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IB TOK Essay Rubric. Grading Criteria

As someone deeply immersed in the IB curriculum, I’ve encountered difficulty writing Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essays more times than I can count. Today, I’m here to tell you about the IB TOK essay rubric and grading criteria, offering insights I’ve gathered over the years. Trust me, understanding these elements can transform your TOK essay from good to exceptional.

What Is IB Theory of Knowledge Essay?

The International Baccalaureate TOK essay is a critical element of the IB Diploma Programme that pushes students to ponder the nature and acquisition of knowledge. This task requires students to examine and articulate their understanding of how we come to know what we claim to know, engaging them in a deep reflection on knowledge itself, its sources, and its application in various contexts.

This essay is a philosophical research that encourages critical thinking and analysis across different areas of knowledge, including ethics, science, mathematics, and the arts. At the heart of the IB TOK essay are several key components that students must know:

• The essay prompts students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we come to know what we claim to know. It is an exercise in critical thinking and philosophy, where students examine the bases of knowledge and how it intersects with the world around them.
• Students choose from a list of prescribed titles the IB organization releases annually. These titles prompt discussions on various topics in knowledge, ethics, science, mathematics, human sciences, and more.
• There is a maximum TOK essay word count of 1,600 words. This strict limit requires students to articulate their thoughts clearly and concisely.
• The essay is assessed using criteria that evaluate students’ ability to identify and research knowledge issues, contrast TOK key concepts , demonstrate critical thinking, and organize their ideas coherently.
• Students are encouraged to start early, select a topic that interests them, and engage in extensive research and critical thinking. Collaboration with TOK teachers for guidance and feedback throughout the writing process is also crucial.
• Through the TOK essay, students develop skills in critical thinking, analysis, synthesis of information from various disciplines, and the ability to argue coherently and persuasively.

The TOK essay and the TOK exhibition contribute up to three points towards the total score of the IB Diploma. The performance in TOK is combined with the Extended Essay (EE) to determine the number of additional points awarded.

IB Theory of Knowledge Essay Rubric

As an IB writer and mentor, I’ve seen these guidelines as a checklist and a map for writing insightful, coherent works in the IB Theory of Knowledge . My goal here is to explain these criteria.

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Addressing the Knowledge Question (0-2 points)

A central component of the TOK essay is its focus on a knowledge question directly related to the chosen title. This question must be explicitly identified early in the essay as a foundation for your analysis and arguments. The clarity with which you state this question and the extent to which it informs the development of your essay is crucial for scoring in this category.

Grasping Knowledge Issues (0-2 points)

Your essay must profoundly comprehend the knowledge issues connected to your central knowledge question. It includes recognizing the diverse methods through which knowledge is obtained and acknowledging the potential limitations and biases influencing our perception of the world. A high score in this area reflects your ability to dig into these complexities and present them thoughtfully within your essay.

Critical Analysis and Evaluation (0-2 points)

A critical dissection and assessment of the knowledge question are imperative in your TOK essay. It involves using relevant examples and evidence to bolster your arguments alongside a meticulous examination of the various approaches to knowledge, highlighting their strengths and pitfalls. Additionally, it includes appraising the comparative worth of these different approaches and showcasing your ability to engage with the question at hand critically.

Incorporating AOKs and WOKs (0-2 points)

our essay must showcase an adept understanding of the multifaceted nature in which knowledge is acquired, highlighting the roles of empirical evidence, logical deduction, and personal experiences. Equally important is demonstrating a thorough grasp of the various Ways of Knowing (WOKs) — including reason, emotion, perception, and language — and articulating how these intersect and interact with the central knowledge question. A high score in this criterion indicates a comprehensive integration and consideration of AOKs and WOKs in your analysis.

Demonstrating Personal Engagement (0-2 points)

Your TOK essay should vividly reflect your connection and engagement with the knowledge question. It should show your awareness of how the arguments presented resonate with your experiences and perceptions and their broader implications for the world you inhabit. Achieving high marks in this area means successfully conveying how researching the knowledge question has influenced your understanding and perspective, integrating personal insight with academic analysis.

Coherence and Structure (0-2 points)

A well-written TOK essay is characterized by its organization and clarity, featuring a distinct introduction, body, and conclusion. The arrangement should be logical and enhance the essay’s central argument, ensuring a seamless flow of ideas from start to finish. High scores in this domain are awarded to essays demonstrating meticulous planning and an ability to guide the reader.

Clarity in Presentation (0-2 points)

Your TOK essay should be articulated clearly, concisely, and well-structured, paying close attention to the accuracy of grammar, spelling, and punctuation. It is also essential to adhere to the proper referencing and citation style throughout the document. Essays that score well in this category prioritize readability and scholarly integrity, making it easy for the reader to follow and appreciate the depth of the analysis. So, follow the IB TOK essay structure in detail.

Innovative Approach and Creativity (0-2 points)

Your TOK essay should exhibit originality and inventiveness in addressing the knowledge question and selecting examples and evidence to bolster your arguments. High-scoring essays in this category are characterized by their creative insights and the ability to think outside the box, demonstrating a proactive approach to elucidating the knowledge question.

IB TOK Essay Grading Criteria Explained

The grading criteria for the TOK essay follow a holistic approach, considering all aspects of the rubric. Essays are marked on a scale, with each level reflecting a range of performance in the criteria mentioned above. Here are some insights:

• Excellent Performance . Essays in this category exhibit a deep understanding of knowledge issues, sophisticated analysis, and clear, coherent organization. They effectively incorporate multiple perspectives and are enriched with well-integrated examples.
• Good Performance . These essays demonstrate a good understanding and analysis of knowledge issues, though they may lack the depth or coherence of the top-tier essays. The organization is solid, and examples are used effectively, though perhaps with less sophistication.
• Satisfactory Performance . Here, essays adequately understand the knowledge issues but may struggle with in-depth analysis or coherent organization. Using examples and considering different perspectives is present but not fully developed.
• Basic Performance . Essays in this range have a basic grasp of the knowledge issues but significant weaknesses in analysis, organization, and examples. They may overlook essential perspectives or implications.

From my experience, the key to excelling under these grading criteria lies in understanding what each criterion asks for and integrating these elements into a cohesive, compelling narrative. Crafting your essay with an awareness of these grading nuances can elevate your work from satisfactory to exceptional.

Passing Grade for the Theory of Knowledge Essay

The TOK essay and the TOK presentation form part of the core of the IB Diploma Programme, and students must pass both components to receive their diploma. The TOK essay and presentation are graded on a letter scale of A (excellent) to E (elementary), with D considered a passing grade. However, it’s important to remember that the final TOK grade is combined with the Extended Essay grade, which can significantly impact your overall diploma points.

