deadline for tok essay

What is the Deadline for Uploading TOK Essay?

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Writing Metier

The TOK essay is one of the parts of the IB program that many students find very challenging. The main reason for this is that the structure of the essay is unique. But with ample knowledge and using relevant examples, it can be done correctly. Many students are also concerned about the TOK essay deadline. You may ask “Why?”

Many students struggle with meeting deadlines with so much to do all at once. However, as a student, this is one of the most important things you should always do. Managing deadlines is not as hard as it seems. With the right amount of planning, you can manage things rather well!

To find out more about the IB TOK essay deadline of 2023 /2024 , and do not want to miss any more deadlines again, continue reading this article! I tried to focus on the most challenging questions regarding the deadlines for your TOKs. Enjoy reading 😉

The TOK essay deadline is usually around February/March every year. However, schools are the ones who traditionally set internal deadlines, so students need to get in touch with their IB schools to get more information on when they need to submit their TOK essays. This depends on when they feel it is the best time to submit.

Schools usually have an internal procedure to set these deadlines based on that. When students want to learn more about the TOK essay deadline date, this must be kept in mind. This is the right that schools have, and students need to know this to be able to proceed well further.

Two different submissions according to the selected IB program

Essentially, two submissions happen yearly for the TOK essay- one in November and one in May. So for that, it is essential first to consider the period in which you appear. Then you can understand these things in a much better way. Not forgetting to select one of the TOK prescribed titles proposed by IBO.

It is important that you get all the information from your school because your school first verifies your essay. This can take a few days. All schools have different procedures, so all of this happens in line with that. Therefore, the first thing you need to do is get in touch with your school to find out all that you need to know.

If your school doesn’t verify your essay, it won’t be counted. So you first need to get in touch with your IB school for everything you know. They are the ones who will guide you throughout and make you understand things in a better way.

What is the submission deadline for TOK essay in 2023/2024?

IBO sets no exact submission deadline for students. It only guides schools on how and when to provide all the submitted papers to the organization. So you can’t make an end run without your school’s cooperation. It would help if you first found out all about their policies and procedures, only after which you can fully understand what needs to be done.

Schools have a right to set their own deadlines . However, there’s a certain point after which they do not accept more submissions. So to make sure you are on the right track, you need first to get all the information you need.

Once you have that, you can plan your TOK essay accordingly and then work to ensure that you can get things done in due time. As a student, one of the most important things you need to do is plan things accordingly. If you are diligent, you can manage things in a given time frame and also not miss the deadline.

The TOK essay requires you to plan the day properly first. Since the structure of the essay is unique, you first need to understand things correctly to score well. Not just that, but you also need to have the correct examples for scoring well.

If you plan well and work according to how things are planned, you can get TOK done well. The idea is to ensure that you work in the given time frame.

⏭ urgent help with your TOK essay ⏮

Meanwhile, if you need any sort of assistance with your paper, feel free to order a custom TOK essay here at Writing Metier. Our IB experts with years of experience can cover a TOK essay on any selected title. No matter the WOKs or AOKs, our writers will cover your TOK essay following all the latest IB criteria , including the RLS, following the word count, etc.

So what to do to get the exact TOK deadline from school?

What you need to do firsthand is to ask your DP coordinator for your local deadline. Once you have all the necessary information, you can select your TOK essay prompt and work accordingly to ensure things are done correctly. Remember that this is a huge chunk of your grade, so it only makes sense that you approach this with a vision in mind to ensure that you can get things done in the right way.

So if you are still thinking about your TOK essay upload date and time, quickly get in touch with your DP coordinator since they can guide you best in this regard!

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Vasyl Kafidoff is a co-founder and CEO at WritingMetier. He is interested in education and how modern technology makes it more accessible. He wants to bring awareness about new learning possibilities as an educational specialist. When Vasy is not working, he’s found behind a drum kit.

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What’s the Deadline for Submitting your TOK Essay?

Table of contents.

The Theory of Knowledge essay is an important part of any International Baccalaureate curriculum. It is a written assignment that tests a student’s ability to think critically about a given topic and form an argument based on research. The TOK essay is unique in that it has a specific structure and focuses on different ways of knowing, thinking, and learning.

The purpose of the TOK essay is to demonstrate how well a student can interpret, evaluate, and communicate different types of knowledge. It also allows students to engage with philosophical concepts and explore their own creativity. By writing a TOK essay, students gain insight into their own world views, as well as those of their peers.

When it comes to writing a TOK essay , there are three key concepts to keep in mind – the focus of the essay (the target search terms), the argument that the essay makes, and the evidence that supports the argument. The target search terms are the keywords used when researching the essay topic. These terms will guide the student as they look for evidence in books, articles, lectures, and other sources. The student must then use this evidence to form an argument and structure their essay. Finally, the essay must be formatted according to the guidelines provided by the IB program.

Writing a TOK essay can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. By following the steps outlined in this guide, students can feel confident that they are on the right track to submitting a top-notch TOK essay on time.

What’s the Deadline for Submitting your TOK Essay?

Step 1: Doing Your Research

Doing your research is the most important step in writing a successful TOK essay. To make sure you score top marks and get the best possible result, it is essential that you have a good understanding of the topic and have done your research properly.

Start by reading up on the subject and familiarising yourself with all the key concepts. If you are struggling to understand any of the terms, try looking them up online or talking to someone who has more experience with the subject.

Next, you need to find some reliable sources for your essay. Make sure you are using reputable websites and don’t use any unreliable sources as this could lead to weaker arguments and even poorer grades.

You should also make sure to look at different perspectives, so that you can build a more detailed argument. Read multiple books and articles to ensure you have a thorough understanding of the topic.

Finally, make sure to write down any quotes or ideas you find while researching. This will help you to think of new ways to approach the topic and may provide inspiration for later drafts of your essay.

By following these tips and doing your research properly, you will be well on your way to writing an outstanding TOK essay.

Brainstorming and Structuring Your TOK Essay

Introduction: The introduction should provide an overview of your essay and explain why the topic is important.
Body: This is where you will present your argument and evidence, as well as any counter-arguments or opposing views.
Conclusion: Sum up your argument and tie together any loose ends in your essay.

Step 3: Writing Drafts

How to write a draft.

Create an outline: Break your essay into sections and subsections that support your main argument. This can help keep your writing focused, clear and organized.
Evaluate your work: Once you’ve written the first draft, read through it carefully and make notes on any areas that you feel could be improved. Are there any gaps in your argument that need to be filled? Is the structure cohesive? What could be made clearer?
Revise and edit: Use your notes to make changes in the second draft. If possible, have someone else look through it for you to catch mistakes you might have missed.

The Importance Of Revision

Step 4: final touches.

The fourth and final step in submitting a successful TOK essay is to give it the finishing touches. Writing multiple drafts of your essay is important, but these drafts may still not be up to submission standards. This is why it’s essential to do an extensive edit and proofread of your essay before handing it in.

Editing is the process of refining your essay by adjusting sentences, paragraphs, and ideas so they flow in a logical order. When editing, consider whether there are better ways to communicate your argument, or if any part of the essay can be restructured. You should also look out for any typos or spelling mistakes in the text.

Proofreading is the last step of the writing process and involves meticulously going through each word and punctuation mark to make sure the sentence structure and punctuation is correct. You should double-check that all the references you used in the essay are formatted correctly, and any additional sources you may have added are cited properly.

It’s also important to add any further references or links that support your argument. This step is essential for making your work more reliable. Try to find sources from reputable organizations or institutions, and make sure that the information you’re adding is up to date and relevant.

By taking the time to edit and proofread your TOK essay, you can ensure that your work is of the highest quality and meets the criteria for submission.

What is the Deadline?

It is absolutely essential that you meet the deadline for submitting your TOK essay. The timeline for submitting your essay will depend on you or your school’s individual circumstances, but it is important to be aware of the deadlines and ensure that your essay is submitted in good time.

In general, students and schools should aim to submit the TOK essay at least two weeks before the start of the exam. This means that if your exam starts on June 1st, your essay should be submitted no later than May 15th. It is important to note that some schools and universities may have slightly different timelines, so you should always check with your school or university to find out their specific deadlines.

It is also important to be aware of the consequences of missing the deadline. If you are a student, you may not be allowed to sit for the exam. If you are a school, you may be penalized for late submission. Therefore, it is important to make sure that you are aware of the relevant deadlines and remain vigilant to ensure that your essay is submitted on time.

In conclusion, it is essential that you understand and adhere to the timeline for submitting your TOK essay. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the relevant deadlines and ensure that you submit the essay in good time. By taking these simple steps, you can ensure that you do not miss the deadline and avoid any potential penalties.

Finishing Up

We hope this guide has been helpful in preparing you for the TOK essay. Writing a great essay can be a challenge, but by doing your research, getting organized, and staying on top of your deadlines, you’ll have a greater chance of success.

Don’t forget to proofread your essay several times before submitting it. This will help you to check for any mistakes and make sure that your essay is free from grammatical and spelling errors.

Finally, if you’re having difficulty meeting the deadline, don’t panic. Talk to your teacher or your parents, as they can offer you advice and support. Also, take advantage of all the available resources, such as websites and books, to help you write a successful TOK essay.

We wish you the best of luck with your TOK essay!

International Context

For international students, it is important to be aware of the regulations and guidelines for submitting a TOK essay. While all students must adhere to the wider frameworks set out by the International Baccalaureate (IB) for the essay, there can be important differences between countries.

For example, in some countries the grading system may be different or the format of the final essay can have specific requirements. As such, it is important to check this information with your local school or institution before starting the writing process.

It is also important to note that the deadline for submission of the essay may vary from country to country. Some countries may require the essay to be completed in one academic year while others may adopt a more relaxed approach and allow students more time to submit their essays.

In addition, some international schools may apply specific rules regarding how to structure the essay and what topics students are permitted to write about. For instance, some countries may require the inclusion of certain cultural references in the essay or may even require students to use particular software.

To ensure you meet the requirements of your institution, read the guidelines closely and make sure you research thoroughly.

By understanding the regulations and guidelines for international students, it is possible to make sure that the TOK essay is up to the highest standard and is submitted on time.

Tips and Resources for Submitting Your TOK Essay on Time

Submitting your TOK essay can be a daunting task. Writing quality, argumentative essays requires lots of research, organization, structure and editing. The tight timeline prescribed by the International Baccalaureate (IB) program may seem intimidating, but there are tips and resources that you can use to make sure your essay is submitted on time.

Start by setting up a timeline. Make sure to give yourself plenty of cushion time so you don’t have to rush your essay at the last minute. Plan out when you will do your research, brainstorm your topic, write drafts, edit, and submit. Utilise free online tools like Google Calendar or a Plain Text editor to help track your progress and deadlines.

Set aside regular times each week to work on your essay. Aim to make progress everyday, even if that progress is small. Break the process into manageable chunks and focus on one element at a time instead of trying to tackle everything all at once.

Finally, take advantage of the wealth of online resources available. Look up trusted scientific sources, websites, and blogs. Ask teachers and fellow students for help with understanding the material. Utilise online proofreading tools to help edit and refine your writing. Take advantage of online essay writing services to get feedback from professional editors.

