TOK Essay Examples and Rubric: How Teachers Can Give Better Feedback

TOK essay examples are useful when they help students see how a knowledge argument is built. They become less useful when students copy the surface structure without understanding how the essay responds to the prescribed title.

IB describes the TOK essay as a formal, sustained piece of writing that responds to one of six prescribed titles for the examination session. Teacher feedback should keep returning to that title.

What to look for in TOK examples

• A clear interpretation of the prescribed title.
• Claims and counterclaims that test the same knowledge issue.
• Examples that do analytical work, not just decoration.
• Evaluation of which perspective is stronger or more limited.
• A conclusion that synthesizes rather than repeats.

Rubric-focused feedback questions

1. Does the introduction define the central tension in the title?
2. Does each example help answer the title?
3. Does the student evaluate the counterclaim before moving on?
4. Does the conclusion explain what the comparison reveals about knowledge?

Reusable TOK comments

• "This example is relevant, but you need to explain how it changes your answer to the title."
• "Add a counterclaim that challenges the assumption behind this claim."
• "Evaluate why this perspective is stronger or more limited in this context."

Next steps

Use the TOK Essay Grader to draft comments, then edit the final feedback with the prescribed title in front of you.