The Theory of Knowledge Exhibition
The exhibition is an individual project worth 33% of your final grade in Theory of Knowledge. Basically you choose from one of 35 prescribed questions and answer it, using 3 real objects as your evidence. This page will show you how to get full marks.
The exhibition has two parts. First is the presentation or display aspect. Each school will do this part differently. The second part is the 950 word written commentary and this is what counts toward your final IB grade.
There is a lot you need to know about the exhibition, so I've created a 7-video course you can use to do a full-mark exhibition . It (along with brand new notes for every TOK theme) are already available to IBMastery subscribers. You can access them by taking a free trial here ).
Okay, here is the structure you can follow to get full marks in your exhibition on commentary. This structure isn't mandatory, but it works well. We’ll use Prompt 1, “ What counts as knowledge? ” for our example. If you'd like to see the entire sample I created of you, that's also available in the video mini-course .
The TOK Exhibition Commentary Structure
What to write:
- Write (or better-yet paste) the prompt you chose at the top of the document, in bold and centred. Make sure it is exactly the same as it is written in the guide and include the prompt number with it. ( Here is the list .)
- It is also recommended to include the word count, just after or under the title.
- For example: “1. What counts as knowledge?”
Introduction (30 words)
- An introduction isn’t required (so you can skip this part if you want), but a short one is helpful to frame your exploration.
- Explain why the prompt is an interesting question to explore, what your first thoughts on the prompt are or why it’s more complicated than it might seem at first.
- For example, “ One popular definition of knowledge is that it is “justified true belief.” However, there are many different types of knowledge and some of them don’t fit neatly within that definition. ” (That’s 30 words)
Object 1 (290 words)
- Start with an image of your first object . Centre it on the page, and make it around ¼ of the page in size, so it’s easy to see. This image should be taken by you, rather than an image you found online.
- Explain what the image is and it’s real-world context in your life-- where and how you used it. Or, if you’re talking about something that you don’t use yourself (i.e. a Donald Trump tweet), then explain the real-world context it exists in.
- Make it clear that this is a real object, which you know about. For example, “ This is the calculator I use in SL Maths, especially to graph functions --such as this one "f(x)=1/x". The TI-84 allows me to graph functions without really understanding what functions even are. I still sometimes have difficulty explaining why this function works like this, or why it is a rational function, but the calculator allowed me to know what every point on the graph looks like. ”
- Link the context of the image to your prompt question. Tell us what your object suggests is the answer to the prompt. For example, “ This leaves open the question, of how much knowledge I have of functions.” (This example is continued in the member's area).
- Include very clear links between the object and the prompt question. Make sure these links are well-explained. There needs to be a very clear justification of each object; make it clear what each object uniquely contributes to the discussion.
- Make sure it’s clear how the “specific real-world context” of your object makes it a good example of the thing you’re trying to show (i.e. How the way I’ve been using the calculator could make it perhaps unclear whether my ability to graph the function would make it count as knowledge or not (Remember: the prompt we chose was 1. What counts as knowledge? , so we’re always linking the object back to that prompt).
Object 2 (290 words)
- Show the image of your second object .
- Explain the context of your second object and develop this explanation.
- Link your explanation of the context to your prompt.
- Make sure the point you're making about the prompt, using your second object, is not the same point you’ve made before.
Object 3 (290 words)
- Show the image of your third object .
- Explain the context of your third object and develop this explanation.
- Link your explanation of the context to your prompt.
- Make sure the point you're making about the prompt, using your third object, is not the same point you’ve made before.
Conclusion (50 words)
- A conclusion isn’t required (so you can skip this part if you want). If you do include one you can use it to highlight, compare and contrast or synthesize your insights from the 3 objects.
- Do feel very free to not include a conclusion or an introduction if you feel they are not helping you earn marks on the rubric.
And that’s it for the structure.
There is a lot more you need to know about the exhibition, so I really recommend watching the 7 videos I made for you. Once you've subscribed you can get them right here, plus a lot of other helpful resources for every IBDP course.
