next.

Then you state your position and then you also talk about your areas of knowledge and your works of knowledge. As you are done with that, you begin writing.

Also, try to focus on writing your assumptions down as well. Like with writing a TOK exhibition , if you write your assumptions, then you can surely explain things to the examiner in a much better way.

When working on the main body of the essay, you have the chances to state what you want to clearly. So when you begin writing here, decide on the structure and your main argument. You have to build your main argument here. So when doing so, make sure to state your claim correctly.

Once you are done with that, you have to give relevant examples, and then you also have to give counterclaims in one way or the other to follow the structure and the flow of your work. When doing so, always try to go back to the knowledge question to ensure that the examiner knows that you are aware of what you are answering.

If there are any biases made during this process, try to highlight all of those as well, so that the examiner knows exactly what you are talking about.

8. Write Well

Then once you have all else sorted and you know how you are going to go about it, start writing your TOK essay. When working on it, try to make sure that you have all your focus on writing your essay. This is most important to make sure that you impress the examiner. Not just that, but also try to use simple language.

A common misconception that people have is that when you write complex words, you impress the examiner. The truth is that is definitely not the case.

You need to use straightforward words to ensure that everyone understands where you are coming from and what you are trying to say. The primary purpose is to make sure that everyone understands what you are trying to say.

9. Edit with Focus

Once done writing, you need to edit your essay. This is one of the most important parts of writing the essay. This is because you don’t really realize the mistakes you are making when writing.

You need to be very focused on what you are doing as you do things. This is important to help you check for errors and also go over the whole thing just to be sure that you have used the right examples in the right places, and also to make sure that you have worked your way through things correctly.

Edit your essay as many times as you feel the need to. This will help you make sure that you’re doing the right thing, which is one of the most important things when you write an essay.

Examples of A grade TOK essays

To better understand how you can write a TOK essay well, you can go through several samples that our expert TOK essay writers have written. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of the kind of examples you have to give and what is required of you. This will help you work your way through things easily.

2023 November TOK essay examples:

• Are facts alone enough to prove a claim?
• Faced with a vast amount of information, how do we select what is significant for the acquisition of knowledge?

May 2023 TOK essay samples:

• Do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (Bertrand Russell)
• To what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use?

November 2022 TOK essay examples:

• Within an area of knowledge is it more important to have credibility or power?
• Why do we seek indisputable evidence when it is so often unattainable?

Samples of May 2022 TOK essays:

• Can there be knowledge that is independent of culture?
• To what extent do you agree with the claim that “there’s a world of difference between truth and facts”. (Maya Angelou)
• How can we distinguish between good and bad interpreta0ons?

You can check our blog to find more explanations of each topic with suggestions from expert TOK essay writers. It will surely help you find inspiration. If you do not want to write a TOK essay yourself, you can always buy a custom TOK written by IB experts from WritingMetier.com

Apart from that, you also get to learn more about real life examples that you can use. This is one of the most important things there is to make sure that you write an essay that stands out from the rest.

Meanwhile, you can also be interested in checking the TOK exhibition Rubric to score well. As good as with your TOK essay 😉

While you might understand what is required from you on a theoretical level, understanding it through the help of examples only makes things a lot easier for you. So always try to focus as much as you can on going through the samples.

Writers who are experts at Tok essay writing know exactly how they have to frame arguments to make sure you understand what is required of you. So try to go through as many samples as you can to help you.

IB TOK essay marking rubric

To better understand how the TOK essay is graded, you need to work towards understanding the marking scheme very well. This will help you frame your argument right in accordance with what is needed from your end.

I hope I was able to explain the marking criteria of TOK essay. You can always call for our assistance in case you need a hand. Furthermore, we have numerous articles that will help you score high on all the IB assignments that you will need to submit during the semester.

Use this TOK essay guide to score higher

Follow this marking rubric and suggestions that I have mentioned in this TOK essay guide. With a clearer understanding of what you have to do to score well on the TOK essay, you can surely do a much better job now! And last but not least – do not miss the TOK essay submission deadline , my friend.

⏩ Write a Custom Essay for Me ⏪

You might think that you have plenty of time, but my personal experience working with IB students shows that there are some students who start work when it’s way too late. So do not be one of them 😉

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Vasy kafidoff.

Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

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