You generally need to avoid receiving an E grade to pass the TOK component. The combined points for TOK and the EE can contribute up to 3 bonus points towards your diploma, depending on their combined quality. Scores are determined by a matrix that the IB updates periodically, so aiming for the highest possible grades in TOK and EE is crucial to maximizing your diploma points.

Remember, the specific criteria for passing can vary slightly with changes to the IB curriculum and assessment guides, so it’s always a good idea to consult the latest materials or speak with your TOK teacher for the most current information.

In summary, passing the TOK essay requires a comprehensive understanding of the knowledge issues, a critical and reflective approach to the essay question, and a commitment to articulate your thoughts clearly and coherently.

So, mastering the IB TOK essay rubric and grading criteria is a worthwhile path. It’s not just about securing high marks; it’s about developing a nuanced understanding of knowledge. As you prepare to tackle your TOK essay, carry with you the insights and strategies shared.

So, start early, seek feedback, and let your understanding of the rubric infuse every paragraph of your essay. With the right approach, the TOK essay expands your horizons of learning. Good luck, and remember, our experts are always by your side and can help you with the TOK essay .

Valerie Green

Valerie Green is a dedicated educator who spends her time helping high school and college students succeed. She writes articles and guides for various online education projects, providing students with the tools they need to excel in their studies. Friendly and approachable, she is committed to making a difference in the lives of students.

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How To Write A ToK Essay - Updated 2023

Ace your ToK Essay with our expert tips & tricks! Get the latest and greatest techniques on "How To Write A ToK Essay" and impress the IB examiners.📝💡

Table of content

• Introduction

Purpose Of ToK

Assessment of tok, the game plan, execution of the gameplan, planning for tok essay, structure of tok essay, conclusions, bibliography.

Introduce your topic accurately and state your thesis statement for the essay carefully.  A thesis statement is like a teaser to your entire essay wherein you define your key terms and introduce your interpretation of the question. Make sure that you do not reword the prescribed title in your thesis. Instead, it needs to, as the word says, INTRODUCE your readers to what your essay is about. A strong introduction allows the reader to deduce what knowledge question(s) you are trying to answer.

So, in a nutshell

• Write interesting things about the given TOK essay title .
• Define key terms
• Narrow in on the particularly interesting aspect
• State your thesis statement . This will be your short answer to your given title if you don't know how to write a killer thesis statement check out this blog from SparkNotes .
• State your Roadmap. This will help the readers in understanding the direction of your essay.

How to write a TOK Essay? 

To answer that, you must familiarise yourself with what a TOK Essay is about.

Before you start reading this article,  Amanda  has some excellent TOK tips for you!

Theory of Knowledge is one of the most meta subjects that IB offers. Despite its complexity, TOK helps in providing a base for holistic learning and allows students to have a multidisciplinary experience. 

To understand TOK is to understand the essence of IB, a task that most people consider unattainable.

But not for you! 

Thank your lucky stars who made you land on Nail IB. How exactly will Nail IB help you? 

Well, nailing International Baccalaureate is something we will discuss later. 

Let's focus on cracking your TOK essay, shall we?

TOK demonstrates how students  can apply their knowledge  with  greater awareness  and  credibility .

Big words, huh? 

Now that we know that we cannot just slide through the Theory of Knowledge, let's understand how we can conquer this battle all guns blazing.

ToK essay’s primary objective is to answer the  why  behind our studies. 

It makes one aware of the real-life implications of their subjects. The students gain greater awareness of their personal and ideological assumptions and appreciate the diversity of different perspectives. It helps the students find their unique perception, a prerequisite for excelling in the IB TOK essays.

Before we dive into our gameplan, let’s overview the rules of the game.

There are two assessment tasks in the TOK: an essay and a presentation . While a presentation encourages students to explore a real-life situation through the lens of TOK, an essay is written on the basis of the various questions provided by the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

• The presentation is to assess a student’s ability to apply TOK thinking to a real-life situation whereas IB TOK essay is more conceptual.
• The essay is externally assessed by IB and must be on any one of the prescribed TOK essay titles issued by the IB for each examination session.
• Word limit of a TOK essay is 1600 words ( excludes extended notes, footnotes, bibliography).

Now that we have unleashed the game, let’s move ahead towards the gameplan of acing both, your presentation and your essay.

One of the fundamental tasks of TOK is to examine different areas of knowledge and find out their similarities and differences.

The TOK essay requires the students to investigate two Areas of Knowledge (AOK)  and two Ways of Knowing   (WOK) . AOKs and WOKs are investigated via questions such as:

• How do we know what we know? (WOK)
• What counts as evidence for X? (AOK)
• How do we judge which is the best model of Y? (WOK)
• What does theory Z mean in the real world? (AOK + WOK)

The aforementioned are  Knowledge Questions  which help combine the Areas of Knowledge and the Ways of Knowing that they are using. This eliminates the superficial way of learning and makes an individual sensitive to the nature of the information.   Our acquisition of Knowledge can be broadly divided into Shared Knowledge and Personal Knowledge.

Shared knowledge: What WE know It is the product of more than one individual. Although individuals contribute to it, shared knowledge does not solely depend upon the contributions of a particular individual—there are possibilities for others to check and amend individual contributions and add to the body of knowledge that already exists.

Personal knowledge: What I know It is essentially dependent on the experiences of a particular individual. Also known as procedural knowledge, it is gained through experience, practice and personal involvement and is intimately bound up with the particular local circumstances of the individual such as biography, interests, values, and so on.

The best hack to ace TOK essay is to develop a habit of making connections between the construction of knowledge, its acquisition and its relevance in the real world. 

After that one needs to develop an interest in understanding the difference between diversity and cultural perspectives and personal assumptions.

One also needs to critically reflect on their own beliefs and assumptions, leading to more thoughtful, responsible and purposeful lives.

Yes, this is what you signed up for. It may sound a little intimidating but once you get the hang of it you will be able to see the matrix and understand this beautiful world a little better.

Understand that to provide the best version of your writing, it will take you more than one or two drafts. First and foremost, you need to pick your essay topic diligently. Try to choose an essay topic that best interests you. The topic should also allow you to explore the Areas of Knowledge towards which you are naturally inclined. Here are a few sample questions:

a) 'Ways of knowing are a check on our instinctive judgments.' To what extend do you agree with this statement?

b) With reference to two areas of knowledge discuss the way in which shared knowledge can shape their personal knowledge.

c) How can we know if knowledge is produced more through 'Passive Observation' or 'Active-Experiment' within the Human and Natural-sciences under a Mathematical-Perspective?

d) "The whole point of knowledge is to produce both meaning and purpose in our personal lives". Assess the validity of this statement.

