For this component, students are required to write an essay in response to one of the six prescribed titles that are issued by the IB for each examination session. As an external assessment component, it is marked by IB examiners. The essay is marked out of 10 and is worth 67% of the total ToK subject mark.
The TOK essay engages students in a formal, sustained piece of writing in response to one of the six titles that are prescribed by the IB for each examination session. These titles take the form of knowledge questions that are focused on the areas of knowledge.
The IB releases a set of six prescribed titles for each examination session six months before the submission deadline.
About 10 hours of teaching time should be dedicated to students preparing for the TOK Essay. Additional class time is then given to write the essay.
The chosen title must be used exactly as given; it must not be altered in any way.
If the title has been modified but it is still clear which prescribed title for the current session it refers to, the essay will be marked against that prescribed title. Any lack of relevance in the student’s response to the prescribed title arising from this modification will be reflected in the score awarded.
If it is clear that the title bears no resemblance to any title for the current session, the essay will be awarded a score of zero, in accordance with the TOK essay assessment instrument.