IB Theory of Knowledge Exam Themes for May 2025: A Look into the Topics for the International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge Examination
The International Baccalaureate (IB) has announced the prescribed titles for the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay for the May 2025 examination session. These titles are a crucial part of the IB Diploma Programme, challenging students to delve deep into the nature of knowledge and its various aspects.
The Prescribed Titles for May 2025
- Is our most revered knowledge more fragile than we assume it to be? Discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of knowledge.
- How can we reconcile the relentless drive to pursue knowledge with the finite resources we have available? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.
- Do historians and human scientists have an ethical obligation to follow the directive: "do not ignore contradictory evidence"? Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.
- Do the ever-improving tools of an area of knowledge always result in improved knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
- To what extent do you agree with the claim "all models are wrong, but some are useful" (attributed to George Box)? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.
- A question for discussion in May 2025 is whether acquiring knowledge destroys our sense of wonder. This is to be discussed with reference to two areas of knowledge.
Key Recommendations for the TOK Essay
- Select one prescribed title and address all parts of the question clearly, ensuring you cover the prescribed areas of knowledge stated in the title. Each essay must engage with exactly two AOKs specified or implied by the title to explore the knowledge claims or issues presented.
- Demonstrate a deep understanding of the knowledge question by critically examining the nature, scope, and limitations of knowledge in the chosen AOKs. Incorporate relevant TOK concepts such as trust, certainty, evidence, bias, or classification of knowledge depending on the title’s focus.
- Use concrete, real-life examples from at least two Areas of Knowledge to illustrate your arguments. Examples should be analyzed to show how they relate to the knowledge question and to illuminate knowledge issues within each AOK.
- Engage explicitly with TOK terminology and frameworks (Ways of Knowing, knowledge communities, knowledge frameworks, etc.) to develop nuanced insights. This strengthens the evaluative and reflective quality the IB demands.
- Adhere strictly to the IB’s assessment criteria and essay rubric, which assess understanding of knowledge questions, quality of analysis, structure and coherence, and clarity of expression. The essay is externally marked by IB examiners according to these criteria.
- Respect the word count (typically 1600–1800 words), avoiding repetition and ensuring concise yet thorough discussion of the prescribed question and AOKs.
Interpreting the Titles
Teachers and IB guidance recommend interpreting the titles carefully to identify the key knowledge issues and select the most relevant AOKs for a balanced, critical, and focused exploration aligned with TOK’s aims. Common themes include trust and acceptance of knowledge claims, certainty and doubt, the influence of knowledge classification, dissemination, or bias, and the relationship between knowledge acquisition and our sense of wonder.
In sum, the best approach for the May 2025 TOK Essay Prescribed Titles is to:
- Select one prescribed title.
- Identify the two Areas of Knowledge specified.
- Explore the knowledge question in depth using TOK concepts, examples, and terminology.
- Apply the IB assessment criteria by structuring a clear, coherent, and well-argued essay within the word limit.
- Support all claims with thoughtful examples and critical reflection relevant to the chosen AOKs and the prescribed title.
- Engaging with the TOK Essay title "Is our most revered knowledge more fragile than we assume it to be?", a student could delve into the nature of knowledge by discussing the fragility of knowledge in the arts and one other area of knowledge, while critically examining the trust, certainty, and evidence surrounding these knowledge claims.
- For the TOK Essay topic "A question for discussion in May 2025 is whether acquiring knowledge destroys our sense of wonder", a student might explore the relationship between knowledge acquisition and our sense of wonder in two areas of knowledge, using concrete examples to illustrate their arguments and engaging with TOK concepts such as trust, evidence, and classification of knowledge to strengthen the evaluative and reflective quality of their essay.
