ToK Exhibition Objects: The Complete Guide for IB Students

An exhibition in the ToK course requires you to choose and unpack a maximum of three objects based on a specific prompt.

This article is an oversimplified explanation of the objects and their requirements. You learn what objects are, how to choose them, and examples based on some of the prescribed titles.

What is a ToK Exhibition Object?

A ToK exhibition object is a product of knowledge accessible to everyone, as long as it’s not generic or symbolic.

IB guidelines clearly state that you have to present actual objects for the exhibition rather than pictures of the object. However, there’s an exception to this. In the case where it’s impossible to present an object, such as Mount Everest, an image of the object would be fine.

The objects you select have to be specific only to you, even if many students in your class have picked a prompt similar to yours.

What Counts as an Object in ToK

As to what counts as an object in ToK, IB states clearly that the object can be either digital or physical provided it’s specific, exits in a particular time and place, and has a specific real-world context.

You can create an object yourself, but you can’t use include such an entity in your exhibition. That’s because the object did not pre-exist and therefore it doesn’t have any real-world context.

How to Choose Objects for ToK Exhibition

Here are some quick tips to help you select the right objects for your ToK exhibition: 

1. Understand Object Selection Rules

Your objects must not be generic. They should have a specific real-world significance and a clear link to the IA prompt you choose.

Your object can be digital (such as a tweet, a photograph, or a screenshot), but it must still have a real-world connection.

2. Choosing Unique & Personal Objects

To ensure originality:

  • Pick objects that are meaningful to you rather than widely used items. 
  • Consider objects from your classroom, your environment, or personal experiences. 
  • Seek personal relevance by choosing objects that reflect your perspective and knowledge. 

If you’re unsure about your personal choices, consult your ToK teacher for feedback before finalizing your selection. 

Objects and IA Prompt: Which One Comes First?

It depends on your teacher’s method, as well as how they integrate ToK into teaching.

Choose objects first if your teacher encourages analyzing artefacts before selecting a knowledge issue or if they’ve asked you to reflect on an object’s significance before linking it to a ToK concept. 

Select an IA prompt first if you want to focus on the knowledge issue first before selecting objects or if you prefer a structured approach where the objects support the prompt rather than the other way around. 

ToK Exhibition Object Examples

Below are ToK exhibition object examples with real-world context based on the first 5 IA prompts:

1. What counts as knowledge?

  • DNA Test Kit (23andMe and AncestryDNA): Represents how scientific advancements define genetic knowledge and personal ancestry. 
  • Religious Scripture (The Bible, Quran, and Bhagavad Gita): Highlights different perspectives on spiritual or moral knowledge. 
  • Historical Artifact (The Rosetta Stone): Demonstrates how we derive linguistic and historical knowledge from tangible evidence. 

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

  • Medical Textbook (e.g., “Gray’s Anatomy”): Demonstrates how medical knowledge has direct practical applications in saving lives. 
  • Stock Market Data Chart: Shows how financial knowledge is used for economic decision-making and wealth management. 
  • Survival Guide (e.g., “SAS Survival Handbook”): Illustrates how situational knowledge (e.g., survival skills) is crucial in certain contexts. 

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

  • Scientific Journal Article (Nature or Science): Represents peer-reviewed research, emphasizing how expert validation affects reliability. 
  • Wikipedia Entry: Demonstrates the influence of open-source contributions and potential inaccuracies in crowd-sourced knowledge. 
  • Forensic Evidence (DNA Sample in a Court Case): Shows how empirical evidence strengthens reliability in legal knowledge. 

4. On what grounds might we doubt a claim?

  • Conspiracy Theory Book (The Moon Landing Hoax): Illustrates how lack of credible sources and misinformation lead to doubt. 
  • AI-Generated Image (Deepfake Video of a Politician): Highlights how technology manipulates information and causes skepticism. 
  • Phrenology Head Model: Represents outdated pseudoscientific claims once considered knowledge but now discredited. 

5. What counts as good evidence for a claim?

  • Fingerprint at a Crime Scene: Represents how physical evidence supports claims in forensic investigations. 
  • Double-Blind Clinical Trial Report (COVID-19 Vaccine Studies): Highlights the importance of controlled scientific studies in validating medical claims. 
  • Eyewitness Testimony in Court: Raises questions about human perception, memory, and the subjectivity of “good” evidence. 

ToK Exhibition Objects and the Commentary

The ToK exhibition commentary requires careful selection of both the IA prompt and the objects. Additionally, understanding the methodology in Theory of Knowledge and using teacher support materials can help refine your exhibition project. 

1. IA Prompts and Objects 

To structure your exhibition effectively, select one IA prompt from the 35 IA prompts provided, identify three objects to service as the foundation of your exhibition, and link to a core or optional theme in ToK.

Your objects should demonstrate how the question asked in the IA prompt manifests in the real world. 

2. Unpacking the IA Prompt 

Your exhibition must show a clear connection between the three objects, the chosen IA prompt and the knowledge issue within the prompt. Therefore, your task here is to:

  • Explain how each object contributes to answering the IA prompt. 
  • Highlight how real-world examples represent knowledge question in you work.
  • Connect the three objects to provide a cohesive analysis. 

3. Methodology in ToK Exhibition 

The themes such as Knowledge and the Knower, Knowledge and Language, and Knowledge and Indigenous Societies don’t have predefined methodologies.

Instead, the focus is 100% on the real-world application of knowledge. 

4. Teacher Support Materials 

Use Teacher Support Materials (TSM) to: 

  • Ensure the objects have a real-world context (IB requirement). 
  • Identify objects linked to your personal interests. 
  • Root your exhibition in only one theme (either core or optional).

Can Choose Objects and Write My Exhibition for Me?

Yes, our IB experts can help you choose objects (or images of objects with real-world context and write your exhibition for you. Head on to our exhibition writing service page to place your order.

Whether you’ve picked a prompt or not, we’ll help to you complete the task before your due date.

Our IB writers focus on in-depth research, custom writing, expert proofreading, and timely delivery. Every exhibition commentary we write clearly aligns with IB’s expectations, meaning we work around the clock to give you the best value for your money.

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