Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is a core component that all IB students need to fulfil before attaining their IB Diploma. TOK is something like philosophy – students will need to think about how we know what we know and about the nature of knowledge. One of the requirements of TOK is that students need to write a 1600-word TOK essay based on a question posed by the IB. There are a total of 6 TOK essay questions released every year.
To write a good essay, students need to understand, know, analyse, and critically think about what the question is asking. A TOK essay also requires students to write about 2 Areas of Knowledge (AoKs). Areas of Knowledge include natural sciences, human sciences, arts, history, ethics, and religious knowledge systems. Students can incorporate IB TOK concepts like Ways of Knowing to enhance their essay arguments and show the examiner that they understand and apply the concepts to the question at hand with relevant examples.
Here are some ways you can write a successful TOK essay:
Understand the question
The first thing you should do is to break down the question clearly. It may be difficult to think about the question in its entirety, so you should break it down into small parts and digest them slowly. A good first step is to start out with a blank paper and just jot down everything that comes into your head when you first see the question. Students should also read all the 6 options and decide which one they are the most confident to do.
Create an essay outline
Students should make an essay outline with the main points of their introduction, arguments, counterarguments, and conclusion. This essay outline is not set in stone – students can revise it as they go along. The essay outline should be as detailed as possible to help students visualise the flow of the essay. The most important thing is that students should answer the question with the entire essay and avoid rambling off topic. Going off topic may endanger the student’s grade as they only have a limited number of words to answer the essay question.
Find good examples
Examples will make or break a student’s TOK essay. Examples should be from the Areas of Knowledge that students need to write about and have chosen. Students need to find good examples from the Internet which fit the question. Students should not be too married to their initial examples – if an example is not good, they can scrap it and find another one because there are millions of good examples out there. The most important thing students should make sure of is that the example proves the point that they are trying to make.
Make sure there is a good flow
Students need to make sure that their essay flows well. When the student reads their essay again, it should answer the question and present their arguments in a systematic and organised way. Without a good flow, the TOK examiner will not be able to award the student a high grade. Putting your essay aside for a while and coming back to read it with fresh eyes is another helpful tip for students who want to proofread. At the IB level, it also goes without saying that students will need to write a grammatically correct essay with minimal mistakes.
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As the name suggests, the IB Chemistry Clinic does not only fix a student’s grades - it helps students with critical components of the IB Programme, namely the Internal Assessment (IA) which is worth at least 20% of a student’s grade and their Extended Essay (EE) in Chemistry. The IA and EE are a non-negotiable part of the Chemistry curriculum - without them, students will not be able to graduate with an IB Diploma.
However, there are many difficulties associated with conducting experiments for the IA and EE - many replications are required and the standard for the final deliverable - the research report - is high. Students need to undertake statistical testing and present their final results coherently and concisely.
Although the IB school provides mentors for the EE and teachers at school can guide students through their IA, attention to each student is often limited in a classroom setting and many students are left to figure things out by themselves. This results in difficulty completing internal deadlines on time, especially when a student needs to juggle all their 6 subjects and the additional components of the IB, along with their CCAs and other commitments.
The IB Chemistry Clinic is here to answer all your questions - whether it is about content knowledge or fixing errors in your experimental setup as you undertake your IA journey, our skilled tutors with a strong background in Chemistry research and 30 years of experience teaching Chemistry are here to help!
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Frequently Asked Questions
How hard is it to get a 7 in IB?
With time and effort, students who know the syllabus well and are well-prepared and have well-written assignments will easily get a 7 in the IB.
Is IB harder than A Levels Singapore?
The A Level exam is more difficult than the IB exam, but IB involves the Internal Assessment (IA) which features independent research which could be harder than the A Level exam.
Is 43 in IB a good score?
An IB score of 43 is an excellent score.
What is the hardest IB subject combination?
One of the hardest IB subject combinations is PCME, which involves HL Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, along with SL Economics.
What IB score is needed for Harvard/Oxford?
The minimum IB score for Harvard and Oxford is 40 points out of 45 points.
Is 28 a bad IB score?
The average IB score throughout the years has ranged between 28 to 30 points. All students need to score a minimum of 24 points across 6 subjects to be awarded an IB diploma.
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