how to write a tok exhibition essay

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Writing a ToK Exhibition Essay: From Confusion to Clarity

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It’s a good day, and you’re sitting in your class waiting for your IB professor to come in. Just as your professor enters the room, they announce the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) Exhibition assessment.

At first, you feel like this might just be like another academic essay. But boy, were you wrong.

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As your professor explains the requirements, purpose, and procedure of completing your ToK assessment, you spiral into confusion. You wonder, “How do I write a ToK Exhibition essay?”.

Don’t panic. You’ve come to the right place.

In this article, we’ll tell you how to write a solid ToK exhibition essay without losing your mind.

What is an IB ToK Exhibition

Theory of Knowledge is a crucial subject that allows you to score three extra points, which will be added to your final IB score. For this assessment, you are required to write an essay and give an exhibition which collectively will make your ToK score.

Writing the essay as well as the exhibition can get overwhelming because working on this assignment will require innate knowledge of multiple academic disciplines, helping you deliver a high-quality paper .

The crux of this assessment is finding innovative and unconventional examples or objects that support both the claim and the counterclaim for your essay and exhibition.

The purpose of the ToK essay and exhibition revolves around answering the ‘why’ behind all the research. You can derive vast awareness of the knowledge that is needed to have a perspective of the world beyond.

By the end of the assignment, you are sure to have a unique perception and will appreciate the diversity of thoughts and ideas.

What is a good ToK Exhibition?

Well, it's all about picking three objects that really speak to the topic you've been given. Think of objects that connect deeply with real-world stuff and hit the nail on the head of your assigned prompt. The key is to show off your understanding of how knowledge works - how it's shared, how it's personal, and why it's so important to us as individuals and a society.

How many words is the ToK exhibition?

The ToK exhibition commentary has a limit of 950 words. But remember, it's not just about filling the page - make every word count!

What counts as good evidence for a claim ToK exhibition?

Good evidence for a claim is usually something that's precise, directly linked to your claim, and comes from a credible source. Remember, the evidence should also demonstrate a clear connection between your real-world scenario and the knowledge question at hand.

Here’s a visual breakdown by Emiliano Ruiz-Ayala of what the ToK exhibition is all about.

How to Approach Your ToK Exhibition Essay

The ToK Exhibition weighs 33% of your total ToK grade. This process requires you to create an exhibition of three objects that come along with a commentary.

This commentary is added to help in highlighting the concepts that you have learned with these objects, in relation to your subject in school.

This exhibition is strict and students are to perform individually and not in groups. This ensures that your chosen objects don't overlap or mix with some other student in your class.

These three objects are picked out through the context of your assessment prompt, which you’ll narrow down from 35 different prompts given to you.

The complete process of finishing the essay includes

1. preparing a file of the content of your exhibition.

• a clear title regarding the IA prompt that you’ve selected;
• images of the three particular objects used;
• a typed commentary that includes the identification of the objects, their relation to the real world, their relevance of use in the exhibition, and their link to the chosen prompt;
• relevant references, citations, and examples.

2. The exhibition of your work

• A classroom exhibition.
• A virtual exhibition.
• An event that encourages parents and school members to view the exhibition.

How to structure your Exhibition Essay for IB

Before we dissect the essay into four parts, keep the following tips for writing a ToK essay in mind.

Tips for writing an exhibition essay in mind

1. Don't neglect what the ToK essay title is asking of you, and make sure you identify and understand the key terms. These terms will be your essay’s anchor and can help you write content that gravitates around them. Brainstorm with your ToK coordinator, if required.

2. Ask yourself what kind of knowledge is being showcased.

3. When choosing the areas of knowledge (AoK) and ways of knowing (WoK), be sure to find evidence that not just supports your evidence but also challenges your claims.

4. Just as you would write any other academic essay, keep in mind to generate a proper thesis statement and include topic sentences for an easier readability rate.

Your essay will constitute four broad segments

Introduction.

A strong introduction allows its readers to understand the knowledge question that you’re required to answer easily.

Introduce your ToK Essay title accurately and give a few interesting points about it. Next, you should write down the thesis statement clearly, as this statement is the basic gist of your entire essay where you’re defining key terms and interpreting the primal question.

Lastly, state your essay’s roadmap, as this can help your professors understand the direction of your essay.

The body paragraphs are further divided into three segments.

1st and 2nd segments

Here you research your first Area of Knowledge and draw parallels between it and your question.

Since these claims are general and do not need a particular area of knowledge as a reference, they can help you structure your essay and push you to investigate the question further.

You then need to further describe examples of real-life situations that support your stated claim.

State and expand on your counterclaim to show the other perspective on the topic. Reference real-life examples to show how they can support your counterclaim.

It is important to weave your WoK (ways of knowing) into your body paragraphs to take account of the source of your knowledge. Make it a point to question if your knowledge would have been different if you had acquired it in another way or through another source.

Add a mini conclusion after each segment of the body paragraph to analyze your examples in reference to your claims and counterclaims. These must connect to the thesis statement and the selected essay title.

3rd segment

This portion of your essay will consist of you comparing and contrasting various Areas of Knowledge. Connect them to your thesis statement and your chosen title showing how your arguments relate to it.

The conclusion of your essay is meant to tie all the arguments, evidence, and points in one paragraph. You need to:

• Include your reiterated thesis statement.
• Use the mini conclusions of each of the body paragraph segments to develop a final conclusion.
• Write down the significance of understanding the meaning behind the selected objects.
• Offer another perspective and how it can affect the claims/counterclaims you made in the essay.

Bibliography

Cite all your references, sources, and selected examples in a neat and organized MLA or APA-style bibliography.

What Makes a Good Exhibition Essay Object

If you are trying to find relevant objects or images of objects for the ToK Exhibition, it is important to take note that if these objects do not reflect in even one of the prescribed prompts that you’ll pick to write your essay on, you will get a failing grade.

To ensure your three objects are related to the essay prompt, you must

• Choose objects that have a real-world context.
• All three selected objects should be linked to your selected prompt.
• There should also be a proper link between the three objects.
• You should be able to draft a 950-word commentary set within the context of the objects.

Here are some tips to consider while choosing objects for your ToK exhibition

1. The chosen objects can be in a physical form or even digital -- such as images of an object, a tweet or comment by a person, a picture of a painting made by a famous artist, etc. However, IB recommends using digital objects because not every object can be produced in class physically.

2. The object that you’ve picked should be of personal interest to you and should showcase its significance or value at the exhibition.

