TOK essay prompts

May 2027 TOK prompts

Prompt #1Do we gain a better appreciation of the human experience from the artist or the historian? Discuss with reference to the arts and history.Recommended areas of knowledge: The arts + History
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Prompt #2If values change over time, how can they, nevertheless, continue to guide the pursuit of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
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Prompt #3In the production of knowledge, how can knowledge be reliable if it is built on assumptions? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: The human sciences
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Prompt #4To what extent do you agree with the claim that “any coincidence is worth noticing; you can throw it away later if it is only a coincidence” (Agatha Christie). Answer with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: Mathematics
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Prompt #5In the production of knowledge, when choosing one explanation over another, to what extent should simplicity be prioritized? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
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Prompt #6In the pursuit of knowledge, what value is there in exploring the paradoxical or the counterintuitive? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: The natural sciences
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November 2026 TOK prompts

Prompt #1Is the advice to "study the historian before you begin to study their work" (adapted from E.H. Carr) good advice? Explore with reference to history and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: History
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Prompt #2To what extent do you agree that failure is an essential part of the production of knowledge? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.
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Prompt #3In the production of knowledge, why is it that ideas are so often more alluring than facts? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: The human sciences
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Prompt #4To what extent do you agree that the artist and the natural scientist should be equally concerned with ethical questions? Discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences.Recommended areas of knowledge: The arts + The natural sciences
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Prompt #5Does the need to share knowledge pose challenges in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
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Prompt #6Given that it lacks evidence, how is it that intuition is so valuable in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: Mathematics
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May 2027 TOK prompts

Prompt #1Do we gain a better appreciation of the human experience from the artist or the historian? Discuss with reference to the arts and history.Recommended areas of knowledge: The arts + History
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #2If values change over time, how can they, nevertheless, continue to guide the pursuit of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #3In the production of knowledge, how can knowledge be reliable if it is built on assumptions? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: The human sciences
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #4To what extent do you agree with the claim that “any coincidence is worth noticing; you can throw it away later if it is only a coincidence” (Agatha Christie). Answer with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: Mathematics
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #5In the production of knowledge, when choosing one explanation over another, to what extent should simplicity be prioritized? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #6In the pursuit of knowledge, what value is there in exploring the paradoxical or the counterintuitive? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: The natural sciences
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer

November 2026 TOK prompts

Prompt #1Is the advice to "study the historian before you begin to study their work" (adapted from E.H. Carr) good advice? Explore with reference to history and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: History
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #2To what extent do you agree that failure is an essential part of the production of knowledge? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #3In the production of knowledge, why is it that ideas are so often more alluring than facts? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: The human sciences
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #4To what extent do you agree that the artist and the natural scientist should be equally concerned with ethical questions? Discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences.Recommended areas of knowledge: The arts + The natural sciences
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #5Does the need to share knowledge pose challenges in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer
Prompt #6Given that it lacks evidence, how is it that intuition is so valuable in the production of knowledge? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.Recommended areas of knowledge: Mathematics
Use this prompt View breakdown View model answer