Tim’s work to support students led to IBMastery--the best resources and support for IB students . After 17 years teaching and training around the world, Tim is now available to help you with private tutoring every day. Click here to work with him (i.e. for your TOK Exhibition, your TOK Essay, your EE or help with the Common App essay or Personal Statement).
Theory of Knowledge
IB Business Management
IB Economics
IB Global Politics
Extended Essay
General Resources
Recent Posts
" This course has been excellent and of so much help to me.” - Kanika V. (India)
" This saved my life. 10/10 -Harold L (Hong Kong)
"Thanks a ton! I have used this article to guide me for my last 2 IA's and when I was assigned my 3rd and final Econ IA, the first thing I did once I got my Econ article, was open this page. Much appreciation from Pearson College UWC! -Keegen Payne (Victoria, British Columbia) "I actually just wanted to let you know that you have been a very big help for me in TOK and Economics. With your effort to publish all this information and advice to IB students, you're really making a difference!" -Anne-Sophie T. @ UWC Maastricht (The Netherlands) "Me and my partner have got an A for our presentation, fully following this guide. Thank you so much Mr. Woods!" -Alexa A @ Pechersk School International Kyiv (Ukraine) "Thank you so much for this structure! We followed it exactly as you laid out in our TOK presentation and our teacher gave us 9/10!!" -Mariana @ St Julien's School (Carcavelos, Portugal)
"THANK YOU SO MUCH! We recently began working on TOK presentations and I was completely lost but this guide is absolutely amazing and makes it so much clearer. :)" -Virginia @ Tashkent International School (Uzbekistan)
"I want to thank you for the resources that have been provided. As a result, I got an A for EE in business after following the steps written in this website, including the help from my supervisor of course. I would recommend the current IB students to read the resources in your web, in order to obtain more insights. Thank you once again, sir!" -Cynthia @ Universitas Kristen Petra (Surabaya, Indonesia)
"I'm an IB student who has been lost until I found this website! This has the best advice on the web and I'm definitely recommending it to all my fellow IBers back at school. Definitely wish you were my economics teacher! Thank you so much for taking time to write these guides. You have truly saved my IB life!" -Cat (UK) "WOW! Thank you already for helping me. So many great posts about IB and how to be effective. So awesome. I will defiantly spend more time here and hopefully learn a lot. I just wanted to let you know how great and helpful your website is :) " -Nea @ HF-kursus og IB World School (Denmark)
"Thank you so much Mr Woods. The Economics exam will start in 4 hours and I think I am ready for it! " -Thao @ Auckland International College (New Zealand)
"Your website is amazing! I got two level 7's in my last IAs with the help of your site. Thank you, all the way from UWCSA" -Nicolette Sauramba @ Waterford Kamhlaba United World College of Southern Africa (Swaziland)
" @adnamaweit Every self-motivated IB student knows @timwoods ..." -Amanda Tiew @ Campaka Schools (Malaysia)
"Just want to express my deepest gratitude and appreciation for this website and all the effort you've channelled into helping others with your knowledge and skills. I've found it extremely helpful and I cannot thank you enough!" -Hachi @ Anglo-Chinese School (International) School (Singapore)
"Just wanted to send you a note of appreciation for the great and selfless contribution you have made. You must have already made a difference to so many lives and achieved the real purpose of our lives. " -Hina Nihal @ Jeddah Knowledge International School (Saudi Arabia)
"Thank you so much Mr. Woods. I find it absolutely incredible that you take the time to answer students and write your posts. Just today I was talking with another friend of mine who, I just found out, also happens to be following your blog. " -Alyson @ EF Academy (New York)
"I just wanted to say that I got a 6 on my SL economics exam last year, and I strongly believe that was because of all the help I got from this website on commentaries. A big thank you from Dallas, TX."-Tashi
"Dear Mr. Woods, thank you so much for your structure for TOK essays. It's really helped me develop a clear idea of what to do when I was absolutely clueless before! Definitely recommending to all my peers." -Justine @ Tunas Muda International School (Jakarta)
" This page is awesome. Thank you very much for your help in my IA. You saved my life. Argentina wishes the best for you. Gracias!" -Carlos (Argentina)
