One of the main aims of the ToK course is to formulate answers to the question “how do we know what we know?” in a variety of contexts, and to see the value of this question. Students develop  their  awareness  of  how  individuals  and  communities  construct their knowledge and how this is critically examined. They learn how to formulate, evaluate and attempt to answer knowledge questions and examine  how  academic  disciplines / areas  of  knowledge  generate and shape knowledge. A wide range of topics and materials is read and discussed during the course and students improve their argumentation skills and intensify their awareness of alternative points of view. TOK is an obligatory part of the programme. 

How is it assessed?

Theory of Knowledge has two assessed components:

External assessment 

• Essay (67%) - students are required to compose a properly referenced essay of up to 1600 words in response to one of the six annually prescribed TOK essay titles issued by the IB. While advisory consultations with the IB teacher are part of the planning process, the essay must represent the student's independent research and original argumentation.

Internal assessment  

• Individual exhibition (33%) - this evaluates the students' ability to locate and assess TOK concepts in the world around us. Students are required to choose 1 of 35 internal assessment prompts and select 3 real world objects that relate to  the theme. The final outcome is to create a portfolio with photos and  up to 950 words of commentary addressing how the objects pertain to the prompt and to broader TOK concepts.