3. A real-world connection should be present in all three objects, as well as they shouldn't be generic examples of something. Generality does not highlight the object’s value.

4. Creating new objects just for the exhibition is not allowed, whereas you can create something that has an older relevance to you. The very purpose of the ToK Exhibition’s objects is to relate the theory that’s studied in school to objects we see around us in everyday life.

5. Always remember to give an identification of the selected objects in the exhibition. Proper referencing and citing of the objects are necessary to be included.

6. You must include a typed commentary that identifies the objects you’ve chosen, justifying why you thought of including these specific objects in the exhibition and specifying their real-world context.

Understanding the Theory of Knowledge (ToK) Exhibition is essential to mastering the overall ToK assessment. The exhibition represents a third of your total ToK grade, requiring a selection and explanation of three objects tied to a real-world context. It's an individual task that demands critical thinking, correlation of concepts, and presentation skills. But don't worry, if you are finding the process daunting, we have a detailed guide on ' How to Write a ToK Essay ' on our blog, which can provide you with a comprehensive understanding of the subject matter and even help you ace your essay and exhibition.

ToK Exhibition and Essay are an integral and challenging part of an IB student’s life, and just as it comprises a major grade of your final assessment, it is important to deliver a quality A-grade essay and a flawless exhibition.

We hope this guide will answer all your questions pertaining to writing ToK essays.

If you’re still confused, you can reach out to us at Writers Per Hour. Our professional IB writers can help you write a compelling ToK essay that leaves your professors impressed and gets you that coveted grade.

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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

Let’s understand how to deal with the TOK exhibition. Here, I will give you a general overview of the TOK exhibition with one of the TOK exhibition examples.

What is TOK exhibition?

TOK exhibition is an independent individual task of connecting specific real-life objects of personal importance with an IA prompt within one of the TOK themes. TOK exhibition is a brand new assessment task in the new TOK curriculum, 2022. It is worth of 10 marks which counts to 33% of the grades. The purpose of the TOK exhibition is to explore how TOK has its manifestation in the real big world around us. The TOK exhibition is an internally assessed task, which is externally moderated by the IB at the end of the coursework.

What are the components of the TOK exhibition?

• You have to intuitively choose 3 distinct, specific, concrete, perceptible real-life objects.
• You are to select one out of the 35 prescribed TOK ‘IA prompts’, which are generic and abstract knowledge questions.
• You have a commentary to write in 950 words explaining how the abstract and generic TOK concepts manifest in the real-world.

As and how you get a hang of what is the TOK exhibition all about, you will have couple of questions racking your brain.

TOK exhibition objects

You must have noticed that I have used a couple of attributes to define the objects. Remember, all of these descriptors are very significant. For example, when I say objects need to be distinct, specific, and concrete, I emphasize on particular contextual objects to be selected from the real-life. Yes, these objects are to be contextually relevant to the IA prompt. Also, note that the objects are concrete, which mean palpable or tangible or perceptible to our senses; and surely NOT something abstract.

Yes, it is very relevant for you to choose each of the objects very intuitively-by that I mean you should be convinced about the relevance of your choice of each concrete object in how it connects with the abstract question. In other words, the right choice of objects will help you understand how the abstract TOK has its manifestation in the distinct concrete real-world.

While selecting the objects, avoid selecting all the possible 3 you feel at the same time. First, you select one and justify its link with the IA prompt. Then follow a sequence with the second and the third. Make sure that the selection is not random and repetitive in a way that the objects connect with the IA prompt in exactly the same way. That’s not the purpose. Each object should have its unique contextual connection with the IA prompt or the knowledge question.

It is not necessary to interlink the objects. However, it is utmost necessity to connect each of the objects with the IA prompt in its own distinct way- here the phrase ‘distinct way’ is distinctively used to identify how each object is adding a unique value and perspective to the IA prompt.

TOK exhibition commentary

The TOK exhibition commentary is a clear, explicit explanation of your unique selection of objects. You can make a reasonable distribution of word limits explaining the inclusion of each object. The commentary for each object should explicitly highlight three key pointers:

• Why have you selected the object? Explain its real-life context. In case of virtual exhibition, use a clear image of the object with proper citation.
• Explain the link of the selected object to the IA prompt.
• Justify the inclusion of your selected object in the TOK exhibition.

How to write a good TOK exhibition?

With a TOK exhibition example, I will explain the steps.

The IA prompt no. 16 from the IB TOK guide has the knowledge question (KQ)- Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?

• First, let’s choose an optional theme to analyse the KQ. Let it be knowledge and technology. In the present informative age technology has given access to a bank of data. Now, the question is whether every information-whether having ethical or unethical repercussions-is relevant to know? Like the way technology helps, does it also hinder our pursuit of knowledge?
• Say, you select the first object as cocaine. The knowledge about cocaine, used as a prototype in exemplifying the ethical stance in knowledge, is as an excellent topical anaesthesia is sought after by some, for its excellent anesthetic and vasoconstricting property used in surgery. On the other hand, for some the knowledge may trigger an experimental urge to be used as a painkiller or to create an adrenaline rush-the overuse of which would affect the brain functions. So, the inclusion of cocaine as an object in the TOK exhibition can be looked through two lenses-in creating awareness of its benefits and side effects, as well as in exposing some young minds to experiment with new adventures.
• The second object you may think of is sex robot. In the pursuit of emotional well- being and companionship, the use of sex robots can be highly ethical and supportive for lonely individuals who do not have human partners. On the other hand, for others the knowledge of sex robots and their misuse may pose a psychological and oral threat to individuals and society.
• The third object you may think of is the nuclear weapons used in the ‘shadow war of May 2021’ by Iran and Israel. The knowledge on the usage of such weapons may be unethical to some as it may cause harm to mankind, if falling into wrong hands. On the other hand, it is also true that some feel having a knowledge of the use of nuclear weapons is a low cost way to insure against aggression from large power.

Through a far more detailing you would get to justify and evaluate the type of knowledge being sought and its contextual evidence. Foer some, knowledge cannot be categorized as good or bad, ethical or unethical; while for others some knowledge should not be sought as it may pose harm to the community than do good.

Also, check out another blog on TOK exhibition sample and TOK essay samples here

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 .