These tips and resources can help you make sure your TOK essay is great and submitted on time. Remember, it is much easier to make steady progress toward your goal than it is to scramble at the last minute. So take the time to set up a timeline, break the process into manageable chunks, and utilise the wealth of online resources available.

Writing a good TOK essay can be a daunting task – especially when it comes to meeting the deadline. We hope that this guide has been helpful in giving you an insight into writing a TOK essay, from researching to formatting and submitting the final copy.

It’s important to remember that by using the available resources, you can ensure that you meet the deadline for your TOK essay. Take some time to explore all the options available – from online tutors to sample essays and useful tips – so that you can submit a top-quality essay on time.

We also encourage you to stay up to date with your local examinations board or school guidelines when submitting a TOK essay. This will help ensure that you meet the correct deadline and don’t incur any penalties.

By following these simple steps and utilising the available resources, you can easily submit your TOK essay on time and get one step closer to achieving your educational goals.

Citing Sources

When writing an essay, it is essential to include references to the sources that you have used. This allows readers to verify the accuracy of your statements, as well as being able to investigate further. Therefore, at the end of your TOK essay, you should include a comprehensive list of all sources that you have used throughout the article.

Including references will also help to boost the overall credibility of your essay. By citing authoritative sources, you can show the reader that you have done your research and provide evidence to back up any claims that you make.

When citing sources, it is important to use the correct format. There are different formats for different types of source material, such as books, journals or websites. It is best to check with your teacher to ensure that you are using the correct style.

In addition to providing a comprehensive list of all the sources used in your essay, it is also useful to add any further links or resources that readers may find useful. This could include additional information on the topic or related articles that discuss similar issues.

By adding these extra resources, you can provide your readers with a wealth of information to explore further. Remember to include these references as part of your list of sources as this will help to keep your citations accurate.

So, when submitting your TOK essay, it is important to include a list of all the sources used. This should be accurately formatted and include any additional resources that the reader may wish to explore.

Last Edit 15 AUG 2023

Nick Radlinsky

Nick Radlinsky is a devoted educator, marketing specialist, and management expert with more than 15 years of experience in the education sector. After obtaining his business degree in 2016, Nick embarked on a quest to achieve his PhD, driven by his commitment to enhancing education for students worldwide. His vast experience, starting in 2008, has established him as a reputable authority in the field.

Nick's article, featured in Routledge's " Entrepreneurship in Central and Eastern Europe: Development through Internationalization ," highlights his sharp insights and unwavering dedication to advancing the educational landscape. Inspired by his personal motto, "Make education better," Nick's mission is to streamline students' lives and foster efficient learning. His inventive ideas and leadership have contributed to the transformation of numerous educational experiences, distinguishing him as a true innovator in his field.

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February 15th: The Deadline for TOK, or Should there be an Extension?

Felipe Veirano | October 1, 2021

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February 15, 2022 marks the deadline for the final IB submission of the Class of 2022’s Theory Of Knowledge Essay, our last summative deadline for the course until we graduate in late May. Because of this, a debate has emerged within TOK classrooms: what should be done after Feb 15th? As of now, there are two main options. The first is to continue having TOK lessons under what shall be called ‘TOK lite’ with no homework or summative assessments, but proceed with class discussions facilitated by the TOK Knowledge Framework Guide. The second option is to end TOK there and then, and have the TOK block become an Academic Prep block, giving students more time to wrap up their final IAs and prepare for the upcoming IB exams.

TOK is already a somewhat controversial class given its status within the IB core: meaning technically it isn’t truly an IB course, but rather a requirement that needs to be fulfilled if you want an IB diploma in your hands in two years time. To me, the answer to the question posed in the previous paragraph is really quite simple––no, there should be no ‘TOK lite’, and yes, there should just be an Academic Prep block. I say this not because it is the easiest way out and gives me more “down time” (whatever that means as an IB student), but because the Academic Prep block will truly be valuable for students. February is still a busy time in senior year, and with most students aiming to complete their IAs successfully while still keeping up with other coursework, an additional Academic Prep block would be crucial to manage our time more smoothly. Further, we spent a full year on distance learning, and so are at a disadvantage when compared to schools in places less affected by the pandemic – again, an Academic Prep block would alleviate this disadvantage. One way to lessen that handicap is to give us more time to study and review topics that might not be as fresh in our minds. After a year and a half of intense work, two Academic Prep blocks gives students time to finish most work on-campus, lessening the stress felt in after school hours. Second semester of senior year is, of course, still a time to work hard and achieve the highest grades you can, but it is also four months that should be devoted to reminiscence and the enjoyment of Graded as a whole: its afterschool activities, sports, and traditional events. The more work that can be completed in-school hours the better, both for students, who get more time to enjoy, as for teachers who will have more well-rested, gleeful students.

Another important point to consider is that of senioritis: if many seniors already lack the motivation to put full effort into their IB HL/SL classes during their second semester of senior year, what motivation will there be to pay attention and perform in a class where there is no more ‘true work’ to be done? How effective will TOK lite even be? I believe it’ll be very counterproductive, while Academic Prep at least gives students who are still on top of things time to complete work. Finally, the other two aspects of the IB Core have hard deadlines that nobody questions: I doubt Mrs Boerner will come talk to us about the EE after our viva você reflection has been submitted in October, nor will Bulga come to discuss CAS after March 31. If both of these elements are allowed to finish before our exams and graduations, why can’t that be the case with TOK?

February 15th, 2022 should be the deadline for TOK. Not that I haven’t learned or taken anything away from the class, but once the assignments are done, there is no purpose in keeping students there, especially when Academic Prep time could be given. Senioritis, comparison with the other IB core elements, and the benefits of Academic Prep combine to make it clear what should be done: assign seniors an additional Academic Prep block!

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Extended Essay Writers

What Are the TOK Essay Submission Dates?

Luke MacQuoid

Welcome, IB students! Are you wondering about the TOK essay submission dates? Well, you’re not alone. From my experience, understanding these deadlines is crucial for your success in the IB program. So, let’s dig into this topic and set you up for success.

Overview of the Theory of Knowledge Essay

What exactly is the Theory of Knowledge or TOK essay? Based on general IB criteria, it’s a fundamental component of your diploma program, strategically crafted to challenge and evaluate your understanding of knowledge. In my experience, the TOK essay is a unique platform where you can interrogate and reflect on how you acquire, construct, and communicate knowledge. But what makes the TOK essay so significant? Here’s a breakdown:

The essay encourages you to think critically about knowledge. It’s not just about presenting facts but analyzing and evaluating them.
Unlike many other essays, the TOK essay asks for your insights. It’s an opportunity to reflect on your perspectives and experiences relating to knowledge.
You’ll engage with complex knowledge questions, considering various viewpoints and arguments. These questions dig into the nature, limits, and validity of knowledge.
The essay connects abstract ideas about knowledge with real-world examples and situations. This aspect helps in understanding the practical application of key TOK concepts .
You are required to develop coherent arguments, demonstrating your ability to reason and articulate your thoughts effectively.
The essay allows you to explore various Areas of Knowledge (like mathematics, the arts, and sciences) and Ways of Knowing (like emotion, reason, language, and perception), providing a broad spectrum for analysis.

The TOK essay’s unique structure revolves around understanding and linking knowledge questions to real-life situations. Remember, it’s not just about what you know but how you know it. So, the TOK essay is an opportunity to engage deeply with the complex nature of knowledge. It challenges you to think beyond the conventional and understand how we know what we claim to know. The skills and insights you gain from this essay are invaluable.

Key TOK Essay Submission Dates

In my opinion, understanding and adhering to the submission dates is crucial for success in this component. From my experience, the International Baccalaureate Organization typically sets the final deadline for the TOK essay in March for candidates in the May session and in September for those in the November session. However, this can vary slightly from year to year.

Based on my extensive involvement with IB and according to other TOK professionals , it’s important to note that schools usually establish their internal deadlines, often earlier than the official IB deadlines. This practice is in place to ensure that students have ample time for revision and to incorporate feedback from their TOK teachers. Adhering to these internal deadlines is as important as meeting the final IB deadline.

From my experience, students often underestimate the time required to craft a thoughtful and well-structured TOK essay. As I know from mentoring many IB candidates, starting early and planning your essay well can make a significant difference. According to general IB criteria, the TOK essay is an academic exercise and an opportunity to reflect deeply on how we know what we claim to know. It’s a task that demands critical thinking and a reflective approach.

I also advise students to maintain regular communication with their TOK teachers. They are invaluable resources, offering guidance and insight that can enhance the quality of your essay. Remember, the TOK essay is a unique component of the IB. In my view, it offers a chance to engage with complex and intriguing ideas beyond traditional academic subjects.

As someone familiar with the IB curriculum and its requirements, I encourage all TOK students to take these essays seriously, plan, and make the most of the available resources. Your TOK essay is not just an assignment; it’s a meaningful part of your path in the IB.

How to Get the Exact TOK Essay Deadline?

To obtain the exact Theory of Knowledge essay deadline, I recommend the following steps, based on my experience with the International Baccalaureate program:

Consult Your TOK Teacher . As a first step, speak directly with your TOK teacher. They are usually the most up-to-date source for internal deadlines set by your school, which are often earlier than the official IB deadlines.
Check with the IB Coordinator . The IB Coordinator at your school oversees the IB Diploma Programme and can provide official IB deadlines and any school-specific timelines.
Refer to the IB Candidate Portal . If you have access to the IB candidate portal, check there. It often lists all deadlines, including those for TOK essay submissions.
School’s IB Website or Portal . Some schools maintain an IB section on their website or a dedicated portal for IB students, where they post important dates and deadlines.
Contact Fellow IB Students . Reach out to fellow IB Diploma candidates, especially those in higher years, as they may have relevant insights or information about the submission process.
IB Official Website . While the official IB website might not have specific deadlines for each school, it can provide general guidelines and dates for the IB TOK assessment cycle.

Confirming these dates as early as possible ensures adequate preparation time for your TOK essay. Managing your time is vital to producing a well-thought-out and comprehensive essay.

What If You Miss the TOK Essay Submission Dates?

The TOK essay is a core component of the IB Diploma. Failing to submit it on time puts your diploma eligibility at risk, as completing TOK (including both the essay and exhibition) is a requirement. The IB grading system includes points awarded for the extended essay and TOK. You must complete the deadline to avoid losing out on these crucial points, which can impact your overall score.

Realizing that you’ve missed a deadline can be a source of significant stress and anxiety. Here are the steps to take:

Once you realize the mistake, contact your school’s IB Coordinator. They can guide the school’s policies and any potential for leniency or extensions.
You can request an extension depending on your school’s policy and the reason for missing the deadline. Be prepared to explain your situation clearly and honestly.
If granted an extension, prioritize completing and submitting your essay as soon as possible. Ensure it adheres to all the TOK essay guidelines to avoid further issues.
Use this as a learning opportunity. Time management and meeting deadlines are crucial skills, especially in the IB program. Reflect on what led to the missed deadline and how you can prevent it in the future.
If an extension isn’t possible, focus on performing well in other components of the TOK and your remaining IB subjects. Excelling in these areas can still positively impact your overall score.
Consider how this might affect your applications if you’re applying to universities. Some universities understand extenuating circumstances, so discussing this with your guidance counselor may be beneficial.

