Theory of knowledge (TOK) is assessed through an oral presentation and a 1,600 word essay.
TOK is part of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) core, and is mandatory for all students.
TOK is challenging and unique but there are many ways students can approach this course and meet with success at the end. In order to understand any subject better it’s important to think about its purpose and structure and what exactly the assessments are trying to measure. The more you understand the course, the less you fear it, and the better chance you have at success.
So, what are the top tips for success?
Firstly, you must carefully consider what the assessments are trying to measure.
The essay is worth ⅔ of your final grade and is therefore the most significant assessment. The essay assignment has long been a feature of TOK and remains much the same. These essay questions are in fact “knowledge questions”.
The Exhibition
The new syllabus for TOK introduced a new assessment called “The Exhibition”. This replaces “The Presentation” so make sure you don’t get the two confused. The Exhibition is worth ⅓ of your final grade. Like the essay, you will complete this new assessment on your own. There are 35 different prompts provided by IB and you choose one of them. As with the essay prompts, make sure you spend some time choosing the prompt that is right for you.And make sure you stay true to that prompt and don’t alter or change the wording in any way. You then choose three “objects” which relate to the prompt you have chosen. These objects (can be digital images so don’t worry you don’t have a physical object) should be connected to the themes you have studied in TOK. Each school will choose different themes so work closely with your TOK teacher. What is really important here is that you don’t choose a “generic” image. So, a picture of a random tree you found on a google image search would not be a good object. Instead the picture should be of a specific object that is somehow connected to a wider issue in the real world. Your school will decide how to set up the actual exhibition but you will be assessed on a 950 word report.
Tip no. 1
You should make separate outlines for all major points and really think about how you would actually approach the questions. Keep in mind that the essay should be analytical and reflective in nature rather than research based.
Points to remember to make a good outline for each prompt?
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To know how essay will be assessed.
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What Areas of Knowledge will you cover
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What examples will you use?
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Are these examples “predictable” (eg Hitler, Newton etc)? Aim for original examples!
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What is your argument?
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What are the different points of view regarding this argument? How can you evaluate those different points of view?
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What are the claims you are making about knowledge?
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Can you think of knowledge questions connected to the essay prompt?
Tip no. 2
Try to pick an essay title which has a clear reference to specific Areas of Knowledge or Ways of Knowing
One former TOK essay title read: “When the only tool you have is a hammer, all problems begin to resemble nails” (Abraham Maslow). How might this apply to ways of knowing, as tools, in the pursuit of knowledge? (May 2014). This question sounds as if it would be a lot of fun and give you an opportunity to be creative in your answer but there are a lot of variables here which could really lead you down the wrong path. If you had made a decent outline and still felt this question was your top choice, you should sit down with your TOK teacher and really talk through your approach to see if they recommend you carry on. To be safe though, questions where there are clearly specified Areas of Knowledge and/or Ways of Knowing tend to be more manageable . Which leads me another tip for success with the essay
Tip no. 3.
While choosing the Areas of Knowledge make sure you write about subjects you know well.
A good essay demands a strong foundation of knowledge and also relevant examples to use in an essay; you should know the subject well, someone with a superficial understanding of the Area of Knowledge will not fare well.