IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK) SL Theory of Knowledge Example

The student maintains a clear focus on the prescribed title from start to finish and keeps the argument tightly controlled.

The student uses the examples of Semmelweis, Einstein, and Cold War historiography analytically to develop their claims rather than simply to illustrate them.

The student shows strong awareness of how doubt operates differently across disciplines and they evaluate those differences with nuance.

The student includes counterclaims and weighs their implications, which gives the essay genuine depth and balance.

The student's conclusion brings the argument together in a coherent and thoughtful way.

At times, the comparison between science and history becomes a little too binary and would benefit from more qualification.

Some claims about historical interpretation could be sharpened by acknowledging how evidence and method can narrow interpretations over time.

The central thesis could be made even more explicit earlier on so the essay’s direction is even clearer.