How many objects are required for the TOK exhibition?
The exhibition requires three specific objects, or images of objects. All three must connect to the same one of the 35 official IA prompts. The submitted file also includes the prompt as its title, the object images, commentaries and appropriate citations and references.
Can a TOK exhibition object be digital?
Yes. The official guide permits digital objects and images of physical objects that cannot practically be exhibited. A digital object must still be a specific, pre-existing object situated in a particular real-world time and place, including a virtual space; it should not be created only for the exhibition.
Is the TOK exhibition word limit 950 words per object?
No. The maximum is 950 words across the written commentaries for all three objects combined. Text within the objects, acknowledgements, references and the bibliography are excluded. Examiners stop reading after 950 words, and extended footnotes or appendices are not appropriate.
Do TOK exhibition objects have to come from different themes or areas of knowledge?
No. The guide encourages using a TOK theme as a possible way to focus the exhibition, but the examiner instructions say a theme is not required by the assessment instrument and areas of knowledge are not expected or assessed. Choose objects for their distinct contribution to the selected prompt, not to fill three artificial categories.
What makes a strong TOK exhibition object?
A strong choice is a specific object with a clearly identified real-world context that lets the student make a precise, evidence-supported link to the selected prompt. The commentary must also justify the particular contribution that object makes; describing the object or saying it is personally meaningful is not enough.
Does a TOK exhibition need an introduction and conclusion?
No. The current examiner instructions state that an introduction and conclusion are not required. With only 950 words, prioritise identification and context, the object-to-prompt link, justification of each object's contribution, and supporting evidence.