The key is to act quickly and communicate effectively with your IB Coordinator. While missing the TOK essay submission dates is a serious issue, there may be steps you can take to mitigate the impact.

What Are the Valid Reasons for a Missed TOK Deadline?

Like most educational and professional settings, certain circumstances are considered valid reasons for missing a deadline. These are typically situations beyond students’ control, preventing them from completing work by the specified due date. However, it’s important to note that the acceptance of these reasons can vary depending on the specific school’s policies or the IB organization:

Medical Issues . Serious illness or injury that incapacitates the student, requiring medical attention. It must be documented with a medical certificate or a doctor’s note.
Family Emergencies . Events such as a death in the family, a serious illness of a close family member, or a significant family crisis that require the student’s immediate attention.
Natural Disasters . Situations like earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, or other severe weather conditions that disrupt normal living conditions or access to resources necessary for completing the work.
Mental Health Concerns . Issues such as severe anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges that a medical professional recognizes. Documentation and support from a healthcare provider are often required.
Unforeseen Personal Circumstances . It could include events such as a car accident or a sudden personal issue that demands immediate attention.

When a student faces such circumstances, it’s crucial to communicate with the IB Coordinator or relevant school authorities as soon as possible. Proactively explaining the situation and providing any required documentation can make a significant difference.

Need help with your IB TOK essay?

From research and analysis to structuring and editing, our skilled mentors will be by your side, helping you write an exceptional TOK essay that meets the word count and stringent IB criteria.

In my experience, the IB program values understanding and accommodating students’ needs within reasonable limits, so an open and honest conversation about any difficulties is essential.

What is the TOK essay deadline in 2023?

The deadline for the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) essay is rapidly approaching, and for many IB Diploma Programme students, the pressure is mounting. And we at BuyTOKEssay.com understand this feeling when you are facing a TOK essay deadline, really!

The TOK essay is not just any ordinary assignment, it is a make-or-break moment, a test of a student’s ability to think critically, and to make connections between different areas of knowledge.

It is also worth a significant portion of their overall grade, and missing the TOK essay deadline means that the students will not have their essay assessed according to the rubric and will not receive a grade for the assignment, which can have serious consequences for their overall diploma and their future academic or career aspirations.

Let’s figure out when is the TOK essay submission deadline in accordance with IBO.

When is the TOK essay due in 2023?

The official submission dates for the TOK essay, as set by the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), are in the months of April and May, and in November. These due dates represent the final opportunity for students to submit their work and have it graded.

IMPORTANT! It’s only official submission dates from IBO for schools, so if you want to know when is the TOK essay due in 2023, you MUST check with a supervisor or school what the deadline is for the first and final draft submission because each school might have its own deadlines.

As the TOK essay deadline looms closer, students are feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders, with the added stress of ensuring that their essay meets the high standards set by the IBO.

The pressure is intense, and for some, it can be unbearable, with many students losing sleep and experiencing anxiety as the deadline approaches. That is the reason why some students search for third-party assistance.

That’s why our company BuyTOKEssay.com was established.

Each IB student deserves professional assistance , especially when they run out of time and stay close to the boiling point when facing burning deadlines.

The TOK essay is not just a test of knowledge, it is a test of a student’s ability to handle pressure and to work under intense deadlines. It is a test of their resilience and determination to succeed.

For many students, the pressure to meet the deadline and submit a high-quality essay can be overwhelming, but it is important to remember that this is an opportunity to showcase their abilities and to prove to themselves and others that they have what it takes to succeed.

What happens if you miss the TOK submission deadline?

If a student misses the deadline for submitting their TOK essay, they will not have their essay assessed and will not receive a grade for the assignment. This can seriously affect their overall diploma and future academic or career aspirations.

Missing the deadline for submitting the essay means that the student will not receive a grade for the assignment, which can negatively impact their overall diploma and their chances of being accepted into universities or other academic programs.

It is important for students to understand the significance of the deadline for the TOK essay and to take the necessary steps to ensure that they are able to submit their work on time. This includes starting their research and writing as early as possible, following the guidelines provided by their teacher or the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), and proofreading and editing their work to ensure that it is clear, well-written, and error-free.

In some cases, if the student has a valid reason for missing the deadline, they can request an extension. However, this is not guaranteed and it is always best to submit the essay on time.

What can be considered as a valid reason for missing the deadline?

A valid reason for missing the deadline for submitting a Theory of Knowledge essay would be an extenuating circumstance that was beyond the student’s control.

Examples of valid reasons may include the following:

Serious illness or injury that prevented the student from completing the essay on time;
A death in the family or other personal emergency;
Technical difficulties or equipment failure that prevented the student from submitting the essay online;
A natural disaster or another event that made it impossible for the student to submit the essay.

A valid reason for missing the TOK essay deadline would be something that was indeed out of the student’s control and not something that could have been anticipated or avoided. A lack of time management or procrastination would not be considered a valid reason for missing the deadline.

Moreover, even with a valid reason, the student may not be granted an extension or the school or the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) may not make exceptions to the deadline. Therefore, it is always best for students to submit their essay on time.

Have to repeat it again, but a student must complete the deadline for submitting their TOK essay to have their essay assessed and receive a grade for the assignment.

It is vital for students to understand the significance of the TOK essay deadline and to take the necessary steps to ensure that they are able to submit their work on time.

DO NOT MISS TOK ESSAY SUBMISSION!

In conclusion, the TOK essay is a critical component of the IB Diploma Programme and the deadline for submitting it can be a source of immense pressure for students. With the official submission dates in April and May, and November, time is running out for students to submit their work.

Need help with your IB TOK essay ?

Unlock your potential and unleash the brilliance of your TOK essay with the help of our experts at BuyTOKEssay.com! Whether you’re starting from scratch or fine-tuning your existing essay to meet the demands of your supervisor, our team is here to make your dream of a perfect paper a reality. Say goodbye to writer’s block and hello to success with just one click.

However, by managing their time effectively, staying focused and determined, and by following guidelines, students can increase their chances of submitting a high-quality essay and meeting the deadline, proving to themselves and others that they have what it takes to succeed.

If you are already late and have to submit your TOK within one week , several days or even hours, you can several options you can contact our team , and they will land you a hand helping to complete your “burning” assignment.

Liliana Duman

Liliana Duman has a strong background in teaching English language, having graduated from Hacettepe University’s English Language Teaching Department in 2008. With over two decades of experience in the field, she has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share with her students. In addition to her bachelor’s degree, Liliana holds a master’s in Teaching Turkish as a Second Language and has previously worked at Başkent and Hacettepe University in Ankara. Currently, she is an EFL instructor at Sakarya University, teaching various skills, including methodology, speaking, reading, writing, and listening. In addition to her teaching, Liliana has also contributed to material development and testing efforts. As well as her work as a teacher, Liliana is an experienced private online ToK essay tutor, providing personal help for both IB ToK students and teachers in all aspects of IB ToK essays and exhibitions. She is dedicated to helping her students succeed and achieve their full potential. In her spare time, Liliana also writes articles for buytokessay.com, sharing her expertise and insights on ToK with a wider audience.

TOK Essay Word Count in 2023

What is Theory of Knowledge in IB?

IB TOK Essay Structure in Detail

TOK Essay Grading Rubric

12 TOK Key Concepts with Examples

May 2023 TOK Essay Prompts

3 thoughts on “what is the tok essay deadline in 2023”.

What if I only have a week to submit my frst TOK essay draft?

Hello, thanks for your question. We have shared an article that will help you find an answer: http://buytokessay.com/blog/how-to-write-a-good-tok-essay/

Hello Mr. Nobody, please accept our apologies for the late response. We receive numerous “spammy” comments, so it’s quite hard to find some normal comments within. I hope it’s not to late, but we have an article that explains in detail how you can write a TOK essay in one week. Check it if you still need more clarification: https://buytokessay.com/blog/how-to-write-a-good-tok-essay/

How To Write A ToK Essay - Updated 2023

Ace your ToK Essay with our expert tips & tricks! Get the latest and greatest techniques on "How To Write A ToK Essay" and impress the IB examiners.📝💡

Table of content

Purpose of tok, assessment of tok, the game plan, execution of the gameplan, planning for tok essay, structure of tok essay, introduction, conclusions, bibliography.

How to write a TOK Essay?

To answer that, you must familiarise yourself with what a TOK Essay is about.

Before you start reading this article, Amanda has some excellent TOK tips for you!

Theory of Knowledge is one of the most meta subjects that IB offers. Despite its complexity, TOK helps in providing a base for holistic learning and allows students to have a multidisciplinary experience.

To understand TOK is to understand the essence of IB, a task that most people consider unattainable.

But not for you!

Thank your lucky stars who made you land on Nail IB. How exactly will Nail IB help you?

Well, nailing International Baccalaureate is something we will discuss later.

Let's focus on cracking your TOK essay, shall we?

TOK demonstrates how students can apply their knowledge with greater awareness and credibility .

Big words, huh?

Now that we know that we cannot just slide through the Theory of Knowledge, let's understand how we can conquer this battle all guns blazing.

ToK essay’s primary objective is to answer the why behind our studies.

It makes one aware of the real-life implications of their subjects. The students gain greater awareness of their personal and ideological assumptions and appreciate the diversity of different perspectives. It helps the students find their unique perception, a prerequisite for excelling in the IB TOK essays.

Before we dive into our gameplan, let’s overview the rules of the game.

There are two assessment tasks in the TOK: an essay and a presentation . While a presentation encourages students to explore a real-life situation through the lens of TOK, an essay is written on the basis of the various questions provided by the International Baccalaureate Organisation.

The presentation is to assess a student’s ability to apply TOK thinking to a real-life situation whereas IB TOK essay is more conceptual.
The essay is externally assessed by IB and must be on any one of the prescribed TOK essay titles issued by the IB for each examination session.
Word limit of a TOK essay is 1600 words ( excludes extended notes, footnotes, bibliography).

Now that we have unleashed the game, let’s move ahead towards the gameplan of acing both, your presentation and your essay.

One of the fundamental tasks of TOK is to examine different areas of knowledge and find out their similarities and differences.

The TOK essay requires the students to investigate two Areas of Knowledge (AOK) and two Ways of Knowing (WOK) . AOKs and WOKs are investigated via questions such as:

How do we know what we know? (WOK)
What counts as evidence for X? (AOK)
How do we judge which is the best model of Y? (WOK)
What does theory Z mean in the real world? (AOK + WOK)

The aforementioned are Knowledge Questions which help combine the Areas of Knowledge and the Ways of Knowing that they are using. This eliminates the superficial way of learning and makes an individual sensitive to the nature of the information. Our acquisition of Knowledge can be broadly divided into Shared Knowledge and Personal Knowledge.