" Thank you for this piece of gold! I was about to give up on my TOK presentation when I saw this page! Now I know I can deal with the IB and TOK in particular! Greetings from PERU!" -Mateo (Peru)
" Thank you so much for all of this voluntary support. I'm taking an online economics HL course and it becomes quite difficult at times to find assistance. You're a life saver!." -Theone (Bangkok, Thailand),
"Hello, I just wanted to say thank you for writing these guides. They have been extremely helpful for me, I was just about to panic and give up on my IA and now I am actually really proud of it. " -Sofie Lind
"Dear Mr. Woods, your initiative is highly appreciated and needless to say, the resources on this website are helping thousands of students tremendously. As for me, I thank you sincerely for your notes on IB Economics, the Extended Essay and for Theory of Knowledge. Hats off! Nothing better than spreading wisdom! Congratulations!" -Anonymous
" Everyone at my school in Mexico uses your Structure for TOK essays. I've used it on all of mine and I've never gotten lower than an A-. I just wanted to thank you for being a lifesaver." -Maria @ Greengates School (Mexico City)
"How to structure an Economics Internal Assessment is amazing. Absolutely great. It is such a great help to have word counts of different sections and a detailed description on how to score high marks. Thank you so much." -"Desperate Student"
"Just wanted to say, as a fellow Economics & Business teacher of IB, I love your site. So plain, simple but so effective. My students in Barcelona love it too and it makes my job easier. Keep up the good work, and thank you once again. Really good and inspirational information on your site!" -Faraz Mirza @ The American School of Barcelona
"Thank you! This is tremendously helpful. I am writing three IAs tonight. Unsure as to what I would do without these posts these posts as a guide. Thanks again." -"Procrastinator"
"I am an IB student from India and I am very very thankful to you for these sites. My extended essay, TOK essay and business IA are the result of your articles and ideas. Your site gave my extended essay a plan on how to go about it and made the journey simpler. The article how to score full marks in the business IA was really helpful as it gave me a plan and coming into TOK I was able to build my ideas in structured pattern. -Srikanth Reddy @ Sreenidhi International School (Hyderabad, India)
"I was looking about to get some support material for my son’s TOK and EE today and your pages have been great. They are easy to follow and digest. My son was very grateful. Your blog has been a fabulous resource! Keep up the great work!" -Karen (Doha, Qatar)
"Just wanted to write you a quick thank you note for putting up such a great revision website! It is honestly one of the best I have encountered online for IB Economics revision. If I was at OFS it would be a pleasure to have you as my Econs teacher!" -Avi @ United World College of South East Asia (UWCSEA), Singapore
"Your Economics IA slideshow really helped me understand what assessors were looking for, and how I could easily avoid loosing marks (word count etc). I really appreciate the time that you have spent to help students like me." -Anonymous Student @ IBS of Provence (France)
“I teach ToK in Midvale, UT and LOVE your site. The students have really struggled with the essay writing process and your site structures it better than anything else I've ever received. Thanks” -S. Allen (Utah, USA)
“i am an IB student here in India, and i was demotivated with regards to the workload this course has dished out to us every week. but i went through this website, and all of a sudden there's been a change of heart. thank you for posting such beautiful stuff that i can relate to.” -Adi C.
“Your site is amazing!! Thank you so much! I am a senior in IB economics and thanks to you did very well in my IA! Just thought I had to let you know.” -Pamela A.
"woooooooooooooow How to Write Successful College Application Essays has opened my eyes like so wide. thanx tim woods i sure will apply all these tips" -Julie H.
- Knowledge Questions
- Knowledge and Language
- Knowledge and Technology
- Knowledge and Indigenous Societies
- Knowledge and religion
- Knowledge and Politics
- Human Sciences
- Natural Sciences
- Mathematics
- TOK exhibition
- Recommended resources.
- Top tips for TOK teachers
- TOK across the curriculum
The TOK exhibition
Step 1: choose the IA prompt and look for three objects.
1 a) choose the ia prompts from the list of prescribed ia prompts (see below)., 1 b) select the (images of) objects. all objects should relate to the same ia prompt..
Step 2: Prepare the document, which is used for marking and moderation.
Step 3: showcase the exhibition..