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• Areas of Knowledge
• Human Sciences
• Knowledge and Language
• Knowledge and Technology
• Knowledge and the Knower
• Knowledge Framework
• Knowledge Questions
• Mathematics
• Natural Sciences
• Optional Themes
• The Core Theme
• TOK Concepts
• TOK Exhibition

TOK exhibition Sample 1

Alexey Popov February 21, 2021 Assessment , TOK Exhibition

In this post you will find the first one of our TOK exhibition samples: the written commentary itself as well as a video that gives a step-by-step explanation of the full creation process.

TOK exhibition Sample 1 uses the following approach:

• Choose the IA prompt
• Think about one aspect in relation to it
• Find an object supporting it
• Link the object to the prompt
• Depending on how it was linked, choose where to look for the other two objects

The IA prompt that was selected is “Bias is inevitable in the production of knowledge”. The three objects are:

• the Big K (the prototype kilogram)
• Casio FX-83GT PLUS calculator
• Brendan Cole’s article “‘Little Red Riding Hood’ Banned from School over Sexism Concerns” (2019)

Why we are doing this

ThemEd’s TOK textbook for the new syllabus

We at Themantic Education think that the best way to support students in making their TOK exhibition is to demonstrate some specific examples – not only the final product, but the full thinking process that went into it. This way students will understand not only where they need to go, but also how to get there.

For this reason we have created several sample TOK exhibitions each using a slightly diff erent approach to selecting the objects.

Each of our sample exhibitions includes the fully written TOK exhibition commentary and a YouTube video that gives a step-by-step explanation of how the exhibition was created. Together they will help your students understand the process thor oughly.

Don’t forget to check out our other TOK exhibition samples! See Thematic Education’s IB TOK playlist on YouTube

(And buy our textbook , it’s awesome and different from all other textbooks)

EXPLAINER VIDEO: The process of creation

WRITTEN COMMENTARY: Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge?

I will define bias as a systematic deviation. “Systematic” is what makes bias different from an error or a mistake. If we measure something 100 times, we will get slightly different readings each time – this is random error. However, if all our measurements are systematically slanted in one direction – this is bias.  

If we want to show that bias is inevitable in the production of knowledge, we should find examples of knowledge that, by common sense, is most definitely not biased . Then we should try to find elements of bias in this believed-to-be-unbiased knowledge. If we do succeed in finding such elements, we must agree that bias is inevitable. 

This is the Big K, the prototype kilogram. It is a block of platinum-iridium alloy that has been housed at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures in France since 1889. Back then scientists agreed to define a kilogram as the mass equivalent to the mass of this object. All 1 kg weights existing in the world today are copies of copies of copies of copies of this boulder. Scientists have taken great efforts to ensure that the mass of this prototype kilogram does not change. However, despite all precautions, it changed. Since 1889 it has become approximately 50 micrograms lighter – that is the weight of an eyelash (Resnick, 2019).  

This object links to the idea of bias because, since the prototype has become lighter, we are systematically overestimating how much a kilogram is. It is a case of systematic deviation (which, by my definition, is bias). The object also illustrates the idea of inevitability of bias: the Big K has lost some mass due to natural fluctuations of matter, physical laws that are beyond human control. 

This object was included in the exhibition because it demonstrates the idea that even the most precise scientific measurements are done against a standard, but standards themselves may change, and when they do, our new measurements become biased. I tried to find an example of something that is believed to be unbiased, and then I found an element of bias in it.

What are some other examples of knowledge that are typically believed to be free of bias? Mathematical knowledge has this kind of aura around it, especially when it is aided by technology. When we use a calculator, there is no reason to believe that the result of our calculation is biased. So it may seem.

This object links to the concept of bias because it is a case of systematic deviation from the truth. It is only this particular model, and this particular problem, that produces a biased result. This object also exemplifies the idea of inevitability of bias. The reason for this error is that pi is infinite, but the calculator’s memory is not. Therefore there is some truncation involved at some point somewhere. It is inevitable because technology cannot have infinite power.

This object has been included in the exhibition because it shows that even in something as certain as mathematics there could be systematic mistakes (biases). Unless we create technology that is infinitely powerful, we cannot recreate the infinite accuracy that is intrinsic in mathematics. Once again, I found something that is widely believed to be unbiased, and then I found an element of bias in it. 

For my third object I am using Brendan Cole’s online article “‘Little Red Riding Hood’ Banned from School over Sexism Concerns” (2019) – this is a screenshot of the article. 

The context behind this is that creating this exhibition has made me think about my own biases. I might have absorbed some cultural biases at an early age. 

As described in the article, a school in Spain has withdrawn from its library 200 classic children’s books including Sleeping Beauty and Little Red Riding Hood, after analyzing them and concluding that they were “toxic” in how they depicted sexist stereotypes. For example, in Sleeping Beauty the man who kisses a sleeping woman without her consent is presented as a hero. No wonder some parents have made the choice to not expose their children to tales like that (Cole, 2019). 

This object exemplifies the idea of bias because it shows how gender bias manifests in units of culture. It also conveys the idea of inevitability because we absorb these units of culture at a very young age when our critical thinking abilities are limited, so the biases may gradually become part of our personality on a deep level without us being aware of it. 

This object has been included in the exhibition because it highlights another reason why bias is inevitable. While my first object (the Big K) shows that bias may be created by fluctuations of physical matter that are beyond our control and my second object shows that bias may be a result of ever imperfect technology, the third object highlights the idea that bias may be a result of cultural transmission at a young age. All three factors are very difficult or even impossible to avoid, which does indeed make bias inevitable. 

Word count: 936 words

References:

Cole, B. (2019, November 4). ‘Little Red Riding Hood’ Banned From School Over Sexism Concerns. Newsweek . Retrieved from: https://www.newsweek.com/little-red-riding-hood-banned-school-over-sexism-concerns-1393134  

Parker, M. [Stand-Up Maths]. (2020, July 17). Why do calculators get this wrong? (We don’t know!) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LKy3lrkTRA

Resnick, B. (2019, May 20). The new kilogram just debuted. It’s a massive achievement. Vox . Retrieved from: https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2019/5/17/18627757/kilogram-redefined-world-metrology-day-explained

Alexey Popov is a teacher of IB Psychology and Theory of Knowledge. He is an IB author, examiner and workshop leader. He also authored Oxford IB Psychology books. He currently lives in Hong Kong.