Shared knowledge: What WE know It is the product of more than one individual. Although individuals contribute to it, shared knowledge does not solely depend upon the contributions of a particular individual—there are possibilities for others to check and amend individual contributions and add to the body of knowledge that already exists.

Personal knowledge: What I know It is essentially dependent on the experiences of a particular individual. Also known as procedural knowledge, it is gained through experience, practice and personal involvement and is intimately bound up with the particular local circumstances of the individual such as biography, interests, values, and so on.

The best hack to ace TOK essay is to develop a habit of making connections between the construction of knowledge, its acquisition and its relevance in the real world.

After that one needs to develop an interest in understanding the difference between diversity and cultural perspectives and personal assumptions.

One also needs to critically reflect on their own beliefs and assumptions, leading to more thoughtful, responsible and purposeful lives.

Yes, this is what you signed up for. It may sound a little intimidating but once you get the hang of it you will be able to see the matrix and understand this beautiful world a little better.

Understand that to provide the best version of your writing, it will take you more than one or two drafts. First and foremost, you need to pick your essay topic diligently. Try to choose an essay topic that best interests you. The topic should also allow you to explore the Areas of Knowledge towards which you are naturally inclined. Here are a few sample questions:

a) 'Ways of knowing are a check on our instinctive judgments.' To what extend do you agree with this statement?

b) With reference to two areas of knowledge discuss the way in which shared knowledge can shape their personal knowledge.

c) How can we know if knowledge is produced more through 'Passive Observation' or 'Active-Experiment' within the Human and Natural-sciences under a Mathematical-Perspective?

d) "The whole point of knowledge is to produce both meaning and purpose in our personal lives". Assess the validity of this statement.

Great things take time. It took me more than a couple of weeks to finalize this TOK essay guide. It is completely okay if the first few drafts may not look pleasing or award-winning to you. You will require sharpening your perspective towards the topic each time you polish your draft. Your writing journey from a dull draft to a masterpiece will be a whole process that you will have to be patient with. Have faith in yourself and proceed stepwise.

You need to consider the opinions of others who have devoted hours of research and a lifetime of dedicated studying the topic that surrounds your writing. Unravelling the realms of your mind palace is so Sherlock but let’s not deny the fact that at times, Watson is the one whose expertise helps Sherlock through pretty difficult times. I mean even Batman needs a Robin. In support of my awesome sauce examples, the point I am trying to make is that finding support for our claims and counterclaims through research is a good thing .

Use real-life examples to support your claims and counterclaims. These examples need to be documented researched examples like studies, experiments, articles, presentations by well-known people, etc. Examples that stem from your diploma subjects are highly encouraged, but those will need to be supported by research as well.

It is suggested that you choose a title, stick to it, tackle it and not be afraid. Do not change your mind unless there is a good reason. Also, try choosing Areas of knowledge that you truly enjoy. You know slaying a known devil is much easier than an unknown one. Allot a TIMELINE to your essay. Start with creating an outline of your essay. This will help you to track your progress and accomplish your goals

You can use tools like Trello to organize your ideas and plan your TOK essay.

Areas of Knowledge (AOKs): TOK distinguishes between eight areas of knowledge. They are mathematics, the natural sciences, the human sciences, the arts, history, ethics, religious knowledge systems, and indigenous knowledge systems. It is suggested that students study and explore six of these eight.

Ways of knowing (WOKs): TOK identifies eight specific WOKs- language, sense perception, emotion, reason, imagination, faith, intuition, and memory. It is suggested that studying four of these eight in-depth would be appropriate. WOKs underlie the methodology of the areas of knowledge and provide a basis for personal knowledge.

Moving ahead, let us discuss the structure of your TOK essay.

Your essay will consist of 4 broad segregations

Before breaking down further on the pillars, keep the following in mind

Please note what the TOK essay title is asking you. (Read it a couple of times. We highly recommend that you brainstorm ideas with your TOK coordinator)
Make sure you understand the command term and the question it is asking.
What kind of knowledge is being elicited?
When choosing your areas of knowledge (AoK) and ways of knowing (WoK) make sure that you are able to draw contrasts and comparisons, that is, you are able to find evidence that supports as well as challenges your claims.
Identify key terms in your TOK essay title. Make sure you define them. Your essay will gravitate around them. Key terms/words in your titles are your essay anchors. Your response should be built around them.
Your writing skills come in handy while you work on your IB TOK essay. Like any other essay make sure you have proper thesis statements and topic sentences to guide the evaluator through your work.
Respect the TOK essay title. Rephrasing the topic is not encouraged . Your main job is to address the title.

Introduce your topic accurately and state your thesis statement for the essay carefully. A thesis statement is like a teaser to your entire essay wherein you define your key terms and introduce your interpretation of the question. Make sure that you do not reword the prescribed title in your thesis. Instead, it needs to, as the word says, INTRODUCE your readers to what your essay is about. A strong introduction allows the reader to deduce what knowledge question(s) you are trying to answer.

So, in a nutshell

Write interesting things about the given TOK essay title .
Define key terms
Narrow in on the particularly interesting aspect
State your thesis statement . This will be your short answer to your given title if you don't know how to write a killer thesis statement check out this blog from SparkNotes .
State your Roadmap. This will help the readers in understanding the direction of your essay.

The body can be mainly divided into 3 segments.

Body (1st Segment)

AoK Claim: Here you investigate your first Area of Knowledge and draw parallels between your AoK and the question. This is done by stating your claim. Claims can be general in nature and need not reference a particular area of knowledge. They help you shape your essay and investigate the question further.
Evidence: Example of a real-life situation, describe thoroughly and accurately, which supports your stated claim. (AoK)
Counter-Claim: State your counter-claim: like claims, those can be general and need not reference a particular area of knowledge. Counterclaim helps you show the other side the coin and gives your essay a holistic nature.
Evidence: A referenced real-life situation/example. Describe thoroughly and accurately, show how this supports your counterclaim (AoK ).
Don’t forget to weave in your WoKs: You need to take into account the source of your knowledge. Here you can also investigate if your nature of acquiring the knowledge has, in any way, affected it. It is good practice to question if your knowledge would be different had it been acquired through a different source/method
Mini-conclusion: Here you analyze your examples in reference to your claims and counterclaims. You must connect to your thesis statement and the prescribed title. How does your proposed argument, in this particular part of the body, connect to the prescribed title and the knowledge questions you are trying to answer?

Body (2): Follow the above process for your second AOK.

Use this part of your essay to compare and contrast your varying AoKs. You need to connect them to your thesis and your prescribed title clearly showing how your arguments respond to the PT.

Your conclusion section will make your essay come together. It is the glue that will make your essay stick together. Herein, you need to

Reiterate your thesis (initial response).
Use your mini conclusions to write a final conclusion.
Tell the reader what the significance is for knowing what we know in this particular PT.
Discuss implications as well.
Offer another perspective, how will the perspective of a different person affect the claims/counterclaims you make in the essay?
Don’t forget to make the end strong.

We recommend all the ib students use the citation machine (It's FREE) to organize or generate a bibliography for your TOK essay. Please go through this extensive guide provided by the IB before you start working on your citations.

If you are still struggling heaps with your TOK essay feel free to subscribe to our tok notes bundles or get access to more than 500+ IBDP notes and past papers here .

Nail IB is your virtual companion that helps you hustle through your diploma and provide you with the right resources at the right time. To know more about acing IB, click here .

I hope this article will become the foundation for figuring out how to write a TOK Essay.

Remember to have faith in yourself.

I hope you NAIL your TOK essay!

Quoting the great Napolean Hill

"Whatever the mind of a man can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

IB Resources you will love!

Nan + free ib flashcards, -1 + free ia samples, nan + ib videos by experts, -1 + ib sample practice questions, ib resources for nan + subjects.

IB TOK Essay examples

Type a search phrase to find the most relevant TOK Essay examples for you

Not sure what to search for? You can always look through our example Internal Assessments below for inspiration.

All TOK Essay Examples

Filter exemplars, for artists and natural scientists, which is more important: what can be explained or what cannot be explained discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences., does it matter if our acquisition of knowledge happens in "bubbles" where some information and voices are excluded discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge., want to get full marks for your tok essay allow us to review it for you 🎯, is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge., are visual representations always helpful in the communication of knowledge discuss with reference to the human sciences and mathematics., fast track your coursework with mark schemes moderated by ib examiners. upgrade now 🚀, to what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use discuss with reference to history and one area of knowledge., tok essay: 5. “how can we distinguish between good and bad interpretations discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of knowledge”, 如果我们是在排除某些信息和声音的“信息同温层”里获取知识，这有关系吗请参考两个知识领域展开你的应答。, does it matter if our knowledge acquisition happens in "bubbles" where some information and voices are excluded discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge., is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge, do you agree that it is “astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power” (bertrand russell) discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge., does it matter if our acquisition of knowledge happens in “bubbles” where some information and voices are excluded discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge., to what extent is the knowledge weproduce determined by the methodologieswe use, for artists and natural scientists, which is more important: what can be explained or what cannot be explained discuss with reference to the arts and natural science., êtes-vous d'accord qu'il est "étonnant que si peu de connaissance puissent nous donner autant de pouvoir" (bertrand russell) - discutez cette question en faisant référence aux sciences naturelles et à un autre domaine de la connaissance, est-il important que notre acquisition des connaissances se fasse dans des « bulles » où certaines informations et certaines voix sont exclues discutez cette question en faisant référence à deux domaines de la connaissance., to what extent is the knowledge we produce determined by the methodologies we use discuss with reference to history and one other area of knowledge., is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge discuss with reference to two area of knowledge, are visual representations always helpful in communicating knowledge discuss with reference to the human sciences and mathematics., are visual representations always useful in communication of knowledge discuss with reference to the human sciences and mathematics., for artists and natural scientists which is more important: what can be explained or what cannot be explained, is replication necessary in the production of knowledge discuss with reference to two aoks., do you agree that it is "astonishing that so little knowledge can give us so much power" (bertrand russell) discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge., is replicability necessary in the production of knowledge.

Unpacking the 2024 November TOK Titles: A Comprehensive IB Solved Guide

Two human heads with a question mark between them

The November 2024 IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Titles are out!

Let's be honest – tackling the TOK essay can be a daunting task. With so many ideas, concepts and topics at our disposal and a myriad of ideas swirling around, it's easy to feel overwhelmed at the outset.

That's where we come in.

In this article, we'll delve into each title and offer some strategic advice on how to approach them.

General Tips to Unpacking a Title

When we first encounter a prompt, we want to think in terms of perspectives and counter-perspectives (formerly known as claims and counterclaims). This framework allows for a structured essay, exploring the title through the lens of two chosen Areas of Knowledge (AOKs) and weaving in different arguments. While the ultimate conclusion you draw may often reside somewhere between these extremes or on a conditional basis (e.g. perspective 1 is correct in certain circumstances, while perspective 2 is a better approach in other), starting with opposing arguments can facilitate the development of a more nuanced exploration and argument.