Word count, referencing and other formalities.
Getting started: excellent TOK exhibition Intro Recap lesson by Anita Curley
The markscheme for the TOK exhibition.
The tok essay vs exhibition
I've gotten myself a bit confused between the two since my teacher kinda muddled them together. Can someone please explain the difference between the essay and exhibition?
Exhibition: TOK Internal Assessment that counts towards 1/3 of your final grade. It is graded by your teacher, and a sample is externally moderated. You must choose one out of 35 IA prompts (which you can find in a textbook if you have one or online) and three relevant "knowledge objects". Then you have to produce a written commentary of max. 950 words that describes all objects and places them in a real-world context (Don't choose generic ones such as an image of a random football), connects them to the prompt and concludes with an answer to the question. You can base your exhibition on one of the themes, but it's not compulsory.
Essay: TOK External Assessment that counts towards 2/3 of your final grade. It is graded by an IB examiner, but your teacher will probably predict you a grade that will count towards your overall PG. In September (as I see you're M22) the IBO will publish the 6 essay titles for our cohort, and we have to pick one and produce a max. 1600-word essay where we explore the matter in question with reference to more than one Areas of Knowledge. The TOK essay is of course much more complicated than the exhibition and requires much more effort on our part.
If you want to see what the TOK essay is about, go to www.clastify.com and see students' uploaded work for yourself. If you want to practise, you can use past prompts and make an outline of what you'd write. Unfortunately the exhibition is a new addition - we're the first batch to have it - so there are no examples but the samples the IBO has given out; you can search on their website. If you need any help, you can PM me :D
The exhibition is something new so I can't really help there. We did the TOK presentation this year. The essay is pretty straightforward, you're given 6 prompts and you respond to one of them.
Edit: clarified a point
TOK exhibition includes a commentary where you choose an IA prompt out of 35, along with an optional theme you want to connect to the prompt. Then, choose three objects which you have a connection with (like your mug, your photo etc). Next, you just write a max 950 word commentary. Finally, your supposed to present your objects in an exhibition at some point.
Thanks, this clarifies a lot!
idk abt the exhibition cuz i'm m21, but for the tok essay, ib will publish a list of 6 prescribed titles (i think it'll come out on the 28th of August), out of which you've to choose one title and respond to it. you're required to write 1600 words
Yeah I see, thanks!
About Community
TOK exhibition
TOK Home > TOK exhibition
The TOK exhibition
The TOK exhibition is the ‘new’ assessment task for the 2022 syllabus, replacing the presentation from the 2015 syllabus. It is an individual task, taking up around 8 hours of teaching time, and is completed at the end of the first year of the DP.
It involves students choosing 3 ‘objects’ and one of the 35 IA prompts, and writing a commentary to demonstrate how TOK concepts manifest in the real world.
A quick overview of the exhibition
- 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
- 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
TOK exhibition pages
Learn about how the exhibition is marked, and the skills you are expected to demonstrate in order to succeed.
Find out about the IA prompts used to write your exhibition commentary, and tips on choosing the right one.
Find out what ‘exhibition objects’ are, how to choose effective ones, and linking them to a theme and prompt.
Learn about the 950-word exhibition commentary, ways to link it to your IA prompt, and how to set it within a theme.
Get tips on how to set up a TOK exhibition, talking in public, and showing off your TOK knowledge to a public audience
The exhibition prompt decoder
Our exhibition prompt decoder enables students to link each of the 35 IA prompts to the 12 key TOK concepts, to the BQs, and to the core and optional themes. It will allow students to explore their choice of prompt for the exhibition via questions, quotes, media sources, and key thinkers.
The exhibition and the TOK themes webinar
The TOK exhibition should be understood alongside the core and optional themes of TOK, which we discuss at length in this webinar. You can also read our responses to FAQs asked about the exhibition here , and the webinar presentation here .
To watch all of our TOK videos, and be updated when we add new ones, subscribe to our YouTube channel 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 a 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
FAQs 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.
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 !
IB ToK Exhibition: The Definitive Guide
This Is a Complete Guide To The IB ToK exhibition. Learn Exactly How To Score A Perfect Grade In Your Upcoming ToK Exhibition.