Great things take time. It took me more than a couple of weeks to finalize this TOK essay guide. It is completely okay if the first few drafts may not look pleasing or award-winning to you. You will require sharpening your perspective towards the topic each time you polish your draft. Your writing journey from a dull draft to a masterpiece will be a whole process that you will have to be patient with. Have faith in yourself and proceed stepwise.

You need to consider the opinions of others who have devoted hours of research and a lifetime of dedicated studying the topic that surrounds your writing. Unravelling the realms of your mind palace is so Sherlock but let’s not deny the fact that at times, Watson is the one whose expertise helps Sherlock through pretty difficult times. I mean even Batman needs a Robin. In support of my awesome sauce examples, the point I am trying to make is that  finding support for our claims and counterclaims through research is a good thing .

Use real-life examples to support your claims and counterclaims. These examples need to be documented researched examples like studies, experiments, articles, presentations by well-known people, etc. Examples that stem from your diploma subjects are highly encouraged, but those will need to be supported by research as well.   

It is suggested that you choose a title, stick to it, tackle it and not be afraid. Do not change your mind unless there is a good reason. Also, try choosing Areas of knowledge that you truly enjoy. You know slaying a known devil is much easier than an unknown one. Allot a TIMELINE to your essay. Start with creating an outline of your essay. This will help you to track your progress and accomplish your goals

You can use tools like  Trello  to organize your ideas and plan your TOK essay.

Areas of Knowledge (AOKs): TOK distinguishes between eight areas of knowledge. They are mathematics, the natural sciences, the human sciences, the arts, history, ethics, religious knowledge systems, and indigenous knowledge systems. It is suggested that students study and explore six of these eight.

Ways of knowing (WOKs): TOK identifies eight specific WOKs- language, sense perception, emotion, reason, imagination, faith, intuition, and memory. It is suggested that studying four of these eight in-depth would be appropriate. WOKs underlie the methodology of the areas of knowledge and provide a basis for personal knowledge.

Moving ahead, let us discuss the structure of your TOK essay.

Your essay will consist of 4 broad segregations

Before breaking down further on the pillars, keep the following in mind

• Please note what the TOK essay title is asking you. (Read it a couple of times. We highly recommend that you brainstorm ideas with your TOK coordinator)
• Make sure you understand the command term and the question it is asking.
• What kind of knowledge is being elicited?
• When choosing your areas of knowledge (AoK) and ways of knowing (WoK) make sure that you are able to draw contrasts and comparisons, that is, you are able to find evidence that supports as well as challenges your claims.
• Identify key terms in your TOK essay title. Make sure you define them. Your essay will gravitate around them. Key terms/words in your titles are your essay anchors. Your response should be built around them.
• Your writing skills come in handy while you work on your IB TOK essay. Like any other essay make sure you have proper thesis statements and topic sentences to guide the evaluator through your work.
• Respect the TOK essay title. Rephrasing the topic is not encouraged . Your main job is to address the title.

The body can be mainly divided into 3 segments.

Body (1st Segment)

• AoK Claim:  Here you investigate your first Area of Knowledge and draw parallels between your AoK and the question. This is done by stating your claim. Claims can be general in nature and need not reference a particular area of knowledge. They help you shape your essay and investigate the question further. 
• Evidence: Example of a real-life situation, describe thoroughly and accurately, which supports your stated claim. (AoK)
• Counter-Claim: State your counter-claim: like claims, those can be general and need not reference a particular area of knowledge. Counterclaim helps you show the other side the coin and gives your essay a holistic nature. 
• Evidence: A referenced real-life situation/example. Describe thoroughly and accurately, show how this supports your counterclaim (AoK ).
• Don’t forget to weave in your WoKs:  You need to take into account the source of your knowledge. Here you can also investigate if your nature of acquiring the knowledge has, in any way, affected it. It is good practice to question if your knowledge would be different had it been acquired through a different source/method
• Mini-conclusion: Here you analyze your examples in reference to your claims and counterclaims. You must connect to your thesis statement and the prescribed title. How does your proposed argument, in this particular part of the body, connect to the prescribed title and the knowledge questions you are trying to answer?

Body (2): Follow the above process for your second AOK.

• Use this part of your essay to compare and contrast your varying AoKs. You need to connect them to your thesis and your prescribed title clearly showing how your arguments respond to the PT.

Your conclusion section will make your essay come together. It is the glue that will make your essay stick together. Herein, you need to

• Reiterate your thesis (initial response).
• Use your mini conclusions to write a final conclusion.
• Tell the reader what the significance is for knowing what we know in this particular PT.
• Discuss implications as well.
• Offer another perspective, how will the perspective of a different person affect the claims/counterclaims you make in the essay?
• Don’t forget to make the end strong.

We recommend all the ib students use the  citation machine  (It's FREE) to organize or generate a bibliography for your TOK essay. Please go through this extensive guide provided by the IB before you start working on your citations.

If you are still struggling heaps with your TOK essay feel free to subscribe to our tok notes bundles or get access to more than 500+ IBDP notes and past papers here .

Nail IB is your virtual companion that helps you hustle through your diploma and provide you with the right resources at the right time. To know more about acing IB, click  here .

I hope this article will become the foundation for figuring out how to write a TOK Essay.

Remember to have faith in yourself.

I hope you NAIL your TOK essay!

Quoting the great Napolean Hill

"Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

IB Resources you will love!

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TOK assessment

TOK Home > About > About teaching TOK > Teachers – start here! > TOK assessment

TOK is a course that is much greater than the sum of its parts, but ultimately students are evaluated on two final assessment tasks. At the end of DP1, they create a TOK exhibition, and in DP2, they write a 1600-word essay.

Check out our short videos outlining key aspects of the tasks in our TOK explainer playlist .

Knowledge questions

At the heart of TOK is the concept of ‘knowledge questions’, or ‘KQs’.  These are, as the name suggests, questions about the way in which we produce and use knowledge, and they help us to link the real world to the world of TOK. 

The key to understanding knowledge questions is to divide them into two different types: first-order, and second-order knowledge questions. The former ask direct questions about the world, and the latter ask questions about how we know about the world. In TOK, of course, we are more interested in second-order knowledge questions. The table below shows the difference between these two forms.