So let's get to it – here is everything you need to know about the November 2024 TOK Essay titles:

Title 1: Does our responsibility to acquire knowledge vary according to the area of knowledge? Discuss with reference to history and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: History (Mandatory) and Natural Sciences/The Arts/Human Sciences

This title prompts an assessment of whether we have different levels of responsibility to acquire knowledge across different AOKs. While you are open to argue against the title directly, suggesting that the responsibility is the same across AOKs, this would be unwise. It would be better to reflect on each AOK and perhaps present one perspective in support of the responsibility and one perspective against it, drawing a conclusion on which argument is stronger in each AOK.

Also consider the difference between the acquisition and production of knowledge – perhaps we have a broader responsibility to produce new knowledge in some areas of knowledge but not necessarily to acquire it as individual knowers.

Some perspectives you may consider:

Perspective: We have a responsibility to acquire knowledge to ensure that we construct an accurate record of the past. It is our responsibility to know our History and learn from the past.

Counter-Perspective: Historical knowledge is limited by subjectivity and collective memory, hence it is not essential to acquire knowledge of our past to build a successful future.

Perspective: We have a responsibility to acquire artistic knowledge to understand cultures and societies.

Counter-Perspective: The acquisition of knowledge in the Arts is for aesthetic purposes and enjoyment, not the fulfilment of a responsibility.

Natural Sciences/Human Sciences

Perspective: We have a responsibility to acquire new scientific knowledge for the continual development of mankind.

Counter-Perspective: Understanding how the world/humans work is not necessary knowledge for knowers to acquire.

Title 2: In the production of knowledge, is ingenuity always needed but never enough? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Mathematics (Mandatory) and Natural Sciences/The Arts/Human Sciences

This is a super interesting title – ensure you define 'ingenuity' from the outset. The essay almost structures itself – your first paragraph in each AOK can consider how/whether ingenuity is 'always needed', exploring how this plays out in each AOK, while the second paragraph can explore whether or not it is 'never enough'.

Some ideas you may consider:

Paradigm Shifts – To revolutionise an AOK, often ingenuity is needed to enact a paradigm shift (a new way of thinking which changes the entire knowledge structure of an AOK) and to ensure progress.

Creativity – Creative thinking is important not only for AOKs such as the Arts, but even in Mathematics and the Sciences. Discovering innovative ways of devising experiments or utilising clever analogies to explain incredibly complex concepts is integral to these AOKs.

Structure – Ingenuity is only valuable within a framework for knowledge production, whether this be an artistic process or the scientific method.

Title 3: How might it benefit an area of knowledge to sever ties with its past? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: History, Natural Sciences, The Arts and Human Sciences

The 'How' of this title restricts the scope to discussing different 'benefits' rather than a standard 'perspective-counter' analysis. It will also be important to define exactly what 'severing ties' involves – does this mean completely ignoring all past knowledge or simply becoming less attached to existing ways of thinking?

Some ideas for this title:

Fresh Ideas and Paradigm Shifts – By severing ties, you open up the possibility of acquiring knowledge which can overhaul an entire AOK, drastically accelerating progress.

Bias – By severing past ties, knowers can free themselves of the biases of their predecessors.

Innovation – Since existing frameworks of thinking often lead to similar conclusions, you can expand the possibilities of new knowledge by severing past ties.

However, you may interestingly conclude that these benefits are only reaped when ties to the past are severed to an extent, as it may be detrimental to an AOK to entirely negate past knowledge.

Title 4: To what extent do you agree that there is no significant difference between hypothesis and speculation? Discuss with reference to the human sciences and one other area of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Human Sciences and History/Natural Sciences

This prompt is very focused on your definitions. I would suggest defining these terms distinctly and precisely from the outset. The primary question which this title is asking is whether hypotheses are mere "speculation" or "guesses", or if there is a significant difference.

Also, if selecting the Human and Natural Sciences, please ensure that your perspectives aren't repetitious and highlight the differences between these AOKs.

Development – Speculation and hypothesis differ in the fact that the development of a hypothesis generally requires significant prior research and an understanding of existing knowledge

Experimentation – Hypotheses are developed purposefully and then empirical experimentation are conducted to provide evidence either in support or against them

Emotion – Speculation tends to come from 'feelings' or 'impressions', whereas the development of a hypothesis is far more methodical

Title 5: In the production of knowledge, are we too quick to dismiss anomalies? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.

Recommended AOKs: Human Sciences/History/Natural Sciences

This title allows you to reflect on whether or not we dismiss 'anomalies' (a key term to be defined) too quickly when producing knowledge.

Paradigm Shift – Anomalies are often the prompt for a paradigm shift in the sciences, causing us to challenge existing beliefs and ideas

Exceptions – Often rather than investigating anomalies further and considering an overhaul of existing knowledge, anomalies are dismissed as 'exceptions' to the rule, rather than a justification to question the rule itself

Generalisation – There is often a focus on generating 'general' rules and theories which can lead anomalies to be dismissed (think of the Human Sciences – how often do we produce a rule about human behaviour but ignore those who behave contrary to the rule)

Title 6: In the pursuit of knowledge, what is gained by the artist adopting the lens of the scientist and the scientist adopting the lens of the artist? Discuss with reference to the arts and the natural sciences.

Recommended AOKs: The Arts and the Natural Sciences

This title requires you to define the 'lens' of each of these AOKs from the outset. It will be better to define them quite opposingly – the scientist is more methodical, experimental and structured, whilst the artist is more free-flowing and creative. You will then be able to take these attributes and argue which elements would be better across the two disciplines.

Creativity – Scientists can benefit from the creativity of artists when developing innovative ways of experimenting, presenting results and constructing abstract theories

Structure – Artists can often benefit from a methodical approach to constructing art, particularly when aiming to convey a specific message or purpose through their art

Flexibility – Artists are often quite flexible when constructing an artwork, always willing to change and adapt to their free-flowing thoughts, an attribute which is highly beneficial for scientists who at times may become rigid in their thinking and fixed to pre-existing scientific beliefs.

And that's it - our comprehensive guide to the 2024 November TOK Titles! If you're still racking your brain as to how to begin the writing process for your TOK essay, why not check out our post on The Complete IB TOK Essay Guide . Or check out one of our Grade A Exemplar TOK Essays ! Or better yet, if you are looking for some more personal assistance with your IB TOK Essay, click below to reach out to us and we can work with you through the entire writing process, from title selection to the best structure for success!

Internal Assessment Guides

Submission deadline

The International Baccalaureate® (IB) sets a submission date for the extended essay, which is communicated to schools.

It is each school’s responsibility to ensure that all candidate work is received by the IB, with the required paperwork received by the submission date set.

Schools should set internal deadlines

It is strongly recommended that schools set internal deadlines for the different stages of producing an extended essay, keeping in mind the IB’s submission date.

If you wish to find out more about the deadline for a particular school, please contact that school directly .

Further information on deadline setting

There is further information on the requirements for meeting external deadlines in the Diploma Programme Assessment Procedures .

Educators in IB World Schools can access the relevant parts of the handbook on the IB’s programme resource centre , using their existing log-in details.

EE , Exam , IA , IB , TOK

IA, EE, And TOK Update

Author: Litera Centre
Updated: January 16, 2023
Language: English

Students are required to complete several written tasks as part of the curriculum for the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma program. These assignments must be explained clearly to students so they can understand what they mean.

As an IB student, you must understand these terms and how they relate to the various written assignments.

Importance of IA, EE and TOK in IBDP:

In addition to the IB Diploma Program, you will need to earn a passing score on either the IA/EE or TOK examination. These are essential since they are factored into the overall grade you receive on the IBDP and the score you receive on your diploma.

The International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) consists of three parts: language, literature/creative writing, and mathematics. However, students are only allowed to take two exams per module: Language and Literature or Creative Writing (one per module).

Marking scheme of all three:

The marking scheme of all three is the same. IA, EE, and TOK are marked on a scale of 1-5. This means that if you receive your mark in any of these three subjects, it will be out of five points.

TOK is not marked out of 5; instead, it is kept on a scale from 1 to 7.

IB Grade Scale :

7 – Excellent

6 – Very Good

5 – Good

4 – Satisfactory

3 – Mediocre

2 – Poor

1 – Very Poor

(The data below is taken from the 2021 Diploma Programme Assessment processes.)

Six subjects must be studied at standard and advanced levels (SL and HL). Additionally, students must finish the “core,” which consists of an extended essay, CAS (creativity, action, service), and TOK (theory of knowledge) (EE).
Each subject is given a grade between 1 and 7, with seven being the highest. When deciding whether to provide a diploma, these grades are also utilized as points (7 points for a grade 7, etc.).
The grades for TOK and EE range from A to E, with A being the highest mark. These two grades are merged in the graduation points matrix to add 0 to 3 points. Although CAS is not graded, completion is required to earn the diploma. See paragraph A7.7.
Therefore, 45 ((6 7) + 3) total points from subject grades and TOK/EE can be calculated. The curriculum must be completed with a minimum of 24 points to receive a diploma.

The following extra conditions apply:

The CAS requirements have been met.
For TOK, the EE, or a contributing subject, no “N” is given.
No grade E is provided for TOK and EE.
In a subject or level, a grade of 1 is not given.
There can only be two grade 2s given out (HL or SL).
At most, three degrees 3 or lower are given (HL or SL).
The candidate has improved by at least 12 points in HL topics (for candidates who register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).
The candidate has improved by at least 9 points on SL subjects (candidates who register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL).
The Final Award Committee has not imposed a sanction on the candidate for academic dishonesty.
Six subjects are required, including TOK, EE, and CAS. In addition to grade requirements, they must obtain at least 24 points from assessments in these courses.
They must satisfy all of the above-mentioned additional requirements.
They have three examination sessions, maximum, to complete their task.
Candidates who satisfactorily fulfill these requirements will be given the diploma.
A bilingual diploma may be available to applicants who take the diploma exam in multiple languages.

Submissions and deadlines of the same:

Ee submission 2022/2023:.

Generally, the due dates for submitting all extended essays this 2022 are the 15th of March for the May exam session and the 15th of September for the November session. These dates correspond to the May and November exam sessions.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) does, however, permit institutions to establish early due dates and internal deadlines for the various stages of creating the extended essay (EE).

It is primarily the responsibility of the educational institutions to see to it that the IB has every candidate’s work on or before the deadline for submissions. It is best to contact your IB school immediately if you have any questions regarding the EE submission dates.

TOK Submission 2022/2023:

Students have no IBO submission deadline. It just tells schools how and when to submit all paperwork to the organization. Your school must cooperate for an end run. After learning about their policies and procedures, you can better comprehend what to do.

Schools establish deadlines . They accept contributions till a certain point. To stay on track, you need all the information.

After that, you can organize your TOK essay and work to finish on time. Student planning is crucial. If you work hard, you can meet deadlines.

The TOK essay involves day-planning. To score well, first, comprehend the essay’s distinctive structure. You also need good examples to achieve well.

TOK can be done well with good planning and execution. Work within the timeframe.

Extra Points to remember:

The TOK essay is submitted in November and May each year. Thus, first, consider your timeframe. You’ll grasp these concepts better. You are choosing an IBO-prescribed TOK title.