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US IB Theory of Knowledge: TOK Exhibition

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Exhibition Explained (New for the Class of 2022)

Your TOK exhibition is worth 35% of the grade. It is assessed internally, that is by your own teachers, but moderated externally by IB examiners. The “exhibition”, understood as both a noun and a verb, aims to assess how you can apply TOK concepts to the real world by requiring that you bring to presence, bring out of “hiding” and to “hold out”, ex-hibit, evidence of your ability to discourse on the subject matter that you have been studying and questioning in the course. Your discussion requires that you use representational thinking (thinking in images) and inductive reasoning to move from the particular images or objects you have chosen, establish their relation to one another through analogy or metaphor, and then proceed to the general principles and key concepts contained in the prompt that you have chosen to demonstrate your knowledge of those principles and concepts. Your first step is to ensure that you understand what principles and key concepts are involved in the prompt you have chosen.

Your Exhibition is a rendering that is handed over to others i.e. it is public. You have to complete the exhibition individually (no more groups) and make sure no one in your TOK class or school uses the same objects or images in their exhibition. In short, your TOK exhibition is a “holding forth” by you demonstrating how you understand some of the key TOK terms and how you are able to apply them to the “real world”. You are required to choose one prompt from the list below, and it must be exactly from this list and you cannot change the wording. You will then find three objects or images of objects that relate to this prompt and develop your interpretation accordingly.

It is very important that your exhibition is based on one of the prescribed prompts. If not, you will get a 0. You also create a document with the title of your IA prompt, images of the three objects, and you will also provide a commentary on each object that identifies each object and its specific real-world context. The comment should also justify the inclusion of the object in the exhibition and explain its links to the IA prompt (i.e. why these three objects or images from an almost infinite possibility?). Finally, you should also include appropriate citations and references. Perhaps the greatest challenge you will face is that the total word count for this document is 950 words (excluding references).

The purpose for this writing on these prompts is to provoke thought regarding our understanding of what the key concepts contained in the prompts might mean. Our interpretations of things may be complex requiring very specialized language from various areas of knowledge or it may be simple and be provided by what we might call “sound common sense”. It may be useful to you to determine which prompts belong to the same sub-group in terms of their main theme. Whatever prompt you choose, it is important for you to develop your arguments so that they are clear to your listeners and readers. In your analysis of your chosen prompt, you need to determine whether or not it is a “first-order question” and therefore a description or explanation, or whether or not it is a “second order question” and therefore involves the nature of knowledge, the type of knowledge involved, and how we know. The intention of this writing is to provoke thought on your part so that you are mindful of your choices and, hopefully, gain greater knowledge of who you are so that you will be able to make more aware judgements in the future about academic and ethical questions.

PROMPTS Each of the prompts are discussed in detail on the mytok blog.  Chick HERE to see all thirty-five prompts.

The TOK Exhibition

TOK Exhibition Video Explanation

The TOK Exhibition: practical details

Below we outline the practical details of the exhibition. We go into more detail about these aspects on the different pages for the TOK exhibition; follow the links to take you to them. Your teacher will obviously go through all of these points, particularly on the process of assessing your final exhibition.   • The TOK exhibition is an individual task • It represents one third of the overall mark for TOK   It is assessed internally, with a selection of exhibition files from each year group sent off to be moderated by the IB • You choose one  IA prompt  to explore, from a list of 35 options. These remain the same for every exam session • Three  objects  are also selected for the exhibition • The aim of the exhibition is to demonstrate the relationship between the objects and the IA prompt in a 950-word  commentary • There is a  single criterion for marking , and three characteristics of an excellent essay (convincing, precise, and lucid) • The context of the exhibition should be based on the  core theme , or one of the  optional themes • 8 hours of teaching/planning/writing is required for the exhibition task • Ideally, your exhibition should form the basis of a  public event , to showcase TOK to the rest of the learning community • The exhibition is done at the end of the first year of the DP

(https://theoryofknowledge.net/tok-exhibition/) 

Frequently Asked Questions about the TOK Exhibition

How is the TOK exhibition marked?   The exhibition commentary, and images of the three objects (along with references) is added to an exhibition file. This is marked internally by your TOK teacher, and uploaded to your IB dashboard, to be moderated externally. Your TOK teacher will explain this process in more detail.   Where can I find out more about TOK exhibition rubric?   Read our guidance on the rubric for the exhibition  here . You can read the official rubric in the TOK subject guide, on page 47. Your TOK teacher will give you a copy of this.   What are the IA prompts for the TOK exhibition, and how to I choose one?   This page  discusses the IA prompts. Your choice of a prompt should be driven by what you find interesting and engaging, and align to the experiences you’ve had inside and outside the TOK classroom. It should also allow you to explore either the  core theme , or one of the  optional themes .   What do you mean by exhibition ‘objects’?   Find out more about the exhibition objects  here . These allow you both to demonstrate the way TOK manifests itself in the real world, and link your experiences as a knower to the TOK course.   How do I write my exhibition commentary?   We discuss the commentary  here . In a nutshell, the commentary relates your objects to the IA prompt you’ve chosen, and shows how TOK is relevant to both the world around us, and to you personally.

(https://theoryofknowledge.net/tok-exhibition/)

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TOK Exhibition Commentary: A Complete Guide for IB Students

by  Antony W

January 9, 2024

This guide will teach you how to write a TOK Exhibition commentary step-by-step.

We’ll cover everything you need to know to get the full marks, from choosing an IA prompt and objects to structuring the commentary and some important tips to help you handle the assignment.

A Theory of Knowledge Exhibition is a two-part assignment.

The first part is the presentation aspect of the project, which your teacher doesn’t grade.

The second part is the commentary, which is what counts in your final grades.

Do you need help with your TOK Exhibition commentary? Our TOK experts are here to help you get the work completed fast. 

What is a TOK Exhibition Commentary?

A TOK Exhibition Commentary is a 950-word assignment worth 33% of your final TOK grades.

Do not confuse the exhibition with presentation . Unlike the presentation ,  which you can do in a group of up to five students, the exhibition is an individual project, which you should do on your own.

In writing a TOK exhibition commentary, you’ll have to choose an IA prompt the 35 prescribed titles, select 3 real-world objects, or images of the objects, and then use them to answer the prompt.

6 Steps to Writing a TOK Exhibition Commentary

1. choose an ia prompt .

The first step is to choose an IA prompt from the 35 prescribed titles.

Link the prompt to either the core theme or optional themes and to the format of the course designed by your teacher.

2. Choose Three Objects 

Choose three objects , which you’ll use to demonstrate how the Theory of Knowledge manifests itself in the world around us within the context of the IA prompt.

Your objects should not only be independent of those of your fellow students, they should also have you personal interest attached to them.