The TOK essay

There are five different assessment skills which candidates are expected to demonstrate. Here’s what students need to do to place their essay in the ‘excellent’ band on the rubric:

• Making links to TOK  The discussion is linked very effectively to the AOKs
• Understanding perspectives  There is a clear awareness shown of different points of view, and these are evaluated 
• Offering an effective argument Arguments are clear and coherent, and are effectively supported by specific examples
• Keeping discussion relevant The discussion offers a sustained focus on the title
• Considering implications Implications of arguments are considered

Formative assessment tasks for the essay

You should practice the five skills identified above in normal lesson contexts, via discussions, short written tasks, and group activities. But you should also think about setting specific formative assessment tasks, which you formally assess, and use as a way of familiarizing students with what’s required to create an effective TOK essay. Members have access to two practice essay tasks, which you can use to prepare students for the final essay task.

Level 5 assessment characteristics – the essay

Within the assessment instrument, you’ll also find words identified that characterize an excellent assessment task. These are:

• Insightful 
• Convincing 
• Accomplished 

We suggest that you draw on these words to give feedback during the formative assessment tasks, and during the course in general, so that students are able to calibrate accurately what is meant by each one. You can consult the full assessment instrument in the TOK guide to see the qualities of other mark bands.

Writing the essay

Writing the TOK essay is one of the most difficult challenges that students face during the whole of the DP. The prescribed essay titles are conceptually difficult to grasp, and although the assessment instrument has been clarified for the 2022 syllabus, there is still considerable debate over what it is looking for. The word limit is restrictive, so it’s tricky for students to fit in all their ideas. Added to all this is the fact that students will be doing other IAs and the EE, so they’ll be overworked, and stress levels will be high.

However, if your students have done meaningful formative assessment tasks, the essay-writing process is approached in a step-by-step way, the pressure will be eased considerably. Here’s a suggestion of how that can work in practice (members will find each of these steps explained in a lot more detail):

• Introduce the task
• Clarify what’s being assessed
• Unpack the PTs
• Begin the interactions
• Create and check the essay plan
• Write and check the draft essay
• Complete and upload the PPF

When to give the prescribed titles?

There is some debate over when in the course you should provide your students with the essay titles. One school of thought has it that if you give them the essays too early in the course, they will focus only on information relevant to that single essay title, and will not consider anything beyond that. The other school of though believes that as soon as you have the essay titles, you should pass them on to your students, to give them the same chance of success as any other IBDP student in the world.

Your choice may depend on the type of student you deal with: personally, I have had little experience of students who don’t follow a last minute approach to assignments, so believe that even if you do give them the list early on, they will continue on as they would have done otherwise. I am careful not to structure my classes around the essay titles, but I do draw attention to resources we encounter that may help in the writing of a particular essay, and questions and knowledge questions that cover similar ground to any of the 10 questions. 

Choosing the right title

We all teach the course in a different way, and we all have areas of particular expertise that we may have spent more time indulging. In other words, your students will inevitably be more prepared for some essay titles than for others. Also, the ease with which titles can be answered varies significantly, with some questions providing themselves with a ready-made structure, and others seeming to demand a more contrived form of answer. You may have the perfect resource ready for one question, and be hard-pushed to come up with anything for another.

This means that serious discussion needs to be done over the correct essay title. Just like the Extended Essay, choosing a title that is understood properly is half the battle. This can be done by going through each title with your TOK classes, and asking the students how they would hypothetically structure their answer, in terms of introduction, arguments, counterclaims, and conclusions. They more they know about a title, the more they should be encouraged to select it. 

TOK essay: final checklist

The following checklist can prove quite useful for students on the verge of submitting their final version of the essay 

• Have you read and understood all the different criteria for assessment? Really?
• Does your essay number between 1200 and 1600 words? (it should be far nearer 1600 than 1200!)
• Have you organized your essay into an introduction, 2-3 knowledge issues, and a conclusion?
• Is your introduction concise, with a discussion of what the title means, and a brief plan of how your essay will tackle the question?
• Have you referred explicitly to the different AOKs, and provided links between them?
• Have you used personal examples, specifically from your experiences as an ‘IB learner’?
• Have you used well-referenced examples that you have found out about from beyond the classroom (articles, documentaries, books, the ideas of thinkers, etc.)?
• Have you considered other perspectives and points of view?
• Is your conclusion consistent with the rest of your essay?

The TOK exhibition

There are four different assessment skills which candidates are expected to demonstrate. Here’s what students need to do to place their exhibition in the ‘excellent’ band on the rubric.

• Interlinking ideas It clearly and explicitly explains the links between the objects and the IA prompt, and explicit references are made to the selected IA prompt.
• Justifying ideas There is a strong justification why the objects have been chosen for the exhibition. 
• Using evidence All the points in the commentary are well-supported by evidence.
• Identifying a clear real-world context The exhibition clearly identifies three objects and their specific real-world context.

Formative assessment tasks for the exhibition

You should practice the four skills identified above in normal lesson contexts, via discussions, short written tasks, and group activities. But you should also think about setting specific formative assessment tasks, which you formally assess, and use as a way of familiarizing students with this new assessment task. Members have access to two practice exhibition tasks, which you can use to prepare students for the final essay task.

Level 5 assessment characteristics

As mentioned above, draw on these words to give feedback during the formative assessment tasks, and during the course in general, so students can calibrate what is meant by each one. See thel assessment instrument in the TOK guide for more details.

Creating the TOK exhibition

The TOK exhibition is an empowering assessment task which gives students a great deal of choice, and allows them to present their achievements to a public audience. Of course, this openness brings its own challenges, but you are able to provide a lot of support to students, and guide them through the steps of designing and delivering their exhibitions. Here’s a suggestion of how that can work in practice (members will find each of these steps explained in a lot more detail):

• Choose an IA prompt
• Select the objects
• Initial planning meeting
• Write and check the draft commentary
• Submit the TOK exhibition file
• Present the TOK exhibition

Resources for the essay & exhibition

If you used the BQ framework , you have created a fantastic library of ideas, thinkers, and explanations of the key aspects of TOK. Your students should have access to the BQ lessons via Google Classroom. They can also check out the newsletter archive , which has thousands of real-life situations, and which can be used to support arguments offered in the essay. Our exploration points documents will also allow students to delve into any aspect of TOK to whatever level they want, via media sources such as article, videos, and podcasts.

The TOK journal

The TOK journal should be an integral part of all your students’ learning experience in theory of knowledge. Far from being an onerous task, the benefits of getting them to write down their ideas and reflections on a regular basis will help them to master the course, set them up well for the essay and presentation, and may even get them into a habit that lasts a lifetime. 