Your school checks your essay. Thus, you need all the facts. It may take days. This follows school procedures. To learn more, contact your school first.

Your essay will only count with school verification. First, contact your IB school for information. They will help you understand everything.

What are the tricks to getting the highest score?

Making a plan and organizing a project:.

When it comes to completing scholarly writing projects, organization is essential because IB students must approach all written examinations with the same level of seriousness. It is common for IB students to scramble at the eleventh hour regarding their written tasks, which can be avoided by being more prepared and well-organized.

Pupils must establish their own goals and deadlines. In addition to assisting them in planning, it demonstrates a commitment to their IB tasks, which is very important in situations where one wants to stay caught up. Especially when there are several additional classes and assignments to complete during both years of the IB program.

For students to avoid undue stress, they need to ensure that they are keeping up with the due dates of their IB assignments in the correct chronological order.

Critical thinking skills:

When students’ writings exhibit evidence of critical thinking, their credibility increases significantly. As a consequence of this, they will be able to present evidence that demonstrates their comprehension of the material at hand.

People constantly working to improve their thinking demonstrate the ability to create judgments through critical thinking. It is the purpose of all academic writing to equip students with powers that will be necessary for the continuation of their education, and this is the ultimate goal of all academic writing.

Integrity in academics:

Academic honesty is a crucial component of both the teaching and learning processes involved in inquiry-based learning. The written examinations that are a part of the IBDP are where it shines the brightest.

Students should go to public and school libraries if they have specific issues with referencing their sources.

IB Students Globally:

Students who are not native speakers of English but want their assignments to be written in this language frequently struggle to discover suitable sentence structure and pronunciation when writing their jobs.

When the students are reviewing their work, and before turning in their assignments, they may seek assistance from their language professors if available.

It is essential to schedule a meeting with the school’s learning support department, which employs people trained to offer help, as soon as possible. The student will benefit from using the library’s resources to find information pertinent to their writing tasks.

Using mentors:

Every student working on an IB Extended Essay is given a mentor, and they must stay in close contact with their mentor throughout the research and writing process, as well as up until the point at which they hand in their assignment.

Students need to use this service, which allows them to consult mentors for guidance on obtaining any feedback they may require.

IB students must spend a significant amount of time in the library. It is the mission of both classroom teachers and academic librarians to support students in achieving their academic potential.

Teachers and librarians collaborate to ensure that students have the skills necessary to communicate effectively, evaluate the credibility of information on the internet, and distinguish between various online sources. The work of librarians is vital.

Resources for Doing Research:

Most students’ online research for their assignments is conducted on Google. However, they strongly recommend using other criteria tools such as The CRAP Test (currency, reliability, authority, and purpose) to determine if a website can be trusted, allowing them to find high-quality and credible online resources while saving them time. This test will determine whether or not a website can be trusted.

How does Litera Centre help students get the best scores?

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By giving our students custom sample papers, we give them the chance to take part in a perfect simulation of a real exam.
Trying to answer all of the students’ questions until they have a good grasp of the subject
Giving our students complete, interactive, and useful study materials is important to us.
We also offer one-on-one online sessions for our IGCSE students, which are led and taught by our knowledgeable tutors.

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Biden Signs TikTok Ban Into Law. What That Means for Schools

President Joe Biden signed legislation Wednesday banning TikTok, if its China-based owner doesn’t sell its stake in the company within the next nine months.

But it remains unclear whether the new law will withstand likely legal challenges—and whether getting rid of the popular platform will alleviate educators’ concerns about students’ overuse of social media and its role in disrupting the school environment.

For starters, TikTok won’t suddenly disappear from students’ phones. In fact, if the sale is already in progress by the law’s deadline, TikTok would get an additional three months to complete the process. All told, it would be at least a year before the ban goes into effect.

What’s more, TikTok’s leadership has already pledged to challenge the new law in court. That process could keep the app in legal limbo—and accessible to students—for years to come.

In the past, TikTok has had some success with court challenges. But the company has never sought to prevent federal legislation from going into effect.

Many K-12 educators say TikTok has hurt teens’ self-confidence , catered to short attention spans at the expense of deep thinking , and spread viral challenges urging students to post videos of themselves eating dangerously spicy chips or destroying school property.

In fact, in an informal poll of 177 principals via one of its newsletters, Education Week found that a little more than half of them said a TikTok ban would “make their jobs easier.”

But TikTok has also helped educators connect with their students—and even serves as a go-to professional development resource, particularly for younger and pre-service teachers .

Some teachers “might miss it,” said Jeff Carpenter, a professor of education at Elon University who studies social media in education. “Educators go on TikTok and think: ‘it’s this nice little mix. I get some entertaining stuff. I get something about my hobby. And I get a little something about my professional interest.’”

But many more may be thinking something more like “good riddance,” added Carpenter, a former high school teacher.

“I also think there would be a lot of teachers who would feel like, ‘I’m glad that the government is trying to do something about social media, because I’m concerned about its impact on my students,’” Carpenter said.

Even if the legislation stands, the company isn’t sold, and TikTok is banned in the United States, many teachers expect that before long, there will be another platform that’s just as irresistible for students —and problematic for schools.

“Something else is just going to come up and move into that void,” said Stefanie McKoy, who teaches special education at Branson Junior High in Branson, Mo., and studied the social media platform as a doctoral student.

‘They get all their news from TikTok’

Biden and members of Congress primarily had national security—not schools—in mind when they moved to limit the social media site, which is used by more than 170 million Americans.

TikTok is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Chinese technology company ByteDance Ltd. Lawmakers contend that China’s national security laws give its government the right to demand access to the data of TikTok’s U.S. users, including for intelligence gathering purposes.

TikTok officials have consistently rejected the argument that the platform could be used to aid the Chinese government. TikTok has never shared U.S. user information with Chinese authorities and wouldn’t do so if asked, company officials contend.

To date, the U.S. government also has not supplied evidence that TikTok provided data on U.S. users to the Chinese government, the Associated Press reported.

In advocating for the bill, some supporters, including Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., referenced the potential for the platform to spread misinformation, especially among youth.

“For many young people, they get all of their news from TikTok, and a slight change in that algorithm—particularly in an election year like this—and you might see come October, that TikTok news is starting to say, ‘Well you know what, Taiwan is really part of China,’” Warner said in an interview last month with National Public Radio .

And some lawmakers cited TikTok’s impact on young people’s well-being as among their reasons for supporting the legislation.

“So many teenagers and children [have] seen their mental health harmed by the app,” said Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., in a statement .

In a video posted on the platform shortly after Biden signed the law April 24 , Shou Zi Chew, TikTok’s CEO, pledged that the company would launch a legal fight for its independence.

“It’s obviously a disappointing moment, but it doesn’t need to be a defining one,” he said. “Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere.”

Concerns are ‘not unique to TikTok’

At least 37 states have already taken some action against TikTok—either by banning it on state devices or, in the case of Indiana, suing the company, according to Government Technology, a media and research organization.

But states and the federal government haven’t been nearly as active in trying to limit the power of other social media platforms, experts said.

“A lot of the concerns that arise with TikTok, particularly regarding data sharing, are not necessarily unique to TikTok,” said Amelia Vance, the president of the Public Interest Privacy Center, a nonprofit that works on child and student data privacy issues.

While the potential relationship between the company and the Chinese government has clearly raised eyebrows on Capitol Hill, many of the privacy concerns lawmakers voiced in explaining their support for the new law describe a range of social media platforms, she said.

“There are a lot of questions about why this [legislation] is what moved forward, and not a comprehensive bill that would apply to more than TikTok and address a lot of the data collection, data use and sharing concerns that have been coming up,” including regarding U.S.-based companies such as Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, Vance said.

‘They’re just going to find something else’

The ultimate impact of the legislation may be uncertain, but many educators are sure of one thing: Getting rid of TikTok won’t help teens, who find themselves on the platform almost constantly, unplug.

“If they get rid of it, it’s not like [students] will be like, ‘oh, let’s put the cellphone down. Now we can focus,’” said Joe Harmon, a high school social studies teacher at Redbank Valley High School in New Bethlehem, Pa., who once had 110,000 followers on the platform . He recently took his account private, in part, because he found TikTok too time-consuming.

Trying to roll back the impact of social media on teenagers by threatening the existence of one platform—even an immensely popular one—is like “trying to stop a waterfall by just holding out a cup,” Harmon said.

Harmon has used TikTok to get some teaching tips. But he expects that he will find another site to connect with educators and learn professionally.

“I’m not gonna lose sleep over it,” Harmon said. “And I don’t think the students are either because they’re just gonna find something else.”

His students have already told him that if TikTok goes away, they’ll move onto another platform, such as Instagram Reels, a similar video app. Many have already made the shift, he said.

Or a new platform will spring into being. “Some entrepreneur out there is gonna go ‘here’s my chance,’” Harmon said.

The Associated Press, Wire Service contributed to this article.

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Writing & uploading the TOK essay

TOK Home > Free TOK notes > TOK essay guidance > Writing & uploading the TOK essay

After you have grasped the essay rubric , chosen your title , and have a clear plan and structure , you can start writing your TOK essay. You’ll be doing this alongside the three interactions, so keep these in mind as you proceed.

Read the points below to get some advice on how to write your essay, and avoid common mistakes made by students.

STEP 4: Write and upload your TOK essay

Get started.

The most important part of writing your essay is getting started. You can procrastinate for ages, thinking about whether you’ve chosen the right title, which areas of knowledge to explore the question in, key thinker and ides to draw on, and so on. Obviously you need to choose the right title, and have an effective plan, but this means nothing until you have put your thoughts down on paper. You will find that many of your uncertainties start to resolve themselves when you start writing.

The introduction is all important

Your introduction should begin with a ‘hook’ to engage the reader, offer your interpretation of the key words or ideas from the title (don’t just copy a definition out of a dictionary – give your take on what the title means), outline the scope of the essay. Get your introduction right, and you will have set up the foundations for a great essay. If you rush it, or not view it with the importance it really requires, you’ll struggle to develop clear ideas in the main body of the essay.

Follow a clear essay plan

By two, you should have formulated a clear essay plan. This means knowing which AOKs you are using as the context of the essay, the arguments and counterarguments you’ll be presenting, the real-life examples you’ll be drawing on to justify discussion points, how you’ll indicate the implications of your arguments, and the way in which you’ll challenge assumptions in the question. Agree with your teacher on this plan, and let them know if you are deviating significantly from it.

Justify each point you make

Each of the discussion points you make should be supported by a real-life example. These can come from your own experiences as a knower (inside, and outside of the school), or from events, issues, and topics you’ve read about or encountered from the news and other media sources.

Don’t jump straight into your examples

A common mistake made by students is to move straight onto real-life examples without offering a proper discussion about knowledge. Discuss your own take on the question, perhaps referring to a key thinker or theory, before relating this to a real-life situation.

Consider counterarguments

You need to offer a consideration of different points of view, and the way to do this is via counterarguments. For each of your claims or arguments, you should offer a counterclaim or counterargument, weighing up how the issue could be considered from another point of view. Make sure you evaluate these counterarguments, and don’t just mention them.