3. Plan Your Project 

While you aren’t allowed to discuss your projects with your fellow students, you can get sufficient guidance from your teacher and plan your project.

Discuss the prompt you’ve selected and why.

Talk about your objectives and the links you have to them as knowers, the context of your exhibition, and how you intend to demonstrate the manifestation of TOK in the world around you.

4. Write Your First Draft 

Write the first draft of your commentary.

The 950-word commentary should mention the three objects picked in step two and identify their real-world contexts.

Your explanation should show the link between the objects and the IA prompt, include reasonable evidence for the points you’ve made, and show the justification for the inclusion of each object in the commentary.

5. Submit the TOK Exhibition File 

Submit your exhibition file, which should include the following:

• A title, as appearing on the IA prompt
• Objects, or image of object
• Your commentary
• Sources, references, and citations

6. Do a TOK Exhibition Presentation 

This is not part of the assessment and your teacher won’t award you marks for it.

But it’s a great way to promote the TOK to your learning community.

How to Structure (or Outline) a TOK Exhibition Commentary

Start with the title.

The title of your TOK Exhibition is the IA prompt you selected from the 35 prescribed TOK titles.

Write the title exactly as it is, and make sure it includes the prompt number you picked.

Write Your Introduction (30 Words)

While a TOK Exhibition commentary doesn’t require an introduction, including one can help to frame your exploration.

It doesn’t have to be long; usually, 30 words are enough. 

If you choose to include this section in your commentary, make sure you state what you understand the prompt to mean and why it’s such a good IA prompt from the prescribed questions.

Work on Your First Object (290 Words)

Include the image of your first object immediately after the introduction.

It should take about a quarter of the page and placed on the center of the page.

Under the image, include a description of what the object is and mention its real-life context.

If you’re talking about an object that you don’t use yourself, such as a tweet from a famous personality, mention the real-world context that the object exists in.

Make it clear to the reader that the object in question is real, you know about it, and you have actually used it to a certain capacity.

You should link the real-world context of your object to the IA prompt included in the title.

In particular, you should explain why, and in what way, your object answers the prompt question.

Show how the real world context of your first object is a good example of what you’re trying to achieve.

Finally, there should be clear links between the IA prompt in the title and the object, with a very clear explanation for these links.

Work on Your Second Object (290 Words)

Work on your second object the exact same way you do your first object. Include the image about a quarter in size on the center of the page.

Not only should you describe what your object is, you should also describe its real-world concepts and develop your explanation.

In addition to linking your explanation of the object to the context of the IA prompt, you should make sure the point you make isn’t the same as the one you’ve made in your first object.

Work on Your Third Object (290 Words)

Here, you’ll show the image of your third object.

Again, it’s should take a quarter of the page and centered. Under the image, explain what the object is, its real-world context, and a clear explanation.

Make sure the explanation you give easily links back to the  IA prompt you selected from the prescribed titles.

Also, the points you make about the prompt shouldn’t be anything you have made with the first and the second object.

Write a Conclusion (50 Words)

The conclusion is where you tie everything together, so it shouldn’t be as hard to write.

Describe what your objects show as the answer to the Internal Assessment Prompt from the selected prescribed titles.

Use the objects you picked for the prompt question to show your readers, or teacher, how the Theory  of Knowledge manifests itself in the real world around you.

TOK Exhibition Commentary Tips

The following are some important tips that will help you write a good Theory of Knowledge Exhibition commentary.

1. Make Sure Your Images are Unique

The objects, or images of objects, you include in the Theory of Knowledge Exhibition commentary should be unique and independent to you.

Therefore, you shouldn’t discuss your project with another student.

Also, don’t download images from the internet; capture them yourself instead.

2. Remember, Objects Can’t Be Generic 

Your exhibition objects shouldn’t be generic. Instead, they must belong within a given place and time.

Also, the image can be physical or digital, provided it creates bridge between your commentary and the IA prompt selected.

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.

Overview of the TOK essay and exhibition

Assessment in TOK is based on one TOK essay and one exhibition. The TOK essay is an external assessment (EA) which is marked by IB markers. IB subject teachers must authenticate an EA but they are not involved in the actual marking of it. The TOK exhibition is an internal assessment (IA). This means that the subject teacher marks it and the exhibition file and the marks are submitted to the IB for moderation.

For the essay, six prescribed titles are published by the IB for each cohort. Each student picks one of the six titles and writes a response in the form of an essay. The final TOK essay and the TOK essay Planning and Progress Form (TK/PPF) are submitted to the IB. The essay has changed a bit from the previous curriculum so be a bit cautious if you are looking at essay samples from a previous cohort.

In the exhibition, students choose one of thirty-five prompts. These prompts do not change from cohort to cohort and are listed in the TOK Subject Guide. Students also choose three objects that are the foundation of their response to the prompt and write a commentary. Students submit an exhibition file to the IB and they also exhibit their work in the school. The exhibition is marked by the teacher and marking is subject to moderation by the IB.

Privacy Overview

Deconstructing a 10/10 TOK Exhibition: How to score full marks!

What happened to this post? HackIB has been acquired by MyIBTutor . All content is now available on the MyIBTutor Blog with more exciting IB content to come! Click here to see it for yourself!

The TOK Exhibition is a new assessment in the revised TOK syllabus for first examination in 2022. Since it is a new format, there is quite a bit of confusion on how to do well on it. The best way to learn is to look at what the IB considers to be a 10/10 full mark TOK Exhibition. So let’s deconstruct the below perfect scoring exhibition and find out what merits it has to do so well in the eyes of the IB.

The key to any assessment is to look at the grading criteria. For the TOK exhibition, you can find out more about the criteria and key specifications in my explainer article . But taking it straight from the TOK guide, the summary of the criteria includes:

• Has three objects with clear real-world context
• The connection between each of the three objects and the prompt chosen is clear
• Each object’s place in the exhibition is justified
• Every point you make is directly related to the prompt and explained with evidence from the object

The Example

So let’s take a look at this 10/10 TOK Essay example:

Here is what the IB said about this piece of work:

This is an example of an excellent exhibition. It was awarded a mark of 10/10. The student has clearly identified three specific objects and has effectively linked each one to the selected prompt. There is also a strong justification for the selection of each object. This student has included an introduction to their work. It should be noted that this is not required, but students are free to include a short introduction if they wish to do so. In this case the introduction is helpful as the student clearly identifies their selected prompt and theme, and explains why they have focused particularly on issues around subtext and connotation. The student then makes explicit references to the prompt throughout the response. In their discussion of the third object, the student makes a comparison between the dictionary and the song. It should be noted that there is no requirement that students make connections or comparisons between their objects. They may choose to do so, but it is also perfectly acceptable to discuss each of the three objects entirely individually. The piece of work should be judged holistically using the marking instrument, which means that, for example, the discussion of the dictionary should be rewarded wherever it appears in the response, not just where it appears under the section labelled object two.