Aims of the TOK journal

Encourage students to connect with what’s going on in the world Asking your students to write about ‘significant’ events means that they will follow the news, and keep their eyes open for interesting and important stories. They can then bring this into the classroom, and discuss it with their peers. Assist them in understanding what makes an event, issue, or problem ‘significant’ They’ll soon be aware of what other people are following in the news, giving them an idea of what shapes society; but they’ll also connect with other stories that they might otherwise have missed.

Help them to identify and explore knowledge questions associated with real life situations If you ask them to identify and attempt to discuss the ‘knowledge questions’ behind the events, they’ll be well set up for when it comes to writing their essay and presentation.

Improve the way in which they structure their ideas and opinions Writing down their ideas and opinions in an informal way will allow them to play with those ideas, and figure out the most effective way in which to express them. Encouraging them to read them out in class could then lead onto discussion and debate, which will help them to hone their skills in self-expression.

Demonstrate the importance of using evidence to support their arguments Connected to above, they’ll soon learn that an opinion is nothing without evidence – and the best form of evidence is real life examples. You can use this to drill home the importance of using evidence based on actual fact, rather than of a hypothetical or anecdotal nature.

Get them into the practice of reflecting on knowledge (and learn to enjoy it) Not only can personal experiences be developed and better understood by writing them down, it can be immensely therapeutic to write down your feelings. Your students may well find that they continue their TOK journal long after they finish the course, and carry with it wherever in the world they end up.

Suggestions on TOK journal writing

Students may need a little pushing when it comes to journal writing, so you could use it as a written or oral assessment task. You can easily make them write too much; one contemporary news event, one personal experience, and one cultural highlight is about right per half term or bimester, meaning they write 9 or 10 entries per year. For each one, they should provide a brief description, an identification of the key knowledge question (linking it to elements of the course), and a discussion of that question, trying to view it through different perspectives, and include an assessment of the possible implications. You can then have them either write down their ideas, or present them in class. Either way, they should be able to refer back to their journal, and draw on the real life situations to help them with their essay or presentation. 

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Guide to the TOK Presentation

What’s covered:, what is the theory of knowledge (tok) presentation, how is the tok presentation scored, how to pick a tok presentation topic, how to structure your tok presentation.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IB/IBDP) is a high school program offering courses in subjects, ranging from mathematics to Arabic. Students sign up for a holistic approach to learning including external examinations, internal assessments, research papers and community service hours. Students will have to do a bit of everything while completing IB’s core, including CAS, Theory of Knowledge (TOK), and the extended essay (EE). Understanding how to excel in TOK will usually help students in their other aspects of student life. It’ll be important to be familiar with the basics of TOK as a subject before progressing into one of its components, the presentation. 

Quite similar to the TOK essay , the TOK presentation is an attempt to assess your critical thinking skills while conveying your opinions in a clear cut manner. While a TOK essay is more conceptual in its nature in tackling the focal point, the TOK presentation answers a knowledge question by making use of actual real life scenarios to display your understanding of TOK concepts .

The TOK presentation can be done individually, in pairs, or in a group of three. It’s usually delivered in front of your TOK classroom, making this an internal assessment that other students are watching and taking peer review notes on. Each presentation gets a max of 10 minutes per presenter, meaning if you have three people, you get 30 minutes. The actual presentation is followed by a discussion section where the presenter actively engages in a Q&A with the audience and the teacher.

A lot of students really struggle with where to start the presentation, but if you break it down by following a few steps it gets a lot more manageable:

1. Knowledge Question (KQ)

The knowledge question is the focus of your presentation. Upon being given a list of topics for the TOK presentation, keep in mind that the list of selections changes every examination set. So, once you pick a topic, you could create a KQ that analyzes this topic to a greater degree. An example of a knowledge question could be: “What is the role of faith in making ethical decisions.” This is a good knowledge question because it incorporates ways of knowing (WOKs) which are important to analyze in any TOK presentation.

2. Real Life Situation (RLS)

A RLS is supposed to be an example or situation that you can directly use as an expression of your KQ. Relating your RLS to numerous WOKs and areas of knowledge (AOKs) strengthens the arguments you make (the claims and counterclaims for your presentation) and earns you a chunk of your grade for the presentation. 

3. Planning out your presentation 

Creating an outline that details each slide, and even writing down how many minutes you spend on each section of your presentation is important, allowing you to allocate time and manage your presentation efficiently. Creating this outline can also help you feel more confident when your presentation day comes around too!

These three tips can serve as the founding basis for your presentation and will definitely help get you started on the right track!

The grade you get in IB includes the core (CAS, extended essay and TOK). And, 33% of your total IB TOK grade is dependent on your TOK presentation, which is usually graded externally, but recorded internally. What this means is, your actual presentation will be recorded by your teacher, and the recording with your slides will be sent to the IB board, who then assigns an external grader to assess it. The presentation is scored out of ten points, as well as the essay, and the following formula explains the grading schema:

(presentation score) + (essay score * 2) = overall score out of 30

To correlate a letter grade to your score out of 30, IB uses grade boundaries. These boundaries can change any year so checking in with your school for the most updated ones is best. Here is a past example of grade boundaries:

Upon receiving a letter grade you can calculate your grade for the core of IB, which includes the extended essay, CAS, and TOK. Passing the core is essential to earning your diploma in IB and the table below outlines this further: 

Your topic should be presented in the form of a knowledge question that isn’t easily answered with two-dimensional answers like “yes” and “no.” It should in its nature make both the presenter and the audience think deeper into multilevel ways of understanding knowledge as a concept. More often than not, a KQ will usually end up with people having more questions than ending up with a satisfying answer, and that’s exactly what IB wants from a presentation, a debatable and questioning idea. This is usually achieved with a KQ and RLS that work hand in hand, and successful students make sure to consistently link back to their solid topics throughout the presentation. An example of a good TOK presentation topic might look like this: To what extent does faith play a part in online shopping experiences?

In this case a related RLS could be:

Purchases of overpriced and highly coveted products with little to no inherent practical value.

Your topic should have an RLS that the audience can at least relate to, making it easier for them to stay on board for the duration of your presentation, but as well as stay engaged with what you’re talking about. Once you pick a great topic for the presentation, the rest of the planning and work actually falls in place a lot more steadily. 

Breaking the presentation down slide-by-slide is the best way to plan it out, and the following structure may help streamline the process of creating it from start to finish.