Find your own voice

Make sure that you offer your own opinions, give your own interpretation of the title, and offer your own experiences to support your arguments. This will demonstrate your skills as a critical thinker, and distinguish your essay from those that rely on generic and cliched discussions.

Make full use of the interactions

In order to develop your ideas, and ensure that you’re on the right track with your essay, make sure you make full use of the with your teacher. It’s during these one-to-one sessions that you can discuss your arguments, evaluate your examples, and consider which key thinkers and concepts work in your essay.

Don’t neglect the non-assessed elements

Make sure that you format your essay in the right way, offer a decent bibliography, hit the word limit (without going over it), and follow all the other protocols for submitting your TOK essay. This will present a great impression to examiners, and show that you are ready and willing to follow the IB requirements for the assessment task.

A four-step guide to the TOK essay

Click on the buttons below to take you to the four steps of creating a great TOK essay. Don’t forget that we have plenty of videos on this and other aspects of the course, and members of the site have access to a huge amount of other resources to help you master the course and assessment tasks.

Check out our three-minute explainer video on the TOK essay here . The video goes over the basics of the TOK essay, such as how it’s assessed, the word count and other practical details, terms such as ‘perspectives’ and ‘implications’, and the role of real-world examples in justifying claims and arguments.

You’ll find more videos on this and other aspects of TOK here , and you can dive into much more depth via our free and premium webinars, here .

Watch our essay & exhibition webinars

Click on the images below to access these premium webinars on how to create the essay and exhibition. Access more webinars here , and watch our videos on the assessment tasks on this page .

FAQs about the TOK essay

How do i choose my tok essay title.

You choose your essay from six prescribed essay titles, that are released at the beginning of your second DP year. We give a few tips on how to choose a PT that will work for you here . But briefly, choose one that links to your pre-existing knowledge, and that you find personally engaging.

What will I be writing about in my TOK essay?

You’ll be answering your prescribed title, within the context of two areas of knowledge, considering how different perspectives might affect our response to the question, and what the implications of your arguments are.

Can I use ChatGPT to write my essay?

You can use ChatGPT to help you gather materials for your essay, but you should definitely not be using it to write the essay. Be very careful with ChatGPT. It bases its answers on online material, and much of this is inaccurate or out-of-date. For example, depending on what you ask it, it may tell you that you have to explore multiple areas of knowledge (rather than the two stipulated by the titles), and that you have to identify a separate knowledge question to the title (which is absolutely not the case).

How much help should I expect from my teacher?

Your teacher should run through the PTs when they are first released, and then meet you for three interactions, during which you’ll discuss your progress. They are allowed to give you one set of written feedback. But you can consult them at other times with specific questions.

Do I need to use real-world examples in my TOK essay?

Yes, real-life examples help illustrate your points and make your arguments more tangible. They can be drawn from personal experiences, historical events, scientific discoveries, etc.

Should I include my personal opinion in the TOK essay?

While the TOK essay is not about your personal opinion per se, it’s important to reflect on your perspective and how it shapes the way you understand the title. However, you should avoid using the essay as a platform for rants or unsubstantiated claims.

Is it necessary to include counter-arguments in my TOK essay?

Yes, including counter-arguments shows a deeper understanding of the complexity of the topic and demonstrates your critical thinking skills. It also enables you to consider different perspectives, and evaluate the implications of arguments.

Should I include the 12 key concepts in my essay?

Yes, as much as you can, draw on the key concepts such as justification, evidence, perspective, bias, certainty, and objectivity within your arguments linking them to the title, and to the real-world examples you draw on.

How do I ensure that my TOK essay reflects my own original thinking, and avoids plagiarism?

Clearly attribute ideas and sources that are not your own, and strive to present original insights and interpretations supported by evidence and reasoning. See our point above on using ChatGPT – never view this as more than a tool to help you gather material for your essay, rather than a tool to write it for you.

What are some common pitfalls to avoid when writing a TOK essay?

Avoid oversimplifying complex issues, relying solely on personal opinion without justification, neglecting counter-arguments, veering off the question, and failing to include a consideration of different perspectives.

How long do I have to write my essay?

You’ll have 6 months from the time the prescribed titles are released, to the deadline date for uploading your essay to the IB. However, most schools will set their own deadline for completing the essay, so that everyone has plenty of time to complete your PPF, and upload it on time. Follow what your school tells you about this.

How important is the TOK essay PPF?

The PPF (‘Planning and Progress Form’) is the document that you fill in to outline your discussions during the three essay. Although this is not directly assessed, it is an important part of demonstrating that you have approached the TOK essay in an ethical way, which is now particularly important in the era of ChatGPT.

What are some effective strategies for revising and editing my TOK essay to improve clarity and coherence?

Take breaks between revisions, seek feedback from peers or teachers, and carefully proofread for grammar, punctuation, and coherence.

Should I include references or a bibliography in my TOK essay?

While not required, referencing sources appropriately adds credibility to your essay; use footnotes or endnotes for citations.

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Congress Passed a Bill That Could Ban TikTok. Now Comes the Hard Part.

President Biden has signed the bill to force a sale of the video app or ban it. Now the law faces court challenges, a shortage of qualified buyers and Beijing’s hostility.

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A crowd of people, all holding signs that support TikTok.

By Sapna Maheshwari and David McCabe

Sapna Maheshwari reported from New York, and David McCabe from Washington.

A bill that would force a sale of TikTok by its Chinese owner, ByteDance — or ban it outright — was passed by the Senate on Tuesday and signed into law Wednesday by President Biden.

Now the process is likely to get even more complicated.

Congress passed the measure citing national security concerns because of TikTok’s Chinese ties. Both lawmakers and security experts have said there are risks that the Chinese government could lean on ByteDance for access to sensitive data belonging to its 170 million U.S. users or to spread propaganda.

The law would allow TikTok to continue to operate in the United States if ByteDance sold it within 270 days, or about nine months, a time frame that the president could extend to a year.

The measure is likely to face legal challenges, as well as possible resistance from Beijing, which could block the sale or export of the technology. It’s also unclear who has the resources to buy TikTok, since it will carry a hefty price tag.

The issue could take months or even years to settle, during which the app would probably continue to function for U.S. consumers.

“It’s going to be a royal mess,” said Anupam Chander, a visiting scholar at the Institute for Rebooting Social Media at Harvard and an expert on the global regulation of new technologies.

TikTok pledged to challenge the law. “Rest assured, we aren’t going anywhere,” its chief executive, Shou Chew, said in a video posted to the platform. “We are confident, and we will keep fighting for your rights in the courts.”

Here’s what to expect next.

TikTok’s Day in Court

TikTok is likely to start by challenging the measure in the courts.

“I think that’s the one certainty: There will be litigation,” said Jeff Kosseff, an associate professor of cybersecurity law at the Naval Academy.

TikTok’s case will probably lean on the First Amendment, legal experts said. The company is expected to argue that a forced sale could violate its users’ free speech rights because a new owner could change the app’s content policies and reshape what users are able to freely share on the platform.

“Thankfully, we have a Constitution in this country, and people’s First Amendment rights are very important,” Michael Beckerman, TikTok’s vice president of public policy, said in an interview with a creator on the platform last week. “We’ll continue to fight for you and all the other users on TikTok.”

Other groups, like the American Civil Liberties Union, which has been a vocal opponent of the bill, may also join the legal fight. A spokeswoman for the A.C.L.U. said on Tuesday that the group was still weighing its role in potential litigation challenging the law.

The government will probably need to make a strong case that ByteDance’s ownership of TikTok makes it necessary to limit speech because of national security concerns, the legal experts said.

TikTok already has a strong record in similar First Amendment battles. When he was president, Donald J. Trump tried to force a sale or ban of the app in 2020, but federal judges blocked the effort because it would have had the effect of shutting down a “platform for expressive activity.” Montana tried to ban TikTok in the state last year because of the app’s Chinese ownership, but a different federal judge ruled against the state law for similar reasons.

Only one narrower TikTok restriction has survived a court challenge. The governor of Texas announced a ban of the app on state government devices and networks in 2022 because of its Chinese ownership and related data privacy concerns. Professors at public universities challenged the ban in court last year, saying it blocked them from doing research on the app. A federal judge upheld the state ban in December, finding it was a “reasonable restriction” in light of Texas’ concerns and the narrow scope affecting only state employees.

Small Buyer Pool

Analysts estimate that the price for the U.S. portion of TikTok could be tens of billions of dollars.

ByteDance itself is one of the world’s most valuable start-ups , with an estimated worth of $225 billion, according to CB Insights, a firm that tracks venture capital and start-ups.

The steep price tag would limit the list of who could afford TikTok. Tech giants like Meta or Google would probably be blocked from an acquisition because of antitrust concerns.

Private equity firms or other investors could form a group to raise enough money to buy TikTok. Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said in March that he wanted to build such a group. And anyone who can pony up the money still has to pass muster with the U.S. government, which needs to sign off on any purchase.

Few others have expressed public interest in buying the app.

The last time the government tried to force ByteDance to sell TikTok in 2020, the company held talks with Microsoft and the software company Oracle. (Oracle and Walmart ultimately appeared to reach an agreement with ByteDance, but the deal never materialized .)

A Complicated Divestment

Even if TikTok approaches a sale, the process of separating TikTok from ByteDance is likely to be messy.

The legislation prohibits any connection between ByteDance and TikTok after a sale. Yet TikTok employees use ByteDance software in their communications, and the company’s employees are global, with executives in Singapore, Dublin, Los Angeles and Mountain View, Calif.

It’s unclear if ByteDance would consider selling TikTok’s entire global footprint or just its U.S. operations, where the company has nearly 7,000 employees.

Breaking off just the U.S. portion of TikTok could prove particularly challenging. The app's recommendation algorithm, which figures out what users like and serves up content, is key to the success of the app. But Chinese engineers work on that algorithm, which ByteDance owns.

During Mr. Trump’s attempt to force a sale in 2020, the Chinese government issued export restrictions that appeared to require its regulators to grant permission before ByteDance algorithms could be sold or licensed to outsiders.

The uncertainty around the export of the algorithm and other ByteDance technology could also deter interested buyers.

China’s Unpredictable Role

The Chinese government could also try to block a TikTok sale.

Chinese officials criticized a similar bill after the House passed it in March, although they have not yet said whether they would block a divestment. About a year ago, China’s commerce ministry said it would “firmly oppose” a sale of the app by ByteDance.

Chinese export regulations appear to cover TikTok’s content recommendation algorithm, giving Beijing a say in whether ByteDance could sell or license the app’s most valuable feature.

It “is not a foregone conclusion by any means” that China will allow a sale, said Lindsay Gorman, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund who specializes in emerging tech and China.

China may retaliate against American companies. On Friday, China’s Cyberspace Administration asked Apple to remove Meta’s WhatsApp and Threads from its App Store, according to the iPhone manufacturer. The Chinese government cited national security reasons in making the demand.