Hola Folks!
It’s been quite a roller coaster for students who have opted for the TOK (Theory Of Knowledge) Diploma Programme, with the new syllabus introduced in August 2020. TOK Exhibition is probably the most important addition. Replacing the previous, Presentation Assessment, the TOK Exhibition explores how TOK manifests in the world around us.
The IB has introduced the TOK Exhibition to inspire students to relate the knowledge gained in the classroom to the world beyond. The Assessment Model has seen a massive change, but since TOK Essay is the same old, TOK Exhibition is what we’ll discuss in this guide!
This change in the TOK Diploma Programme structure is effective from August 2020 and will be first examined for the students who will be taking the examination in May 2022.
Changes/Modifications can easily haunt you without proper guidance. We at Nail IB are committed to serving premium content, helping you prepare, and updating you regularly. For premium content and notes, head over to our specially curated treasure trove of IB Resources! To evaluate yourself, check out our Question Bank today!
This guide covers:
- The critical changes in the DP TOK Course
- IB Assessment Objectives
- TOK Exhibition
- Key Differences between TOK Exhibition and TOK Presentation
- The Process: A Brief Outline
- What the TOK Exhibition covers
- TOK Exhibition IA Prompts
- TOK Exhibition Object
- TOK Exhibition Commentary
Without further adieu, let’s dive in!
Before we take you through this guide’s contents, we will briefly outline the critical changes the DP Theory of Knowledge(TOK) course has seen, introduced only last August.
- The new core theme on “knowledge and the knower”. Students will be encouraged to think of themselves as today’s knowers and strongly link to the IB learner profile.
- Optional Themes- “knowledge and technology” and “knowledge and politics” introduced.
- Ethics is a critical requirement for every part of the course.
- TOK Exhibition replaces the previous presentation IA with a different task and a different moderation process. This new assessment instrument aims at showing how TOK manifests in the real world.
You must know that the two Assessment tasks for TOK are
- Theory of Knowledge Exhibition
- Theory of Knowledge Essay on a title prescribed by the IB
The IB prescribes the Assessment objectives to be as follows:(these will guide you to get a hands-on idea about what the IB expects of your TOK Assessments)
- To demonstrate TOK thinking through the critical examination of knowledge questions.
- To identify and explore links between knowledge questions and the world around us.
- To identify and explore links between knowledge questions and areas of knowledge.
- To develop relevant, clear and coherent arguments.
- To use examples and evidence effectively to support a discussion.
- To demonstrate awareness and evaluation of different points of view.
- To consider the implications of arguments and conclusions.
Before moving on, we highly recommend you to check out our IB TOK Essay Guide , which makes for 2/3rd (67%) of your IB Assessment grade. This guide will help you understand the subject’s fundamental concepts and eventually produce a top-notch IB TOK Essay.
And for the IB TOK Exhibition, continue reading!
First and foremost, you need to understand what the newly added TOK Exhibition is. Weighing 33% of your total TOK grade, the TOK Exhibition requires you to create an exhibition of three objects with accompanying commentaries to highlight your engagement with the concepts you have learnt in the class. You’re supposed to carry out the Exhibition individually and ensure the objects you choose don’t overlap with someone else’s at your school. The TOK Exhibition is marked internally and then perhaps externally moderated.
Now is the time to briefly list the differences between the previous IB TOK Presentation and the newly added- IB TOK Exhibition. These differences will help you get a clear and coherent idea about precisely what has changed and how you can nail your TOK Assessment!
The entire process that goes into completing your TOK exhibition includes
- Preparing the file of work of your exhibition(noun) - Students need to produce a single file comprising the content of their TOK exhibition.
- Exhibition(verb) of your work
The document you prepare for the work you have done is marked internally and externally moderated. The Exhibition(verb) of your work is a part of the assessment but doesn’t get graded. Your TOK Exhibition file should include
- A clear title that indicates the IA prompt selected,
- Images of the three objects used
- A typed commentary includes identifying the objects, their real-world relation, their relevance to the Exhibition and their link with the IA prompt selected.
- Relevant citations and references.