• Slide 2 – RLS and Context In this slide you introduce your RLS and provide all the required context and information to explain what your RLS is to the audience. Make sure to start using jargon specific to TOK. Introducing your WOKs and AOKs is a good idea in this slide, and relating it to your RLS should be how you wrap it up.
• Slide 3 – KQ and RLS Declare the KQ that you’ve decided upon and analyze the KQ by breaking it down into segments that can be further developed on. If the KQ contains or mentions a WOK or AOK, further contextualize that specific AOK or WOK for the audience. Explain any assumptions you’ve made on the basis of your KQ and RLS as well, before you continue to develop on them.

The most important tip for IB students when it comes to TOK is the most generic one: start as early as possible! IB is an ultra-holistic approach to schooling, so there’s a lot more than just TOK going on; students usually need to make time to study for internal and external assessments, CAS service hours, and even writing their extended essays. Starting TOK work as early as possible not only sets you up with more time to produce work of higher quality, but also allows you to allocate time for other tasks as well. 

Otherwise, you might find yourself feeling burnt out and unmotivated before actually submitting the essay, and maybe even prevent yourself from achieving that high score in IB that you wanted. So start early, and give yourself that easy extra advantage!

While your IB scores aren’t as important to college admissions as one might assume, showing proof that you’re taking rigorous classes and demonstrating hard work throughout your time as an IB student is more impactful. For better insight into how your chances of college admissions look, check out CollegeVine’s admissions calculator ! 

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Presentation TOK Grade Boundaries?

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By SuperChickenRun November 27, 2015 in Theory of Knowledge

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Hey Everyone! I just have a simple question (hopefully)...

What are the grade boundaries for TOK for the new syllabus? Both for the presentation and for the essay?

So basically what I am asking is for the grade boundaries, and if anyone thinks I can still get an A in TOK having only gotten 7 in my presentation, or do you think I should resit and invest more time in the presentation?

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Hey Everyone! I just have a simple question (hopefully)...   What are the grade boundaries for TOK for the new syllabus? Both for the presentation and for the essay?   Also, I got a 7 out of 10 in my first attempt at the TOK presentation (had it on a Friday and my prelims from Monday to Thursday so it held no priority therefore I invested no time ). I was wondering, should I do a second attempt (our school allows a "practice" but if you do well then they don't make you do it again)? I am aiming to get my 3 points for TOK and EE because I want a good score by the end of this, BUT I am not sure if I can completely put my faith in getting an A for my EE...   So basically what I am asking is for the grade boundaries, and if anyone thinks I can still get an A in TOK having only gotten 7 in my presentation, or do you think I should resit and invest more time in the presentation?   Thank you

okay so the presentation is 1/3 of your TOK grade, and the essay is 2/3;  with a 7 in the presentation it's hard to get an A in TOK, as you'd need 10/10 in the essay. But if you get a B in TOK (so get a 9 in the essay) and an A in the EE, you can still score three points. If you redo the presentation and do well on the essay, and get an A for TOK, then you can allow yourself a B in the EE and still get the three points. Below I leave th TOK-EE point matrix just in case.

  Hey Everyone! I just have a simple question (hopefully)...   What are the grade boundaries for TOK for the new syllabus? Both for the presentation and for the essay?   Also, I got a 7 out of 10 in my first attempt at the TOK presentation (had it on a Friday and my prelims from Monday to Thursday so it held no priority therefore I invested no time ). I was wondering, should I do a second attempt (our school allows a "practice" but if you do well then they don't make you do it again)? I am aiming to get my 3 points for TOK and EE because I want a good score by the end of this, BUT I am not sure if I can completely put my faith in getting an A for my EE...   So basically what I am asking is for the grade boundaries, and if anyone thinks I can still get an A in TOK having only gotten 7 in my presentation, or do you think I should resit and invest more time in the presentation?   Thank you

that one is wrong --- they kinda changed the system.   I think the combination of B and C will get you 2 points. 

Alright, firstly don't listen to eross cause he doesn't know what he's talking about

Alright, firstly don't listen to eross cause he doesn't know what he's talking about   Grade boundaries change from year to year, but in May 2015 they were as follows.   A- 23-30 B- 17-22 C- 11-16 D- 5-10 E- 0-4   So you received a 7/10 on your presentation, which isn't bad at all. Your presentation is worth 1/3 of your TOK and your essay is worth the remaining 2/3. They just double your essay grade and add it to your presentation to sum it out of 30. If you do the math, you need to score 8 in the essay to get an A, going by the May 2015 boundaries.  

yeah don't listen to me hahah I don't know what math I was doing when I posted that... clearly lack of sleep and stress have been messing with my brain (just in time for my math final next week!) 

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How to get an A in TOK essay? Rubric + A-grade SAMPLES

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Writing a Theory of Knowledge essay can seem challenging to most students because they guess how hard is it to get an A in TOK. No matter how hard they try, they feel like they just can’t crack the IB TOK essay, and one of the major reasons for this is that the structure of this essay is very different from other essays. It has to be written in a different format from the rest.

Moreover, to get an A for TOK essay, it should also follow specific IB criteria , and this can also be challenging for most students.

Btw… you can ⏩ Calculate the price for custom ToK essay written for you ⏪

Listen up, all you bright-eyed, bushy-tailed IB students! If you want to impress your TOK teacher and earn those coveted points, before starting with your TOK essay, you’ve gotta get your act together and fill out those pesky PPD and TOK PPF forms . Trust me, it’s not as fun as it sounds. But hey, at least it’ll give you a chance to flex those brain muscles and prove that you’re not just a bunch of know-it-alls with no depth or substance. Plus, it’ll give you a great excuse to procrastinate on all your other homework. Win-win.

If you are also a student who floats the same boat, and you do not want to fail and want to know how to score high in TOK essay, continue reading!

Tips to score Ⓐ on a TOK essay

Here are a few valuable tips from those who have managed to score very high grades on their TOK essays. Follow our TOK essay guide and use these tips to do better with your TOK essay.

1. Don’t Jump on to a Title

You are given a list of titles that you have to work on. What students mostly do is that they jump on to the easiest-sounding question they find. They think that they can easily work on such a question without having to research a lot.

The truth is that you can never know how easy a title is to work on, till you actually conduct research on it. When you ty to find out more about it, then you will know what it is all about. Once you know, you can definitely get things done in the right way.

You need to pay the most attention to the title that you choose. Once you choose the right TOK essay prompt , you can surely get your essay flowing in the right direction. Try to make sure that you spend a lot of time working on selecting the right essay title. This is the only way that you will be able to do things right.

