The TOK exhibition: choosing your objects

The TOK exhibition is the internally-assessed half of TOK. You choose three real objects that connect to one of the IA prompts, and write a commentary explaining how each shows the way knowledge works in the world. It rewards specific objects and clear links — not clever ones with weak justification.

Pick one IA prompt

The exhibition responds to a single IA prompt chosen from the set the IB provides (questions like “What counts as knowledge?” or “How do we know what to trust?”). Choose the prompt that genuinely connects to objects you can discuss with insight — the prompt frames everything that follows.

Choose three specific objects

Each object should be specific and real — a particular item with a real-world context, not a generic category. A specific newspaper front page beats “newspapers” in general. The best objects are ones you can clearly connect to the prompt and say something substantive about; cleverness without a clear link scores poorly.

Write the commentary

For each object, the commentary (around 950 words total) identifies the object and its real-world context, then explains how it links to the IA prompt — what it shows about knowledge. Justify the connection explicitly; don't assume it's obvious. Include the required evidence that each object is real and specific.

Common mistakes

Choosing objects that are too generic, picking objects first and forcing the prompt afterwards, and describing the object without linking it to the knowledge question. Work from the prompt to the objects, keep each link explicit, and make sure the three objects together genuinely illuminate the prompt.