Keys to success

After looking at the exhibition, you can see a few properties within this assessment example that clearly connects with the criteria as the IB has pointed out.

To see me explain the keys to success, read the full article for free on MyIBTutor .

Hopefully, by deconstructing a 10/10 example of a TOK Exhibition, you had a few takeaways as to what makes a good exhibition and know what you need to do to improve! Any questions, chuck it in the comments!

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IB TOK Exhibition examples

Type a search phrase to find the most relevant TOK Exhibition examples for you

Not sure what to search for? You can always look through our example Internal Assessments below for inspiration.

All TOK Exhibition Examples

Filter exemplars, does some knowledge belong only to particular communities of knowers, how can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past knowledge, want to get full marks for your tok exhibition allow us to review it for you 🎯, how important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge, how can we distinguish between knowledge, belief and opinion, fast track your coursework with mark schemes moderated by ib examiners. upgrade now 🚀, what is the relationship between knowledge and culture, how is current knowledge shaped by its historical development, ¿qué desafíos plantea la difusión o la comunicación del conocimiento, is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge, what challenges are raised by the dissemination and/or communication of knowledge, should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds, what is the relationship between personal experience and knowledge, who owns knowledge, why do we seek knowledge, what constraints are there on the pursuit of knowledge, does some knowledge belong only to particular communities or knowers concept: culture, how important are material tools in the production or acquisitions of knowledge, to what extent is certainty attainable, are somethings unknowable, who owns knowledge, what challenges are raised by the dissemination and/or communication of knowledge, what is the relationship between knowledge and culture, 材料工具在产生或获取知识中有多么重要, can new knowledge change established values or beliefs, what is the relationship between personal experience and knowledge, is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge, what are the implications of having, or not having, knowledge, on what grounds might we doubt a claim.

TOK exhibition commentary

TOK Home > Free TOK notes > TOK exhibition > TOK exhibition commentary

The TOK exhibition commentary

So, you understand the exhibition  rubric , you’ve selected your  IA prompt , and you’ve chosen your  objects . What happens next?   Now you have to write your TOK exhibition commentary. This is a 950-word exploration of the IA prompt, explaining why you have chosen your three objects, and demonstrating how TOK manifests itself in the real world, within the context of the core theme , or one of the optional themes .

Writing the TOK exhibition commentary

Before you begin writing your commentary, make sure that you have seen the exemplar exhibitions, that are found on ‘MyIB’ – your teacher will give you access to these. This is a fantastic way of seeing exactly what you are trying to do with you exhibition.   You’re trying to do several things simultaneously when you write the commentary. First, you’re answering the  IA prompt  that you’ve chosen from the list of 35 options. These all ask a question about the nature of knowledge, and how we use it: make sure your exhibition commentary addresses this question.   Second, you are outlining the real-world context of your  objects , and justifying why you have chosen them for your exhibition. How do your objects link to the IA prompt? How do they relate to your personal experiences? What makes them special, or original, or particularly resonant?   Third, you are showing your knowledge of the  core theme , or one of the optional themes , by referring to ideas relevant to this aspect of TOK, key thinkers that you’ve come across during the course, and real-life situations that have engaged you.   Overall, you are trying to demonstrate how TOK manifests itself in the real world. This means showing how the ideas and concepts that we encounter during the course are relevant to the way in which we lead our lives, and the society in which we exist.   Keep in mind the four different strands of the  assessment rubric : you should be prepared to discuss with your teacher how you are hitting these targets. Also consider the three characteristics of a top level exhibition: precise, lucid, and convincing. How is your exhibition all of these three things?

TOK exhibition pages

The TOK exhibition rubric

Learn about how the exhibition is marked, and the skills you are expected to demonstrate in order to succeed. Find out more here .

The TOK exhibition prompts

Find out about the IA prompts used to write your exhibition commentary, and tips on choosing the right one. Read more here .

The TOK exhibition objects

Find out what ‘exhibition objects’ are, how to choose effective ones, and linking them to a theme and prompt. Read more here .

Learn about the 950-word exhibition commentary, ways to link it to your IA prompt, and how to set it within a theme. Find out more here .

Putting on the exhibition

Get tips on how to set up a TOK exhibition, talking in public, and showing off your TOK knowledge to a public audience. Find out more here .

More support for the TOK exhibition

Make sure that your TOK teacher has given you access to all the documents and online material that support the exhibition. These include the TOK Subject Guide (for the 2022 syllabus) – where you’ll find the IA prompts, and the exhibition rubric – and the exemplar TOK exhibitions (found in ‘MyIB’, which is accessible to teachers).   Follow the links above to take you to the three different elements of the TOK exhibition; we’ve also created a page giving some tips on how to put on your exhibition if your school is running a public ‘exhibition day’ which you can visit  here . It suggests ways of presenting ideas to an audience.   If your school is a member of theoryofknowledge.net, we have designed a series of lessons on the exhibition, with three practice exhibition tasks. These will familiarize you with the IA prompts, how to select effective objects, and the assessment rubric. If you are signed into the site, you can access these lessons  here .   You can also find out our thoughts on the TOK exhibition (and the TOK essay) 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.

FAQs about the exhibition commentary

How long should the tok exhibition commentary be, and what happens if i go over this limit.

Your commentary should be 950 words long, not including the footnotes and references (but don’t use the trick of writing lengthy footnotes to get across ideas that you want to present in the main body of your commentary!). Examiners will stop reading after 950 words, so it’s a complete waste of time going over this limit.

How much help can I get for my TOK exhibition commentary?

You’re allowed to consult extensively with your teacher about the appropriateness of your objects, the clarity of the ideas in your commentary, and other issues, such as how relevant your ideas are to the IA prompt, the context of the commentary, etc. Your teacher may give you written comments on one draft, but they’re not allowed to edit your work. They can’t look at more than one draft.

How do I submit my TOK exhibition commentary?

Your commentary should be presented within a single file, along with images of your exhibition objects. You should also include references for ideas, and for the objects themselves. This file will then be uploaded to your IB dashboard.

