The 35 ToK Exhibition Prompts (DP IB Theory of Knowledge): Revision Note

The 35 ToK exhibition prompts

• The TOK exhibition must be based on one of the 35 official prompts, which are set by the IB in the ToK guide

  • The list of prompts will not change from one year to the next

• You should treat the wording of the prompt as fixed, because small changes in phrasing can change what the question is really asking

  • Avoid summarising the prompt in your own words, as this can accidentally shift its meaning

• Each prompt is asking something about knowledge itself, not just what you think about an issue

• The 35 prompts are:

  1. What counts as knowledge? 

  2. Are some types of knowledge more useful than others? 

  3. What features of knowledge have an impact on its reliability? 

  4. On what grounds might we doubt a claim? 

  5. What counts as good evidence for a claim?

  6. How does the way that we organize or classify knowledge affect what we know? 

  7. What are the implications of having, or not having, knowledge? 

  8. To what extent is certainty attainable? 

  9. Are some types of knowledge less open to interpretation than others? 

  10. What challenges are raised by the dissemination and/or communication of knowledge? 

  11. Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs? 

  12. Is bias inevitable in the production of knowledge? 

  13. How can we know that current knowledge is an improvement upon past knowledge? 

  14. Does some knowledge belong only to particular communities of knowers? 

  15. What constraints are there on the pursuit of knowledge? 

  16. Should some knowledge not be sought on ethical grounds? 

  17. Why do we seek knowledge? 

  18. Are some things unknowable? 

  19. What counts as a good justification for a claim? 

  20. What is the relationship between personal experience and knowledge? 

  21. What is the relationship between knowledge and culture? 

  22. What role do experts play in influencing our consumption or acquisition of knowledge? 

  23. How important are material tools in the production or acquisition of knowledge? 

  24. How might the context in which knowledge is presented influence whether it is accepted or rejected? 

  25. How can we distinguish between knowledge, belief and opinion? 

  26. Does our knowledge depend on our interactions with other knowers? 

  27. Does all knowledge impose ethical obligations on those who know it? 

  28. To what extent is objectivity possible in the production or acquisition of knowledge? 

  29. Who owns knowledge? 

  30. What role does imagination play in producing knowledge about the world? 

  31. How can we judge when evidence is adequate? 

  32. What makes a good explanation? 

  33. How is current knowledge shaped by its historical development? 

  34. In what ways do our values affect our acquisition of knowledge? 

  35. In what ways do values affect the production of knowledge?

Choosing a prompt

• You need to pick one prompt that you can genuinely explore through real-world evidence

  • Your entire exhibition (i.e., all three objects) needs to stay focused on this one question

• A strong prompt choice helps you make three distinct points

• A prompt should lead you towards knowledge-focused thinking, rather than letting you stay at the level of a topic, e.g. social media, medicine or history

  • If your first reaction to a prompt is “I can talk about this topic”, pause and check whether you can instead talk about knowledge within that topic

• Start by reading all 35 prompts slowly.

• Consider the prompts carefully using the following suggestions

Linking prompts and objects

• Notice which prompts immediately make you think of objects with clear contexts; this usually means you will be able to justify your choices more easily

• Some prompts may quickly suggest objects, e.g. “material tools” (prompt 23) may make you think of lab equipment or an artist’s studio

• Other prompts may feel harder at first, but can lead to deeper justification once you find the right contexts

• Do not choose a prompt just because it sounds “easy” or seems obviously linked to objects, because this can trap you in a shallow discussion

Addressing the prompt in depth

• Check whether the prompt lets you explore in depth within the word limit, rather than encouraging you to list lots of examples

  • A strong prompt choice leads to a few well-developed points, not many brief points

  • If you can only explain your objects at a surface level, the prompt-object match is probably too obvious or too narrow

• Choose a prompt that is wide enough to fit three different objects, but not so wide that your writing becomes vague

  • If the prompt is too narrow, all three objects will relate in the same way, which creates repetition

  • If the prompt is too broad, it becomes harder to keep your claims precise and evidence-based

Choosing between similar prompts

• If several prompts feel similar, develop ideas across a small cluster before deciding

• You can develop a line of thinking that might address all of the prompts in your cluster, before deciding which specific prompt fits best with your potential objects

• E.g. choosing between two prompts about knowledge over time

  • Prompt 13 focuses on whether current knowledge is an improvement on past knowledge, while prompt 33 focuses on how current knowledge is shaped by its historical development

  • If your objects mainly show “better tools = better knowledge”, the first prompt may work well, though could risk repetition and shallow reasoning

  • If your objects push you into considering wider influences on knowledge, e.g.  social context, past classifications and cultural narratives, the broader prompt may allow richer justification

Testing your prompt

• Test your prompt choice using a “three-object check” before you commit

  • Can you already picture three specific objects that would each add a different contribution to answering the prompt?

  • Can you explain how each object links to the prompt without using the same reasoning three times?

• Use object development as a way to confirm whether your chosen prompt is the right fit

  • As you research your potential objects, you may realise your initial prompt is too narrow for the direction your thinking is naturally moving

  • If your object choices start pulling you towards broader historical, social or cultural dimensions, switching to a broader prompt can improve fit

Consider using a ToK theme

• If you are stuck, consider using one of the ToK Optional Themes to help you come up with real-world contexts, e.g.  Prompt 29 “Who owns knowledge?” can become easier to consider through the lens of:

  • Knowledge and Indigenous Societies, linking to appropriation and ownership of cultural artefacts

  • Knowledge and Technology, linking to open-source software, creative commons and digital remix culture