In this post, we give you a list of the 35 ToK exhibition IA prompts. We also give you some tips to help you choose the right question for your exhibition project.
Key Takeaways
- The exhibition is an individual assignment introduced in 2022 to replace TOK Presentation.
- For the exhibition, you have to choose a topic (or question) from the provided IA prompts, select three objects with real-world context, and prepare a file for assessment and moderation.
- Learning how to choose the right IA prompt can go a long way to ensure you don’t settle for the wrong question.
- Also, selecting the right prompt helps to ensure you complete the assignment on time.
TOK Exhibition Prompts Overview
The prompts below appear exactly as provided in the IBO’s Theory of Knowledge Exhibition guide.
Note that the prompt you choose must appear on the title page of the exhibition project exactly as it is. You must not rewrite, re-arrange, or alter the wordings in any way.
Please don’t confuse these titles (questions) with ToK Essay titles. Also, unlike the essay titles, the exhibition prompts don’t change every year.
35 Theory of Knowledge Exhibition Prompts
- What counts as knowledge?
- Are some types of knowledge more useful than others?
- What features of knowledge have an impact on its reliability?
- On what grounds might we doubt a claim?
- What counts as good evidence for a claim?
- How does the way that we organize or classify knowledge affect what we know?
- What are the implications of having, or not having, knowledge?
- To what extent is certainty attainable?
- Are some types of knowledge less open to interpretation than others?
- What challenges are raised by the dissemination and/or communication of knowledge?
- Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs?
- Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge?
- How can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past knowledge?
- Does some knowledge belong only to particular communities of knowers?
- What constraints are there on the pursuit of knowledge?
- Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds?
- Why do we seek knowledge?
- Are some things unknowable?
- What counts as a good justification for a claim?
- What is the relationship between personal experience and knowledge?
- What is the relationship between knowledge and culture?
- What role do experts play in influencing our consumption or acquisition of knowledge?
- How important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge?
- How might the context in which knowledge is presented influence whether it is accepted or rejected?
- How can we distinguish between knowledge, belief and opinion?
- Does our knowledge depend on our interactions with other knowers?
- Does all knowledge impose ethical obligations on those who know it?
- To what extent is objectivity possible in the production or acquisition of knowledge?
- Who owns knowledge?
- What role does imagination play in producing knowledge about the world?
- How can we judge when evidence is adequate?
- What makes a good explanation?
- How is current knowledge shaped by its historical development?
- In what ways do our values affect our acquisition of knowledge?
- In what ways do values affect the production of knowledge?
How to Choose a ToK Exhibition Prompt
Look:
IB gives you the freedom to choose any question from the list of the 35 IA prompts.
However, the freedom to choose your title comes with a great deal of responsibility. That’s why it’s important to know exactly how to choose the right prompt for your exhibition assignment.
So:
1. Choose a Prompt You Find Interesting
Read the entire prompt list and the select a question that you find interesting. The prompt can be on an area you’ve always wanted to explore or something that you can easily relate with based on the concepts of ToK.
You can also choose a question that touches on the experiences that you’ve had outside the classroom.
2. Set the Prompt within a ToK Theme
While IB gives you a list of 35 IA prompts for the Exhibition project, you can choose only one topic from the list.
So make sure the topic you choose meets the following conditions:
- It should allow you to relate the commentary to the core theme or one of the optional themes in ToK.
- It relates to the three objects.
TOK Exhibition Objects and Prompts: Which One Should Come First?
Whether the exhibition prompt or the three objects should come first depends on whether your teacher includes artefacts and activities.
More often than not, the goal of including activities or artefacts is to encourage you to reflect on such artefacts or activities within the context of ToK.
- If your teacher doesn’t include artefacts or activities when teaching ToK, you should choose the prompt first. Then, identify the object that you can use to explore the knowledge issue within the context of the prompt.
- If your teacher use artefacts or incorporate activities in learning instead of using textual or audio-visual stimuli as knowledge questions, pick the objects first, reflect on them, and then identify a question that fits.
Unpacking the IA Prompt With the Objects
According to the exhibition’s rubric document, you have to show the relationship between the selected prompt and the three objects.
Keep the following in mind:
- You must define and explain the existing link (or relationship) between each of the three objects and the IA prompt.
- There needs to be a strong justification of the contribution that the three objects make to the exhibition project.
The analysis is significant because it helps to highlight the most significant knowledge issues within the knowledge question.
Final Thoughts
While IB gives you a list of 35 IA prompts, your exhibition should focus on answering only one question. Also, keep in mind that the objects you choose for the exhibition must link to the same prompt.
Lastly, ensure you choose an IA prompt that you can easily unpack within the context of one of the optional themes or the core themes in the subject.