TOK Essay 2025/26

Your TOK essay counts 67% of your final TOK grade. You will get the choice between a set of 6 prescribed essay titles. These essay titles are all, in some way, related to the Areas of Knowledge. They will formulated as knowledge questions. To avoid possible disappointment, there are three very important things to keep in mind. 

Firstly, you should answer the question as it is. If you change the nature of the essay question or go off into your own direction, you risk losing a lot of marks. The examiner will assess the essay against the prescribed title. So, if you write something completely different, you may even get a 0. Regularly (and explicitly) bring your essay back to the essay question. 

Secondly, you should make sure that your essay is about "how we know". This means that you should not write lots of facts and information in the style of an answer to an exam question of an IB DP subject. You should also avoid writing an essay in the style of your EE. Your TOK essay is a reflective, analytical essay about how we know. 

Finally, you should write clearly. You may think you can impress the examiner with difficult words and complex grammar, because you feel that TOK is an intellectual subject.  However, if what you write makes no sense, you won't get many marks. Re-read your work or ask a friend to see whether they understand what you mean.   www.tok2022.net

Please pay attention to the deadlines above. If you miss these you risk creating a snowball effect where an accumulation of work and a tight deadline from all your subjects become difficult to manage. 

Make use of the resources below. There is the Marking Rubric, a Resource page with Sites that explain the essay (this will be edited and added to as new material becomes available), and Sample Essays with feedback from examiners. You can also use the work that we have done in class and your subject teachers.

Enjoy the process :)