IB Core

Theory of Knowledge is a year-long course that takes place 2nd semester of 11th grade and 1st semester of 12th grade. It is open to all students as an elective, but required for IB Diploma and Medallion candidates.

TOK is composed almost entirely of questions. The most central of these is "How do we know?" The course examines five areas of knowledge: the arts, history, human sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. 

The TOK course is assessed through an oral presentation and a 1,600 word essay. This year's essay prescribed titles are:

• Can there be knowledge that is independent of culture? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge. 

• To what extent do you agree with the claim that “there’s a world of difference between truth and facts” (Maya Angelou)? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge. 

• Is there solid justification for regarding knowledge in the natural sciences more highly than knowledge in another area of knowledge? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.

• How do historians and human scientists give knowledge meaning through the telling of stories? Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences. 

• How can we distinguish between good and bad interpretations? Discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of knowledge.

• If we conclude that there is some knowledge we should not pursue on ethical grounds, how can we determine the boundaries of acceptable investigation within an area of knowledge?  Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.