Get real with TOK by subscribing to the newsletter

Step into the real and unpackaged world by subscribing to our unique monthly TOK newsletter. You’ll receive links to great media sources from all over the world that place the TOK themes and areas of knowledge into an authentic context.

You’ll meet great thinkers and ideas, hone your understanding of key TOK concepts, and build up a library of examples for the essay and exhibition. Subscribe HERE !

• Jul 8, 2023

Deconstructing a 10/10 TOK Exhibition: How to Score FULL MARKS!

The TOK Exhibition is a new assessment in the revised TOK syllabus for first examination in 2022. Since it is a new format, there is quite a bit of confusion on how to do well on it. The best way to learn is to look at what the IB considers to be a 10/10 full mark TOK Exhibition. So let's deconstruct the below perfect scoring exhibition and find out what merits it has to do so well in the eyes of the IB.

The key to any assessment is to look at the grading criteria. For the TOK exhibition, you can find out more about the criteria and key specifications in my explainer article . But taking it straight from the TOK guide, the summary of the criteria includes:

Has three objects with clear real-world context

The connection between each of the three objects and the prompt chosen is clear

Each object's place in the exhibition is justified

Every point you make is directly related to the prompt and explained with evidence from the object

The Example

So let's take a look at this 10/10 TOK Essay example:

Here is what the IB said about this piece of work:

This is an example of an excellent exhibition. It was awarded a mark of 10/10. The student has clearly identified three specific objects and has effectively linked each one to the selected prompt. There is also a strong justification for the selection of each object. This student has included an introduction to their work. It should be noted that this is not required, but students are free to include a short introduction if they wish to do so. In this case the introduction is helpful as the student clearly identifies their selected prompt and theme, and explains why they have focused particularly on issues around subtext and connotation. The student then makes explicit references to the prompt throughout the response. In their discussion of the third object, the student makes a comparison between the dictionary and the song. It should be noted that there is no requirement that students make connections or comparisons between their objects. They may choose to do so, but it is also perfectly acceptable to discuss each of the three objects entirely individually. The piece of work should be judged holistically using the marking instrument, which means that, for example, the discussion of the dictionary should be rewarded wherever it appears in the response, not just where it appears under the section labelled object two.

Keys to success

After looking at the exhibition, you can see a few properties within this assessment example that clearly connects with the criteria as the IB has pointed out.

Objects and their real world contexts

There is a lot of confusion between students about what constitutes an object and what it means by the real world context of objects. I did a full explainer on exactly this here. But to briefly recap, almost anything can be objects from tweets to textbooks to songs. However, you must be specific as to where and how this object exists and is used in the real world. In this particular example, the three objects they have chosen are:

Starbucks cup used in 2017 during the holiday season

The author's personal translation dictionary which they use to translate between English and Chinese

The song 'Strange Fruit' by Billie Holliday.

In each case, you will see that they aren't TOO specific as to every single detail of their object, but only the ones relevant to their exhibition. Often, students interpret having to convey a clear real world example as listing irrelevant details like publisher or author or date of publishing, etc. Sometimes, it is simply unnecessary as this real world context means the object's 'place in the world'. If it is clear where the object would be seen, when it would be seen, and how it would be used or interacted with, there is no need to add any additional frivolous details.

For the first object - the starbucks cup, for example, the student didn't really go into detail about the specific designer, locations or even the season in which this cup was introduced. However, their introduction was already quite clear that this was an object which existed in the world during a particular time (2017) in a particular place (Starbucks) and interacted with in a particular way (to hold a drink obviously, but also to communicate a message). Similarly, the second object doesn't really go into detail about when and who published the dictionary, et cetera, but the key here is the focus on how the author uses the object (as a translation tool) as that is relevant to the whole knowledge and language theme of the exhibition. So the guidance for how to introduce the real-world contexts of an object is very clear: you don't need to list anything and everything about the object itself, but only the key details that establishes the object's place in the world. If that still isn't quite clear to you, you can check if you have done the real-world contexts well if your introduction can answer the following questions:

What is the object used for

How it exists in the world - physical or digital, personal to you or something you found, how people perceive the object (whether it is how you see it if it is a personal object, or how the wider public sees it)

As to the issue of researched vs personal objects, there is no clear answer. This example uses two 'researched' objects and one object which has a clear personal connection. In the TOK Guide, the IB recommends that you derive your objects from personal experience, but that doesn't necessarily mean that the object has to belong to you. However, I do recommend having at least one personal object just like the example, which can really demonstrate your 'connection' with the object and your experience with the issue presented in the TOK IA Prompt.

An interesting comment made by the examiners is that the exhibition is viewed as a whole rather than as each individual object's commentary. So you can draw links between each other, or not, and both should be equally rewarded. But the bigger picture here is that you must ensure each object tells a 'unique' story, and contribute equally to the exhibition in revealing a different perspective or a variation on your overall answer to the IA prompt. This is something I have talked about more extensively in my article on structuring your exhibition .

Finally, each object is justified within the exhibition as required by the criteria. You can see that the overall theme of the exhibition is how subtexts and the hidden connotations of language can present challenges to how knowledge is communicated. However, each object tells a slightly unique aspect towards this point. The starbucks cup focuses on how vague language can promote all sorts of different connotations that may be positive or negative, while the second object - the dictionary, convinces us the challenge of communicating knowledge due to different languages, and finally, the song reveals that these subtexts which are so key to communicating knowledge can often change based on personal experiences and cultural differences that presents yet another challenge to knowledge communication. The result is a cohesive answer to prompt, and yet a nuanced one, as each object is justified by introducing a unique perspective to the prompt.

Discussing the IA Prompt

This particular exhibition closely resembles the structure that I have proposed to use for a good exhibition . As the IB Examiner noted, it is not necessary to have an introduction at the very beginning of your exhibition. In fact, there is no requirement to even seperate the dicussion of each object as the whole exhibition is marked together, not as a commentary of each object. However, what I do think is important to take away from this is that it is very important to outline the particular theme you will be focusing on, the prompt that you are using and the angle you will be tackling the prompt from. It is actually not necessary to have a single theme to your exhibition, but I highly recommend that you do as it provides the necessary focus for your exhibition. You can do this through an exhibition, or alternatively, integrate this theme clearly into the rest of your discussion to save a little on the tight word count.

The example does make comparisons between objects, but this is not expected nor is it needed to score good marks. I personally believe that you should use those extra words to elaborate on the discussion of the object instead to boost their relevance to the prompt.

