KIS Summary:
- Choose from 35 knowledge-focused prompts like "What counts as knowledge?" (#1), "Are some things unknowable?" (#18), and "Does all knowledge impose ethical obligations?" (#27).
- Avoid AI-generated examples, develop unique personal connections to prompts, and focus on deep analysis rather than generic responses to stand out.
In the IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, the TOK Exhibition is an internal assessment where students explore how knowledge manifests in the real world. Students select one of 35 prescribed prompts (also called "IA prompts") and connect it to three specific real-world objects.
Here are the prompts for 2025, and some simple tips for you to ace it.
Table Of Contents:
- What Are The 2025 TOK Prompts?
- How To Unpack The 2025 TOK Prompts?
- Conclusion On The 2025 IB TOK Prompts
- FAQs About The 2025 IB TOK Prompts
What Are The 2025 TOK Prompts?
1. What counts as knowledge?
2. Are some types of knowledge more useful than others?
3. What features of knowledge have an impact on its reliability?
4. On what grounds might we doubt a claim?
5. What counts as good evidence for a claim?
6. How does the way that we organize or classify knowledge affect what we know?
7. What are the implications of having, or not having, knowledge?
8. To what extent is certainty attainable?
9. Are some types of knowledge less open to interpretation than others?
10. What challenges are raised by the dissemination and/or communication of knowledge?
11. Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs?
12. Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge?
13. How can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past knowledge?
14. Does some knowledge belong only to particular communities of knowers?
15. What constraints are there on the pursuit of knowledge?
16. Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?
17. Why do we seek knowledge?
18. Are some things unknowable?
19. What counts as a good justification for a claim?
20. What is the relationship between personal experience and knowledge?
21. What is the relationship between knowledge and culture?
22. What role do experts play in influencing our consumption or acquisition of knowledge?
23. How important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge?
24. How might the context in which knowledge is presented influence whether it is accepted or rejected?
25. How can we distinguish between knowledge, belief and opinion?
26. Does our knowledge depend on our interactions with other knowers?
27. Does all knowledge impose ethical obligations on those who know it?
28. To what extent is objectivity possible in the production or acquisition of knowledge?
29. Who owns knowledge?
30. What role does imagination play in producing knowledge about the world?
31. How can we judge when evidence is adequate?
32. What makes a good explanation?
33. How is current knowledge shaped by its historical development?
34. In what ways do our values affect our acquisition of knowledge?
35. In what ways do values affect the production of knowledge?
How To Unpack The 2025 TOK Prompts?
1. Understand and Brainstorm the Prompts
- Read the prompt several times - Make sure you understand fully what it is asking for.
- Highlight and break down key words - I recommend doing a mindmap of the prompt. Highlight the key words, and write down your ideas.
2. Develop your Ideas
Few pointers for this process:
- Do not use AI - Not only will you run the risk of academic dishonesty, AI examples are often overused and generic, which won’t lead to a very good mark.
- Try to generate your own unique ideas/arguments - Uniqueness and personalisation can make your essay score better. Take the time and effort to really sit down and have a deep think.
Conclusion On The 2025 IB TOK Prompts
IB TOK can be a daunting task, but if you have the right guidance and plan your time well, it does not have to be such a hassle. If you need a second pair of eyes to look at your ideas, or your writing, a tutor from KIS Academics can provide constructive feedback and provide any other assistance you require.
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FAQs About The 2025 IB TOK Prompts
1. How do I choose the right IB TOK prompt?
- Choosing the right prompt can be tricky!
- The best way to approach choosing a prompt is to select a few prompts at the beginning.
- Go through the brainstorming and development phase for each prompt, and then select the prompt that you feel most confident in to proceed.
2. Do I need an introduction or conclusion in my IB TOK commentary?
- No. In fact, the examiners don’t like it, stating that the “exhibition is not a mini essay and does not require an introduction or a conclusion” (IBO, 2023).
- The task is an exploration of the prompt through the objects; It is not an essay.
3. I’m so confused and lost on where to start my TOK exhibition, what do I do?
- That’s ok! TOK is meant to be a confusing subject. It’s designed to test your critical thinking and evaluation skills.
- At any phase during the process, if you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath, take a break and return to it later on. Who knows - you might get a genius idea when you are doing homework for another subject!