2. Define Key Terms

Sometimes, you might feel like the key terms are very easy . You might even feel like they are very self-explanatory. Having said that, you need to make sure you work on them in a certain way to help you through the situation. You need to define the key terms in a way that helps you operationalize those terms to help you work your way through them. The idea is to give your own explanation of the key terms first.

This is one of the most important things there is. Not only does it help the examiner understand things in the best way, but also helps get you thinking about the different ways that you can explore the topic. Once you know, things definitely start becoming much easier for you, and you can then work on this essay in a much better and much more comprehensive way.

3. Choose a Research Question Wisely

Once you have selected a title, it is time for you to work on a research question. When selecting a research question, try to be as smart as you can about it. It needs to be one that you can very well answer in the right way. Not just that, but it also has to be one that is very relevant to title that you have selected.

If you go for something unrelated, then that only reflects very badly on you because it shows that you haven’t even understood what was expected from you in the first place in terms of the title that you have worked on.

A wise way to start off is to write down every research question that comes to mind. When you do that, you will be able to be more sorted with things. You will better be able to work your way through things. Brainstorming almost always helps get done with things in the best way possible. It helps you draft a solid outline, which also eventually helps you write.

4. Choose Your Area of Knowledge

Alongside that, you also have to choose your area of knowledge wisely. Your examples will only be as good as your area of knowledge. To choose an area of knowledge, you have to make sure that you have things sorted in front of you. From amongst the many areas of knowledge that you have to choose from, pick one that you think you can write on the best. This can be anything at all that you think you can work on best.

When thinking about your areas of knowledge, also think about your claims and your counterclaims within those areas of knowledge. Not just that, but also think about the arguments that you are going to give in this. To add more value to what you are doing, come up with very unique examples. This way, you will be able to defend your viewpoint in the best way possible, which is again very important to help you get through the argument.

5. Formulate a Good Knowledge Question

More often than not, you will realize that the prescribed title is your knowledge question . Having said that, you might even sometimes be required to work on a question within a question to help you work on this.

To do this, try to understand the prescribed title first. Then, based on that, you can form another question within that can help you work your way through things correctly.

6. Be Sensible About Your Real Life Situation

When picking a real-life situation , be as sensible as you can. Go for something that is relevant to the current times, but at the same time is also one that helps you get through things in the best way possible. The idea is to pick something that you like, and something that you have ample information on as well.

Your real life situation should be interesting and should give the readers something that they have to ponder about. When you do this, it makes your argument stronger, and gives a good image to the examiner. It tells the examiner that you are aware of what you are saying  and that you know exactly how you are supposed to go about these things. This will help you work your way through your TOK essay easily.

7. Follow the Right Structure

Then, it is also important to follow the right structure . This helps you write your essay in a flow. Not just that, but it also helps you structure your essay right. When you do so, it shows the examiner that you have a fair idea of what you are working on.

You need to start off with the introduction. This is where you introduce the topic in great detail. You talk about all the key terms as well here. Once you do that, it helps you introduce to the examiner what is to come next.

Then you state your position and then you also talk about your areas of knowledge and your works of knowledge. As you are done with that, you begin writing.

Also, try to focus on writing your assumptions down as well. Like with writing a TOK exhibition , if you write your assumptions, then you can surely explain things to the examiner in a much better way.

When working on the main body of the essay, you have the chances to state what you want to clearly. So when you begin writing here, decide on the structure and your main argument. You have to build your main argument here. So when doing so, make sure to state your claim correctly.

Once you are done with that, you have to give relevant examples, and then you also have to give counterclaims in one way or the other to follow the structure and the flow of your work. When doing so, always try to go back to the knowledge question to ensure that the examiner knows that you are aware of what you are answering.

If there are any biases made during this process, try to highlight all of those as well, so that the examiner knows exactly what you are talking about.

8. Write Well

Then once you have all else sorted and you know how you are going to go about it, start writing your TOK essay. When working on it, try to make sure that you have all your focus on writing your essay. This is most important to make sure that you impress the examiner. Not just that, but also try to use simple language.

A common misconception that people have is that when you write complex words, you impress the examiner. The truth is that is definitely not the case.

You need to use straightforward words to ensure that everyone understands where you are coming from and what you are trying to say. The primary purpose is to make sure that everyone understands what you are trying to say.

9. Edit with Focus

Once done writing, you need to edit your essay. This is one of the most important parts of writing the essay. This is because you don’t really realize the mistakes you are making when writing.

You need to be very focused on what you are doing as you do things. This is important to help you check for errors and also go over the whole thing just to be sure that you have used the right examples in the right places, and also to make sure that you have worked your way through things correctly.

Edit your essay as many times as you feel the need to. This will help you make sure that you’re doing the right thing, which is one of the most important things when you write an essay.

Examples of A grade TOK essays

To better understand how you can write a TOK essay well, you can go through several samples that our expert TOK essay writers have written. This will help you gain a deeper understanding of the kind of examples you have to give and what is required of you. This will help you work your way through things easily.

2023 November TOK essay examples:

• Are facts alone enough to prove a claim?
• Faced with a vast amount of information, how do we select what is significant for the acquisition of knowledge?

May 2023 TOK essay samples:

• Do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (Bertrand Russell)
• To what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use?

November 2022 TOK essay examples:

• Within an area of knowledge is it more important to have credibility or power?
• Why do we seek indisputable evidence when it is so often unattainable?

Samples of May 2022 TOK essays:

• Can there be knowledge that is independent of culture?
• To what extent do you agree with the claim that “there’s a world of difference between truth and facts”. (Maya Angelou)
• How can we distinguish between good and bad interpreta0ons?

You can check our blog to find more explanations of each topic with suggestions from expert TOK essay writers. It will surely help you find inspiration. If you do not want to write a TOK essay yourself, you can always buy a custom TOK written by IB experts from WritingMetier.com

Apart from that, you also get to learn more about real life examples that you can use. This is one of the most important things there is to make sure that you write an essay that stands out from the rest.

Meanwhile, you can also be interested in checking the TOK exhibition Rubric to score well. As good as with your TOK essay 😉

While you might understand what is required from you on a theoretical level, understanding it through the help of examples only makes things a lot easier for you. So always try to focus as much as you can on going through the samples.

Writers who are experts at Tok essay writing know exactly how they have to frame arguments to make sure you understand what is required of you. So try to go through as many samples as you can to help you.

IB TOK essay marking rubric

To better understand how the TOK essay is graded, you need to work towards understanding the marking scheme very well. This will help you frame your argument right in accordance with what is needed from your end.

I hope I was able to explain the marking criteria of TOK essay. You can always call for our assistance in case you need a hand. Furthermore, we have numerous articles that will help you score high on all the IB assignments that you will need to submit during the semester.

