The TOK exhibition and essay are the two assessments, and together they account for up to three points on your IB diploma.
Both reward careful thinking, precise use of TOK concepts, and a genuine engagement with real-world knowledge claims, so the tips below are designed to help you approach each one with clarity and confidence.
10 tips for the TOK exhibition
1 Choose your prompt carefully. Read all 35 prompts before committing to one. The best prompt is not necessarily the most interesting, but the one that gives you the most to say across three genuinely different objects.
2 Your objects must be real. They cannot be hypothetical or invented. They should be specific, concrete things that actually exist in the world, whether a photograph, a speech, a product, or a piece of legislation.
3 Think carefully about object selection. The three objects should each illuminate a different aspect of your prompt. If all make the same point, you are missing an opportunity to show the complexity of the issue.
4 The prompts are exactly that – prompts for discussion, not questions. You are not expected to arrive at a clear and definitive conclusion, just explore the links between the prompt, object, and context (ie theme).
5 Avoid the obvious. A copy of the bible is a valid object, but it is also one that thousands of students will choose. An unusual or unexpected object that genuinely illuminates your prompt will be far more memorable.
6 Keep the real-world central. The exhibition is explicitly about connecting TOK to the real world. Every object should be anchored in a specific real-world situation, not used as a purely abstract example.
7 Use the key concepts. The 12 TOK key concepts, including evidence, perspective, power, and justification, are great tools for structuring your commentary. Make sure some of them appear naturally in your analysis.
8 Each commentary should be around 120 words. It’s easier to see them as three separate commentaries rather than one single piece of 950 words – and no interlinking between them is required.
9 Do not just describe. The exhibition is an analytical exercise, not a descriptive one. Every sentence should be doing the work of connecting your object to your prompt and to TOK ideas.
10 Use our resources. Our exhibition assistant, webinar, and TOK newsletter will help you understand exactly what the examiners are looking for and how to structure your response effectively.
10 tips for the TOK essay
1 Choose your prescribed title wisely. Read all six titles before deciding. The best title for you is not the one that sounds most interesting, but the one that gives you the richest material to work with across two areas of knowledge.
2 Unpack the title carefully. Every word in a prescribed title has been chosen deliberately. Before you write a single sentence, make sure you understand exactly what the title is asking, including any key terms that need defining.
3 Build your essay around a genuine argument. The essay is not a list of examples. It should develop a clear, sustained line of reasoning that responds directly to the title and evolves across the course of the essay.
4 Use real-world examples. Your examples should be specific, concrete, and drawn from the real world. Vague or generic examples, such as “scientists have shown that,” will not impress examiners. The more precise and well-chosen your examples, the stronger your essay.
5 Balance your two areas of knowledge. The essay requires you to discuss two AOKs. Make sure both receive roughly equal treatment and that you draw meaningful comparisons between them rather than simply describing each one separately.
6 Engage with counterclaims. A strong TOK essay does not simply argue one position. It acknowledges complexity, considers alternative perspectives, and uses counterclaims to develop and refine its argument.
7 Avoid sweeping generalisations. TOK rewards careful, qualified thinking. Phrases like “all scientists believe” or “throughout history, humans have always” are red flags. Be precise, nuanced, and honest about the limits of your claims.
8 Use the key concepts purposefully. They are not decorative – concepts like justification, objectivity, and truth should be doing real analytical work in your essay, not simply appearing as buzzwords.
9 Plan before you write. The essay is 1,600 words, which sounds like a lot but is actually very tight once you factor in an introduction, two AOKs, counterclaims, and a conclusion. A clear plan will save you significant time and produce a much more coherent essay.
10 Use our resources. Our essay webinar, essay assistant, and TOK newsletter will help you understand the standard required and the most effective strategies for meeting it. The essay is challenging, but with the right preparation it is also one of the most rewarding pieces of writing you will produce in the IB.