The Exhibition of your work is not a part of the formal assessment, and there is a great deal of flexibility in how your teacher chooses to go ahead with the Exhibition. A few ideas as listed by the IB are
- A classroom Exhibition,
- A virtual Exhibition,
- A school held Exhibition open for all parents and other school members.
To understand in detail what the TOK Exhibition covers, let’s break it down into points
- The Exhibition is not assessed; only the folder of your work needs to be submitted for grading.
- The IA Prompt you choose
- Images of the three objects you pick,
- Typed Commentary.
- The IB strictly permits up to 950 words for your document(not inclusive of the citations, references, bibliographies, footnotes etc.).
- Excellent (9-10) - Convincing, Lucid, Precise
- Good (7-8) - Focused, Relevant, Coherent \
- Satisfactory (5-6) - Adequate, Competent, Acceptable
- Basic (3-4) - Simplistic, Limited, Underdeveloped
- Rudimentary (1-2) - Ineffective, Descriptive, Coherent
- The exhibition will take place in the first year of TOK teaching, i.e., the first year of diploma.
Let us elaborate a little more on how you are supposed to pick an IA prompt, choose three relevant objects, go about the commentary and other essential pointers.
- What counts as knowledge?
- Are some types of knowledge more useful than others?
- What features of knowledge have an impact on its reliability?
- On what grounds might we doubt a claim?
- What counts as good evidence for a claim?
- How does the way that we organise or classify knowledge affect what we know?
- What are the implications of having, or not having, knowledge?
- To what extent is certainty attainable?
- Are some types of knowledge less open to interpretation than others?
- What challenges are raised by the dissemination and/or communication of knowledge?
- Can new knowledge change establish values or beliefs?
- Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge?
- How can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past knowledge?
- Does some knowledge belong only to particular communities of knowers?
- What constraints are there on the pursuit of knowledge?
- Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?
- Why do we seek knowledge?
- Are some things unknowable?
- What counts as a good justification for a claim?
- What is the relationship between personal experience and knowledge?
- What is the relationship between knowledge and culture?
- What role do experts play in influencing our consumption or acquisition of knowledge?
- How important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge?
- How might the context in which knowledge is presented influence whether it is accepted or rejected?
- How can we distinguish between knowledge, belief and opinion?
- Does our knowledge depend on our interactions with other knowers?
- Does all knowledge impose ethical obligations on those who know it?
- To what extent is objectivity possible in the production or acquisition of knowledge?
- Who owns knowledge?
- What role does imagination play in producing knowledge about the world?
- How can we judge when evidence is adequate?
- What makes a good explanation?
- How is current knowledge shaped by its historical development?
- In what ways do our values affect our acquisition of knowledge?
- In what ways do values affect the production of knowledge?
The TOK Exhibition Instrument strictly points out that an exhibition that does not reflect one of the prescribed prompts will be awarded zero.
You are then expected to base the exhibition on the IA prompt chosen by you.
This brings us to the next step: selecting three relevant objects or images of objects that mean something to you
- Ensure that the chosen object has a real-world context.
- Links among the three objects must also be given.
- All three selected objects should link to the prompt chosen.
- IB encourages students to base their exhibition on one of the TOK themes- either the core or optional.
A few key pointers to note while selecting the three objects
- Though there can be many options to pick your objects from, it is best to narrow them down by basing your exhibition on the core or optional themes.
- The objects you pick should be of personal interest to you and should portray their value to you. For example, a regular cricket bat won’t hold much significance, but just when the bat belongs to you, it has much more importance and value.
- Objects can be both physical and digital. However, IB recommends you to use digital objects such as the picture of a painting by a famous artist since it is not possible to produce it physically.
- IB permits using objects created by the student, but these objects must have an older relevance and should not be made for the Exhibition’s sole purpose. The TOK Exhibition objects’ very purpose is to relate the theory studied in the classroom to what we see around us every day.
- A basketball used by the student during their physical education lessons.
- A news article from the popular website Buzzfeed
- The student’s extended essay (EE).
- Identification of the objects or the objects’ images is necessary, and proper referencing must be done. If the object is your creation, identify and acknowledge it.