Use this TOK essay guide to score higher

Follow this marking rubric and suggestions that I have mentioned in this TOK essay guide. With a clearer understanding of what you have to do to score well on the TOK essay, you can surely do a much better job now! And last but not least – do not miss the TOK essay submission deadline , my friend.

⏩ Write a Custom Essay for Me ⏪

You might think that you have plenty of time, but my personal experience working with IB students shows that there are some students who start work when it’s way too late. So do not be one of them 😉

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Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

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Tok / ee matrix.

Marks from the EE are turned into grades, using the grade boundaries . The EE grade is combined with the TOK grade to determine the number of bonus points awarded, using the following 'matrix'. If you do not submit your extended essay on time (NS = Not Submitted) , or you do not submit your TOK essay on time you will not be awarded your IB Diploma. Failure to submit either will result in a failure to receive the Diploma.

Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS) is of course the third required component of the IB Diploma Programme 'core'. Besides earning grades for the EE and TOK, candidates must fulfil the requirements for CAS in order to receive their diploma.

So how many students are awarded bonus points on the average? These numbers vary from year to year, but generally speaking these are world averages. See the latest IB Statistical Bulletin for the most recent numbers.

3 bonus points = 8% 2 bonus points = 36% 1 bonus point = 26% 0 bonus points = 30%

Why are they called 'bonus' points (or previously 'additional' points)? The 24-point requirement for receiving the Diploma cannot be attained through bonus points but from the candidate's six subjects.

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Minnesota Law

William McGeveran Appointed the 12th Dean of the University of Minnesota Law School

After a University-wide search committee conducted a national search that resulted in extensive screenings and three finalist candidates, the University of Minnesota Law School is thrilled to announce the appointment of William McGeveran , Gray, Plant, Mooty, Mooty & Bennett Professor of Law, as the next dean of Minnesota Law, effective June 17, 2024. Executive Vice President and Provost Rachel T.A. Croson announced McGeveran’s appointment in an email to the University of Minnesota community on May 13. 

As dean, McGeveran will be the chief executive officer and chief academic officer of  Minnesota Law. He will provide strategic and intellectual leadership and administrative oversight for the Law School. He will also collaborate with the University of Minnesota President’s office, the Office of the Executive Vice President & Provost, and other University deans to advance the broader educational mission of the University of Minnesota. 

In her email, Provost Croson writes, “Building on the Law School’s strengths and guided by the strategic priorities of the University, [Bill] will serve as an effective advocate and bridge builder with the University and broader community; cultivate and support faculty, students, and staff; and meet the challenges and changes facing legal education and the profession.”

McGeveran, who served as Minnesota Law’s interim dean for the 2023-24 academic year, brings 18 years of experience as a faculty member at the Law School, where he also served as associate dean for academic affairs from 2018 to 2022. He is passionate about Minnesota Law’s mission to provide a transformative legal education to law students and holds the deepest regard and enthusiasm for the Minnesota Law community. 

“This past year I have tremendously enjoyed working with our exceptional students, faculty, staff, and alumni. I have always loved this place, but I got to appreciate it in a new way as interim dean,” says McGeveran. “I am thrilled to take on this role long-term and join with everyone to achieve some new ambitious goals for Minnesota Law.” 

McGeveran’s scholarship focuses on the law governing digital identity and privacy, ranging from trademark parodies to data security to social media. He has taught Civil Procedure, Law in Practice, Trademark Law, and Data Privacy Law. He was formerly a resident fellow at the University of Minnesota Institute of Advanced Study and a visiting professor at University College Dublin School of Law. He is an affiliated professor at the University of Minnesota’s Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communications.

He serves on the advisory boards of the Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Future of Privacy Forum and was the first reporter for the Uniform Law Commission’s Uniform Personal Data Protection Act.

McGeveran earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from New York University and a B.A., magna cum laude, in political science from Carleton College. Prior to coming to the University of Minnesota in 2006, McGeveran was a resident fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law School. He previously clerked for Judge Sandra Lynch on the United States Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and practiced as an intellectual property litigator at Foley Hoag LLP in Boston. Before law school, McGeveran worked in national politics for seven years including as a senior legislative aide to then-Rep. Charles Schumer. Watch Minnesota Law’s website in the coming months for more information about fall events welcoming William McGeveran as the next dean of the University of Minnesota Law School.

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Why teachers should be aware of TikTok ‘exam gurus’

The latest social media monster has arrived and is rearing its ugly head, this time in the form of the “online tutor exam guru”.

Over the past couple of years, there has been a boom in online tutoring videos, with some real gems helping teachers and students alike in preparing for GCSEs.

This year, however, things are very different. A quick scroll on my social media feed brings up a slew of so-called experts claiming to have the answer to a grade 9 essay, a leaked set of topics or even a guarantee on how to get full marks in Year 6 Sats. And it’s immediately clear just how damaging these videos can be.

TikTok exam advice

I opened TikTok on Sunday evening for a quick scroll and was almost immediately confronted with an overwhelming number of videos claiming they could teach me how to get full marks on the next day’s GCSE English literature paper one.

Video after video flashed up, making impossible claims about exam content and proposing that certain linguistic phrases (that I didn’t come across until the second year of my degree) would “guarantee a 9”.

Most worryingly, I also saw a mocked-up exam paper with this year’s dates on, which had had more than 28,000 likes.

These videos have extremely damaging consequences.

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There have been reports in the past week of students hyperventilating over the belief that an obscure character or source would be the focus of an exam after coming across a video, and others who have been sorely disappointed when focusing revision only on what an online tutoring video claimed would be on the exam.

So, what can we do to help our students navigate this deluge of misleading “help”?

You can’t stop them going on their phones, but you can remind them about what really matters and warn them about the dangers of what they see online. We need to recognise the threat, take it seriously and be vigilant about when and how our students are using online resources.

In my department, teachers all delivered the same message: gently reminding students that the only way they can truly prepare for the exams is by knowing the texts really well, remembering taught essay structures and taking time to plan and review answers.

Misguided advice

We were explicit that students needed to step away from social media and look at the resources we had prepared with them.

Short of setting up our own channels to counter the spurious work of online creators, this is all we can really do.

It’s incredibly frustrating that there are content creators out there who are sharing at best misguided advice, and at worst incorrect or falsified information, simply to garner likes.

It’s really unfair on already anxious students that they are exposed to this content that causes so much worry. But as the online world continues to mesh ever further with our real lives, it is another issue we must be vigilant about.

Laura May Rowlands is head of English in a secondary school in Hampshire

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