I. Course description and aims

The theory of knowledge (TOK) course plays a special role in the DP by providing an opportunity for students to reflect on the nature, scope and limitations of knowledge and the process of knowing. In this way, the main focus of TOK is not on students acquiring new knowledge but on helping students to reflect on, and put into perspective, what they already know. TOK underpins and helps to unite the subjects that students encounter in the rest of their DP studies. It engages students in explicit reflection on how knowledge is arrived at in different disciplines and areas of knowledge, on what these areas have in common and the differences between them.

The aims of the TOK course are:

• to encourage students to reflect on the central question, “How do we know that?”, and to recognize the value of asking that question
• to expose students to ambiguity, uncertainty and questions with multiple plausible answers
• to equip students to effectively navigate and make sense of the world, and help prepare them to encounter novel and complex situations
• to encourage students to be more aware of their own perspectives and to reflect critically on their own beliefs and assumptions
• to engage students with multiple perspectives, foster open-mindedness and develop intercultural understanding
• to encourage students to make connections between academic disciplines by exploring underlying concepts and by identifying similarities and differences in the methods of inquiry
  used in different areas of knowledge
• to prompt students to consider the importance of values, responsibilities and ethical concerns relating to the production, acquisition, application and communication of knowledge.

II. Curriculum model overview

Core theme: Knowledge and the knower

This theme provides an opportunity for students to reflect on themselves as knowers and thinkers, and on the different communities of knowers to which we belong.

Optional themes

Students are required to study two optional themes from the following five options.

• • Knowledge and technology
  • Knowledge and language
  • Knowledge and politics
  • Knowledge and religion
  • Knowledge and indigenous societies

Areas of knowledge

Students are required to study the following five areas of knowledge.

• • History
  • The human sciences
  • The natural sciences
  • The arts
  • Mathematics

III. Assessment model

Students are required to complete two assessment tasks for TOK.

• Theory of knowledge exhibition
• Theory of knowledge essay on a prescribed title

Assessment objectives
Having completed the TOK course, students should be able to:
• demonstrate TOK thinking through the critical examination of knowledge questions
• identify and explore links between knowledge questions and the world around us
• identify and explore links between knowledge questions and areas of knowledge
• develop relevant, clear and coherent arguments
• use examples and evidence effectively to support a discussion
• demonstrate awareness and evaluation of different points of view
• consider the implications of arguments and conclusions.

Internal Assessment

TOK Exhibition (33%)
Students are required to create an exhibition of three objects with accompanying commentaries that explores how TOK manifests in the world around us. This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.

External Assessment

TOK Essay (67%)
Students are required to write an essay in response to one of the six prescribed titles that are issued by the IB for each examination session. As an external assessment component, it is marked by IB examiners.