So how is the discussion done? You can see that it is in very simple language. Unlike the TOK Essay, this is a less 'academic' piece of work. It is meant to be more like a personal reflection on the manifestations of TOK in your life which you have noticed. So the ideal tone for the task would be one that is formal, yet personal rather than academic. I encourage you to use first person for the exhibition as it really drives home this idea that this is a non-academic piece of writing. At the same time though, there are still standards of academic integrity, so anything that you got from the internet must still be cited and referenced.

You can see that the example doesn't waste any words going around the prompt but tackles it head on - pointing out the immediate challenges with communicating knowledge in each of the three objects. The starbucks cup for example centres around the many different interpretations of subtexts, and their effects on different communities. If you are having trouble finding things to say for your object, I recommend that you focus on the different communities of knowers that may interact with your object and how their interactions differ. I also urge you to read the TOK Guide in depth, particularly on the various themes as it already prompts several questions and dicussion points for you to use within the exhibition. The language they use is also exactly the type of terms they expect from your exhibition. Treat the TOK Guide as the TOK Bible and never deviate from it!

One final thing: word count is truly very constrained in this task. You must be concise, and every sentence you use must be clear, reflective and actually useful. There is no room for fluff or rambling (unlike the TOK Essay). So this means that for many, there won't be enough words within the 950 word requirement for an introduction or conclusion, or another idea that you wish to discuss. When it comes to prioritising your ideas, you should place utmost importance on your object's discussion as it contributes to most of the criteria, and then all the accesories like introductions and conclusions.

Hopefully, by deconstructing a 10/10 example of a TOK Exhibition, you had a few takeaways as to what makes a good exhibition and know what you need to do to improve! Any questions, chuck it in the comments!

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TOK Exhibition Commentary + Sample Included

Table of contents

• Writing Metier

Writing a TOK exhibition commentary seems challenging to many. However, it really isn’t as hard as you think it is. In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about writing a TOK exhibition commentary and how you can score well in it.

You just need to be highly focused when writing it. With the right know-how about what all it entails and following the rubric , you can definitely do a great job at it.

In this article, I will provide you with the main characteristics, structure, and suggestions for writing a Theory of Knowledge exhibition commentary. In addition, I will share a TOK exhibition sample closer to the end of the article. It was written by our IB experts from WritingMetier.com team.

The TOK exhibition commentary is a two-part assignment. The first part is one where you have to present and the second part is the commentary. To score well, you need to do great at both of them.

What is a TOK Exhibition Commentary?

A Theory of Knowledge exhibition commentary is a 950-word assignment that contributes to 33% of your grade. This is an individual project that you need to do with complete vigilance. And it’s extremely important for each student not to fail their TOK exhibition following the rubric.

From a set of 35 titles, you need to choose one. Based on that, you need to choose 3 objects and then you have to answer the prompt question in light of the TOK exhibition objects you have chosen. The main idea here is to make sure you also understand the practical aspect of things, and not just the theoretical one.

Steps to Writing a TOK Exhibition Commentary

Here are a few steps that can guide you through the whole process of how to write TOK exhibition commentary.

Step 1: Choose a Prompt

The first thing you need to do is to choose a TOK exhibition prompt . When doing so, make sure you go through all the titles first and then shortlist a few that you think you can work on. You must go with a prompt that you think you can fully well explore. Have ideas in mind about what you will go for, instead of just picking a prompt that is seemingly easy.

Step 2: Choose 3 Objects

Next, you need to choose three objects to clearly demonstrate the context of the TOK IA prompt. Make sure you go for objects that are unique, and can aid in writing the essay very well. Don’t look at what objects your friends are choosing. That will only distort your understanding of what you should go for.

Go for objects that are entirely unique to you. they should also be of personal interest to you so that you can explore them in great detail.

Step 3: Plan Adequately

Before you start writing your commentary, make sure to plan well in advance. This means you should draft an outline about what all you will be including in it.

Not just that, but you should also get in touch with your teacher and get guidance from them about how you plan to go ahead with this. This can just help you make sure that you’re on the right track with regard to your exhibition commentary. You also need to talk about your objectives.

Step 4: Write the First Draft

Once you know what you are going to write about, you need to move toward the writing part. Write your first draft. In this, identify the three objects that you have chosen and then also identify the real-world contexts behind those. Specific real world context, as well as your first, second, and third object, is crucial in terms of writing a good TOK exhibition, so make to choose one wisely.

Next, work towards showing the link between these objects and also give a justification for why you chose those.

Step 5: Submit the File

Once you are done with writing, go through what you have done, just to check that you are on the right track. Before submitting, there are a few things you should always double check, just to make sure. Check to see that the title is just the same as the IA prompt. Next, also check if you have attached the images.

Also, add in the references if you took information from somewhere.

Step 6: Do a TOK exhibition Presentation

This is not a part of the assessment. Bear in mind that you will not be awarded any marks for this either. However, it is a great way for you to promote learning. So try to share this with others to also make them benefit and add to their knowledge.

Structure of the TOK Exhibition

The TOK exhibition commentary structure is as follows:

• Write the title down first.
• Write your introduction . This can be around 30 words, do not need to make it longer and should allow you to ideally introduce the topic.
• Then work on your first object . Add as much detail as you can in this part, and also offer the real-world context ( real world scenarios ) behind what you are saying. This part can be around 290 words. This is ample to help you ideally talk about what you are saying. Include as much in-depth information as you can in this part as you can.
• Similarly, follow the same for your second and your third object , with the same word count as the above.
• Once done, write a conclusion of about 50 words. This should be enough to help you clearly talk about what you were saying. The idea is to summarize all of your arguments in the best way possible to help you work through things correctly.

Knowing the right structure and format, you can easily work on your TOK exhibition commentary. Writing a good commentary will become even easier for you if you follow all of these tips. Make sure to work on it the right way and use easy and simple language to help you score well.

ToK exhibition commentary example

There are not too many Theory of Knowledge exhibition commentary examples you can find online. Therefore, as promised, I’m sharing an example of the TOK exhibition here with you.

Feel free to use it as a guide for writing a good exhibition or just for inspiration.

Ready to write your TOK exhibition commentary?

Now you are ready to work on your TOK exhibition commentary. Simply follow the steps provided in this article and use the example of TOK commentary to get a satisfactory score.

If after this, you still find yourself struggling, then you can get help from us on our website . Our experienced writers will be there to guide you through the whole process.

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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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