The third very important part of your file work is the typed commentary. Let us understand what it is
- You have to write a short commentary on the objects you have chosen, clearly identifying them, justifying why you included them in the Exhibition of the selected prompt and specifying their real-world context.
- The 950 words you have to include in your document include the typed commentaries for each of the three objects chosen by you.
- All the while drafting your document, ensure you follow the assessment rubric as prescribed by the IB. The only surefire way to write a document that gets a top score is one that follows all the points included in the rubric.
The best guidance nonetheless comes from the course teacher; therefore, you are advised to seek your TOK teacher’s support, i.e. planning your Exhibition and whilst you are working on it. Verbal and written advice should be sought from the teacher, but taking assistance from them to edit your draft is strictly prohibited. Your TOK teacher will provide you with the TOK Subject Guide and the MyIB repository examples for TOK Exhibition.
And that’s that!
We hope these little points will help you explore further the vast realms of the Theory of Knowledge Course. It might seem a lot confusing with the changes the DP Course has seen, but you will go beyond your expectations with the right guidance and support! On this note, we wish you all the very best for your IB TOK Exhibition :)
Want some A-quality guidance? Look no further; at Nail IB, we have assembled premium content for you to ace your IBs, and you might want to check out our resources for a smooth IB experience. Click here for top-notch IB resources or here to assess how your prep is going!
We hope this guide helped clear all your doubts regarding the new TOK Exhibition and gave you the headstart you needed!
A GUIDE THAT WILL HELP YOU GET AN EASY ‘A’ IN YOUR EXTENDED ESSAY!
This FREE guide reveals the most powerful information for boosting your extended essay score and opening the floodgates to that sweet 45! Get for free what others have paid $100’s in tuition classes to learn/preach!
TOK RESOURCE.ORG
Essay and exhibition.
Ship emerging from the fog—metaphor for honing student Exhibition and Essay ideas. Image credit: Sails of Glory.org
TOK Essay essentials TOK Essay strategy TOK Essay virtuosity TOK Essay blunders to avoid TOK Essay satirical poem
POSITION STATEMENT— EXHIBITION AND ESSAY
TOKresource.org is a non-commercial peer resource for TOK teachers around the world. Its focus is the essential recurring challenge for teachers—when it is time for class, what are students actually going to do?
The site does not provide quick-fix Exhibition and Essay help for students. There is no direct reference to individual prescribed essay titles, or unpacking of the 35 Exhibition prompts.
In the same spirit the site does not reproduce copyrighted TOK assessment material from the IBO. Teachers in IB World Schools teachers have password-protected access to these essential items via the My IB portal . Here are the essential elements: 1. Assessment pages of the TOK Subject Guide 2. Prescribed Essay Titles for the examination session 3. The 35 Exhibition Knowledge Question Prompts 4. Rubrics for the Exhibition and for the Essay 5. Graded Exhibition and Essay Exemplars 6. TKPPF Essay Form to record teacher interventions and academic honesty 7. Videos from teacher training webinars/workshops
- Essay Writing
- Extended Essays
- IB Internal Assessment
- Theory of Knowledge
- Research Writing
- Literature Review
- Dissertations
- Assignment Help
- Capstone Projects
- College Application
- Online Class
TOK Exhibition Commentary: A Complete Guide for IB Students
by Antony W
July 7, 2022
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.
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.
TOK Exhibition
The TOK exhibition is the internally assessed component of the theory of knowledge in IBDP. The exhibition is a product of a compilation of the three objects which a student chooses in order to connect to one of the 35 IA prompts. The IB TOK2022 guide specifically mentions that the three objects must be linked to the same IA prompt.
For a successful and scoring TOK exhibition, students must base it either on the core theme or one of the optional themes.
TOK Exhibition means demonstrating the three objects with the purpose of broadly answering IA prompt chosen. The idea is to make the use of the three objects evident and obvious so as to weave through the chosen IA prompt.
For example, if you have chosen IA prompt number 16 – ‘Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?’, you may choose objects that include the use of technology and how it manifests us to draw connections with knowledge.
TOK exhibition objects sample:
Tok exhibition sample.