Sapna Maheshwari reports on TikTok, technology and emerging media companies. She has been a business reporter for more than a decade. Contact her at [email protected] . More about Sapna Maheshwari

David McCabe covers tech policy. He joined The Times from Axios in 2019. More about David McCabe

Exporter Newsletter

The tiktok ban is bigger than just bytedance, the u.s. clampdown on chinese-owned companies won't end here., exporter newsletter this article originally appeared in exporter, a weekly newsletter covering the latest on u.s. tech giants and their impact outside the west, with russell brandom..

After years of trying, the U.S. has finally issued ByteDance with an ultimatum: Sell TikTok or the app will be banned. The bill passed Congress with overwhelming support on Tuesday as part of a broader foreign aid package, and was signed into law by President Biden on Wednesday morning. It’s the most extreme measure the U.S. has taken so far in its effort to insulate itself from Chinese influence — and while the immediate impact is focused on one company, the secondary effects are likely to be much broader.

NBC News has a good rundown on the technical details of the ban , but for now, TikTok is pledging to challenge the bill. “We will keep fighting for your rights in the courts,” CEO Shou Zi Chew said in a TikTok after the bill was signed. “The facts and the Constitution are on our side.”

The company will almost certainly win a stay to pause enforcement of the law, and could well prevail at the end of it all. But going through that process will take at least two years, after which Congress can simply try again. As long as lawmakers believe Chinese ownership is a security threat, ByteDance’s position in the U.S. will never be fully secure. Even if ByteDance isn’t forced to sell, endless legal warfare may make a sale look more appealing.

In fact, it’s not clear any Chinese company should feel safe about their future prospects in the U.S. Some are already trying to spin their way out of trouble: Last week, Chinese drone manufacturer DJI launched a new “trust center” meant to give more detail on how the company’s drones deal with data — and, implicitly, why the U.S. shouldn’t bar them from the country as a security threat.

Like TikTok and Huawei before it, DJI is trying to prove there’s nothing to worry about. But it’s hard to see any possible way to do that, given that the concern isn’t about the robustness of any particular security measure — it’s the underlying fear that Chinese companies will abandon that level of security if asked by their government.

As long as the supply chain runs through China, hawks in the U.S. will always see it as a potential threat. We’ve seen that logic applied to consumer devices like smartphones, infrastructure like telecoms hardware, and even manufacturing tools like semiconductor fab equipment. You can argue that we’ve even seen it applied to money, with the CFIUS process litigating which companies can take investment from foreign firms.

TikTok, though, is an entirely new front in this war. Here, the restriction isn’t on physical goods crossing borders, but on a platform that Americans use to interact with each other. The case against TikTok isn’t just that it collects too much data, but that it influences U.S. opinion in ways lawmakers don’t like. The ban isn’t just a matter of military or economic competition, but competition over the flow of ideas and information. It’s an ominous new direction, and the consequences are unlikely to stop with ByteDance.

This essay was originally published in our Exporter newsletter. You can subscribe here .

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IMAGES

How To Write Your Tok Essay
TOK Essay Writing Tips
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How to Write a Good TOK Essay: A Simple Step-by-Step Guide
TOK Sample Essay 1
ToK essay outline plan by Nina Lamponen

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ToK Essay 6 May 24: Recent Evidence #shorts #tok #tokessay #ibtok
Ranting about the TOK Essay
ToK May 2024 Title 1: Key Points

COMMENTS

Deadline
Schools should set internal deadlines. Schools and supervisors are strongly recommended to set internal deadlines for the different stages of the different TOK components. When doing so, schools should make sure that their own deadlines are in keeping with the submission date set by the IB. If you wish to find out more about the deadline for a ...
Theory of knowledge
TOK is part of the International Baccalaureate® (IB) Diploma Programme (DP) core, and is mandatory for all students. Learn more about theory of knowledge . You can also find examples of TOK essay titles and read about how the IB sets deadlines for TOK .
What is the Deadline for Uploading TOK Essay?
September 3rd, 2023. IB. The TOK essay is one of the parts of the IB program that many students find very challenging. The main reason for this is that the structure of the essay is unique. But with ample knowledge and using relevant examples, it can be done correctly. Many students are also concerned about the TOK essay deadline.
Planning and structuring the TOK essay
The three TOK essay interactions are a key part of planning and writing your TOK essay. Find out more about making the most of them here. Search for: Search. ... to the deadline date for uploading your essay to the IB. However, most schools will set their own deadline for completing the essay, so that everyone has plenty of time to complete ...
TOK Essay essentials
Three mandated formal interactions between the student and teacher are recorded on the Planning and Progress Form (TK/PPF): 1. Discuss the list of prescribed titles with the student. 2. Discuss the student's initial exploration of their selected title. 3. Comment on one draft of the student's essay.
What's the Deadline for Submitting your TOK Essay?
The timeline for submitting your essay will depend on you or your school's individual circumstances, but it is important to be aware of the deadlines and ensure that your essay is submitted in good time. In general, students and schools should aim to submit the TOK essay at least two weeks before the start of the exam.
Example essays
Further guidance on the TOK essay and exhibition can be found in the IB's Programme Resource Centre (PRC). Materials in the PRC are only available to existing IB World Schools. These materials are free. There are a number of resources on TOK in the IB Store, which are available to everyone. Find out how to become an IB World School.
Stages for Teaching the ToK Essay
The ToK essay is a critical component of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, demanding students to reflect on the nature of knowledge and how we know what we claim to know. ... Emphasising the draft deadline as the primary milestone can significantly impact the quality of the final essays. By treating the draft deadline with ...
February 15th: The Deadline for TOK, or Should there be an Extension?
February 15, 2022 marks the deadline for the final IB submission of the Class of 2022's Theory Of Knowledge Essay, our last summative deadline for the course until we graduate in late May. Because of this, a debate has emerged within TOK classrooms: what should be done after Feb 15th? As of now, there are two main options.
TOK Essay Submission Dates: Key Deadlines
Key TOK Essay Submission Dates. In my opinion, understanding and adhering to the submission dates is crucial for success in this component. From my experience, the International Baccalaureate Organization typically sets the final deadline for the TOK essay in March for candidates in the May session and in September for those in the November ...
How to Structure a Theory of Knowledge Essay
Making sure your evidence actually supports your claims and counterclaims is one of the toughest aspects of the essay. The TOK Essay Structure. Our structure for the TOK essay has 4 sections (6 paragraphs) overall. First, write your introduction. (100-150 words) Paragraph 1-Say one or two interesting things about the prescribed title question ...
PDF IB Student Deadlines 2023-24
26 January 2024 st ToK Essay-1 Draft Due Seniors 30 January 2024 IB Visual Arts HL Student CS Art/Reflection Completed 2 February 2024 IBSL Psychology IA Final Deadline 2 February 2024 EE—Non-Exper: Viva Voce Conducted and RPPF Due ... 23 February 2024 ToK Essay Final Deadline February 26 - March 1 2024 Spanish Orals ...
What is the TOK Essay Deadline? All Due Dates in 2023
As the TOK essay deadline looms closer, students are feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders, with the added stress of ensuring that their essay meets the high standards set by the IBO. The pressure is intense, and for some, it can be unbearable, with many students losing sleep and experiencing anxiety as the deadline approaches ...
How To Write A ToK Essay
There are two assessment tasks in the TOK: an essay and a presentation. While a presentation encourages students to explore a real-life situation through the lens of TOK, an essay is written on the basis of the various questions provided by the International Baccalaureate Organisation. The presentation is to assess a student's ability to ...
PDF IB Assessment Timeline 2023-2024 (Internal and External Assessment Due
• Dec 13: CAS Portfolio Review Deadline • Dec 12-21: EE Mentor Meeting 1 • Dec 4/5: Spanish Oral Practice Assessment ... • March 1: All EEs, TOK Essays, Group 1 Written Assignment/Tasks, Group 6 Components Submitted to IBO • March 1: TOK Essay due in Managebac • March 1: CAS Portfolio Closes in Managebac
TOK essay guidance
10 TOK essay starting points. 1 The TOK essay is an individual task. 2 It represents two thirds of the overall mark for TOK. 3 It is externally marked. 4 You choose your title from a list of six prescribed titles, which change every exam session. 5 The word count for the essay is 1600 words.
Reviewing Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Progress
Make sure to mark the Deadline as Link to TOK Essay so that To-Do items can be created for it. To have the Deadline appear on the student TOK worksheets, be sure to locate the deadline in the calendar and click Add To-Do to add at least one task. Any To-Dos linked with the deadline would then display in the student's Workspace, for completion ...
IB TOK Essay examples
High scoring IB Theory of Knowledge Essay examples. See what past students did and make your TOK Essay perfect by learning from examiner commented examples!
Unpacking the 2024 November TOK Titles: A Comprehensive IB Solved Guide
Unpacking the 2024 November TOK Titles: A Comprehensive IB Solved Guide. The November 2024 IB Theory of Knowledge (TOK) Essay Titles are out! Let's be honest - tackling the TOK essay can be a daunting task. With so many ideas, concepts and topics at our disposal and a myriad of ideas swirling around, it's easy to feel overwhelmed at the outset.
What's the deadline for uploading TOK essay? : r/IBO
For us it's Feb. 22nd, so yeah, that's probably just a school deadline. The right answer: whenever your school says it is. The other answer: The final deadline from the IB to the school is around Mid-march, but your school has to verify your essay which takes a few days. And if they don't do it, it won't be counted.
Deadline
Schools should set internal deadlines. It is strongly recommended that schools set internal deadlines for the different stages of producing an extended essay, keeping in mind the IB's submission date. If you wish to find out more about the deadline for a particular school, please contact that school directly.
IA, EE, And TOK Update
After that, you can organize your TOK essay and work to finish on time. Student planning is crucial. If you work hard, you can meet deadlines. The TOK essay involves day-planning. To score well, first, comprehend the essay's distinctive structure. You also need good examples to achieve well. TOK can be done well with good planning and execution.
Biden Signs TikTok Ban Into Law. What That Means for Schools
Submit an Essay Submit a Letter to the Editor ... In fact, if the sale is already in progress by the law's deadline, TikTok would get an additional three months to complete the process. All told ...
Writing & uploading the TOK essay
Writing a TOK essay is a challenging task. We offer some tips on planning, structuring, and writing it, and what characterizes a great TOK essay. ... to the deadline date for uploading your essay to the IB. However, most schools will set their own deadline for completing the essay, so that everyone has plenty of time to complete your PPF, and ...
Biden Signs TikTok Ban Bill Into Law. Here's What Happens Next.
President Biden has signed the bill to force a sale of the video app or ban it. Now the law faces court challenges, a shortage of qualified buyers and Beijing's hostility.
The US TikTok ban is bigger than ByteDance
Exporter Newsletter This article originally appeared in Exporter, a weekly newsletter covering the latest on U.S. tech giants and their impact outside the West, with Russell Brandom. After years of trying, the U.S. has finally issued ByteDance with an ultimatum: Sell TikTok or the app will be banned ...
Congress tells China: sell TikTok or we'll ban it
(A previous version of the bill allowed six months; the new deadline pushes the matter conveniently beyond November's elections.) A wild selection of possible buyers is touted.