Context in tok exhibition
The First Thing Examiners Look for in the ToK Exhibition: Context
So, you want to score highly on your Theory of Knowledge Exhibition? The good news is — it’s more achievable than you might think. In this blog post, I’m going to walk you through one of the most important — yet often overlooked — elements of a strong ToK Exhibition: explaining the real-world context of your objects.
Why Context Matters
The very first criterion in the ToK Exhibition mark scheme (what the IB calls the “assessment instrument”) asks whether the object is clearly identified and whether its real-world context is specific. So, let’s break this down.
In the most recent ToK Subject Report (Nov 24), the Chief Examiner noted that many students are confusing the content of an object with its context. Here’s how to distinguish between the two:
Content: What the object says (e.g., the text on a protest poster, the data in a research report).
Context: The object’s existence in space and time — where, when, and in what circumstances it was produced or encountered.
Understanding this difference is essential, because a well-explained context that’s clearly connected to your prompt and knowledge claim can significantly boost your marks.
Context That Supports Your Knowledge Argument
Here’s the key point: you don’t need to describe everything about the object’s context — only what’s relevant to your knowledge argument and the prompt.
Let’s explore two examples.
Example 1: Prompt 8 – To what extent is certainty attainable?
Let’s say you’re working with this knowledge claim:
“The degree to which certainty is attainable depends on the value framework of the knower.”
Your chosen object is a local fitness class in a park. Now, there are countless things you could describe: the location of the park, the type of exercises involved, even the weather conditions. But none of that matters unless it relates to the knowledge claim.
What does matter is:
Who attends the class
What they believe about the link between physical exercise and health
How their certainty is shaped by their values and experiences
That’s the context you need — and nothing more.
Example 2: Prompt 17 – Why do we seek knowledge?
Here, your knowledge claim is:
“We seek knowledge to solve problems.”
The object is Edward Jenner’s 1796 reports on smallpox vaccination. There’s no need to talk about the paper type or ink colour. What matters is the historical and medical context:
Jenner was experimenting with cowpox to test immunity to smallpox.
His goal was to find a solution to a deadly epidemic.
That’s the relevant context that supports your knowledge argument. Simple.
The Key Connection: Context → Prompt → Argument
The best Exhibitions don’t just link the object to the prompt. They show how the object’s context supports the knowledge argument in response to the prompt. This is where many students miss out on marks.
Let’s test this idea further with more examples.
Linking context, Prompt and Object: examples
Prompt: Prompt 31 – How can we judge when evidence is adequate?
Object: The world’s first fMRI machine (Massachusetts General Hospital, 1991)
Context: This machine provided better internal imaging than any previous medical tool.
Knowledge Argument: We judge evidence to be adequate when it surpasses earlier forms of evidence in reliability or clarity.
Prompt: Prompt 17 – Why do we seek knowledge?
Object: The raising of the Mary Rose warship from the English Channel (1982)
Context: The Mary Rose is a symbol of British naval history and national identity.
Knowledge Argument: We sometimes seek knowledge to affirm collective identity and cultural memory.
Prompt: Prompt 26 – Does our knowledge depend on interaction with other knowers?
Object: Episode 65 of The Lonely Palette podcast (linked)
Context: This episode reveals how listeners’ understanding of a Botticelli painting evolves through shared interpretation and discussion.
Knowledge Argument: Our knowledge is shaped and reshaped through interaction with other knowers.
The Takeaway: Be Context-Specific and Argument-Relevant
Every object exists in a context. But only include those contextual details that help you explain your knowledge argument. If something doesn’t help answer the prompt — leave it out.
This simple principle will help you meet the first part of the assessment instrument, set a strong foundation for your Exhibition, and put you on track for a high-scoring response.
More Support from ToKToday
If you’re looking for more help with your Exhibition, we’ve got you covered at ToKToday:
Free ToK Exhibition guides and blog posts
eBooks like Every ToK Exhibition Prompt Explained
One-to-one online coaching and detailed written feedback
See all blog posts on The ToK Exhibition here, or see all Exhibition resources here.
Thanks for reading, and I hope today’s guide was helpful. Please feel free to comment below, stay ToKTastic, my friends.
Daniel, Lisbon, June 2025