The TOK exhibition object sample 1 is an image of the article published on www.towardsdatascience.com The object is not a general object but is specific to the real-world context that exists in a particular time and place. It raises the ethical question about data sourcing and modeling including the methods and tools adopted while demonstrating the scope of the data and technology (knowledge framework).
TOK Exhibition object 2
The TOK Exhibition object sample 2 is an image of the news article published in The Times of India that glorifies the ethical stance of sex toy users in India. Typically, the use of technology in achieving sexual pleasures is not acceptable in Indian culture and values. The sex toy in itself is not looked upon as a healthy option. Here the article/image also exemplifies how seeking knowledge about the use of technology for sexual satisfaction is preferred to be unattended, undercovered, and undiscussed.
TOK Exhibition object sample 3
The TOK Exhibition object sample 3 is a curious case of an ethical dilemma about the use of robots as technology to teach students. The knowledge that can be sought here is how far robots can exactly replace humans? Can technology show and demonstrate similar empathy, care, and values that a teacher do while raising not just academic levels but also elevating various other needs. The above article/image has been taken from The ethical dilemma of robot teachers .
Students are requested to give all three articles a good read. Perhaps, any image they take from the virtual world must demonstrate a real-world context, and therefore reading the full article can help in explaining conducting the TOK exhibition.
If you notice carefully, all three objects can be linked to ‘Knowledge and Technology’, an optional theme. The arguments can be drawn on ethical grounds and by making connections between the objects and how TOK manifests the world around us. Further, all images of the objects must be clearly and appropriately referenced.
TOK Exhibition commentary
A single file document that contains 950 words of commentary based on the TOK exhibition along with images of the three objects and their specific real-world context. The TOK exhibition commentary must justify each object’s inclusion in the iA prompt.
TOK Exhibition examples
Essentially TOK exhibition commentary is a document that should not be more than 950 words. Students may divide the word count to approximately nearing 300 words each for better involvement of all the objects rather than favoring one and ignoring the other. Additionally, it is a work of a solo student and NOT a group.
In the above example, an argument is expected from the student to convey both pros and cons of ‘Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?’. The chosen object allows students to discuss the point of view, not in isolation, but as a whole. The theme assists students in establishing links and connections with the object. However, it is important that justification of the contribution of each individual object is included. The argument can be drawn through the thread of ethics and evidence can be presented with reference to IA prompt chosen.
Creating the TOK Exhibition
US IB Theory of Knowledge: TOK Exhibition
- Knowledge Framework in TOK
- TOK & The Learner Profile Attributes
- The Learner Profile Attributes Quiz
- Areas of Knowledge
- Optional Themes
- Knowledge Questions
- TOK Exhibition
- TOK Exhibition Prompts
- TOK Exhibition Rubric
- Ways of Knowing (Pre 2022)
- Recommended Reading
- RSS News Feeds
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/)
- << Previous: TOK Essay
- Next: TOK Exhibition Prompts >>
- Last Updated: Sep 23, 2022 1:19 PM
- URL: https://asmadrid.libguides.com/IBtheoryofknowledge
IMAGES
VIDEO
COMMENTS
The TOK Exhibition Commentary Structure · Show the image of your second object. · Explain the context of your second object and develop this explanation. · Link
In short, the TOK exhibition is a live or virtual exhibition of three objects based on one "IA prompt". You should choose one prompt from the list below (it
TOK exhibition includes a commentary where you choose an IA prompt out of 35, along with an optional theme you want to connect to the prompt.
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
The IB has introduced the TOK Exhibition to inspire students to relate the knowledge gained in the classroom to the world beyond. The Assessment Model has seen
Eight hours of teaching time are recommended. The TOK Exhibition “explores how TOK manifests in the world around us.” It consists of a curated exhibition of
EXHIBITION AND ESSAY. TOKresource.org is a non-commercial peer resource for TOK teachers around the world. Its focus is the essential recurring challenge
A TOK Exhibition Commentary is a 950-word assignment worth 33% of your final TOK grades. Unlike the presentation, which you can do in a group of
While the TOK essay connects the prescribed title to the relevant AOKs, the TOK exhibition explores how TOK manifests in the real world through the specific
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