As an IB tutor, I know how complex Theory of Knowledge assignments can be. The May 2025 TOK essay prompts allow students to demonstrate their critical thinking abilities while interacting with intricate and thought-provoking concepts.
In this post, I’ll discuss my thoughts on the six prompts, provide potential Ways of Knowing, real-life situations, and Areas of Knowledge, as well as practical advice to help you write a fantastic TOK essay.
- What TOK Essay Prompts IB Prescribes for the 2025 May Session?
- Complete Breakdown of May 2025 TOK Essay Prompts
- 1. Do historians and human scientists have an ethical obligation to follow the directive: “do not ignore contradictory evidence”?
- 2. Is our most revered knowledge more fragile than we assume it to be?
- 3. How can we reconcile the relentless drive to pursue knowledge with the finite resources we have available?
- 4. Do the ever-improving tools of an area of knowledge always result in improved knowledge?
- 5. To what extent do you agree with the claim “all models are wrong, but some are useful” (attributed to George Box)?
- Need Help with Your IB TOK Essay?
- Conclusion
What TOK Essay Prompts IB Prescribes for the 2025 May Session?
For the May 2025 session, the IB has published six interesting TOK essay prompts. Students must critically examine the foundational elements of knowledge, its production, and its ramifications in these titles. Every TOK essay prompt encourages students to consider a variety of viewpoints by concentrating on certain AOKs and WOKs:
- Do historians and human scientists have an ethical obligation to follow the directive: “do not ignore contradictory evidence”? Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.
- Is our most revered knowledge more fragile than we assume it to be? Discuss with reference to the arts and one other area of knowledge.
- How can we reconcile the relentless drive to pursue knowledge with the finite resources we have available? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.
- Do the ever-improving tools of an area of knowledge always result in improved knowledge? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
- To what extent do you agree with the claim “all models are wrong, but some are useful” (attributed to George Box)? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.
- Does acquiring knowledge destroy our sense of wonder? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
The purpose of these questions is to help students relate theory to practical situations. They allow you to show off your critical thoughts, rational analysis, and creative reasoning—all essential for writing a compelling TOK essay.
To successfully respond to these prompts, students should:
- Dissect the main ideas and terminology in each question.
- Determine the proper real-life situations (RLSs), AOKs, and WOKs.
- Create a concise thesis and back it up with well-organized arguments and examples.
Students may write essays that demonstrate a profound comprehension of the subtleties and complexity of knowledge by carefully examining these prompts.
Complete Breakdown of May 2025 TOK Essay Prompts
The TOK essay prompts for May 2025 provide a stimulating set of questions intended to test your comprehension of knowledge and its applications. Let’s dissect each title so you can understand what is being asked and how to respond to it successfully.
1. Do historians and human scientists have an ethical obligation to follow the directive: “do not ignore contradictory evidence”?
Ethical obligation and contradictory evidence are central ideas. Historians and human scientists often face moral dilemmas when handling evidence that challenges prevailing narratives.
- AOKs – History, Human Sciences
- WOKs – Reason, Emotion
In my view, a strong ethical stance enhances writing on this prompt. In your TOK essay, talk about instances when conflicting evidence was accepted or disregarded and how this affected the emergence of new knowledge.
Relevant RLSs
Regarding actual events, historians disagree on the reasons, course, and effects of the Vietnam War, making it contentious. For instance, some historians focus on geopolitical tactics, such as the containment strategy used during the Cold War, while others draw attention to ethical issues on human rights and involvement.
On the other hand, Stanley Milgram’s obedience tests from the 1960s showed how people might defer to authoritative individuals and carry out immoral behavior, even harming others. These investigations were revolutionary, but they raised ethical questions since many subjects endured great stress and deceit.
2. Is our most revered knowledge more fragile than we assume it to be?
Revered knowledge refers to widely respected and foundational ideas, while fragility implies susceptibility to change or destruction.
- AOKs – Arts, Natural Sciences
- WOKs – Faith, Imagination
I think there is a strong structure in comparing the arts and the scientific sciences. To highlight disparities, use transitional words like “on the other hand.” Give specific instances to illustrate the development of treasured knowledge.
Relevant RLSs
The transition from classical art, focused on symmetry and realism, to modernism brought a significant paradigm change. Surrealism and Cubism reshaped artistic ideals and perceptions by challenging conventional aesthetics and promoting abstraction and experimentation.
Quantum mechanics replaced Newtonian physics in science, marking a significant leap forward. Quantum theories introduced possibilities and uncertainties that expanded Newton’s rules, once viewed as absolute. This shift transformed our understanding of reality and opened new avenues for scientific research.
3. How can we reconcile the relentless drive to pursue knowledge with the finite resources we have available?
This question examines the balance between ambition and practicality in knowledge creation.
- AOKs – Natural Sciences, Arts
- WOKs – Reason, Sense Perception
From my own experience, I know that a well-rounded conversation is necessary to meet this prompt well. Consider how limited resources affect knowledge progress and availability. At the same time, stress the importance of setting clear goals.
Relevant RLSs
Public support for the arts often favors popular cultural organizations, such as national theaters, and overly specialized or avant-garde artistic projects. It may restrict creative expression’s inventiveness and variety.
Research on renewable energy often competes with research on fossil fuels for funding in the natural sciences, illustrating the tension between short-term financial gains and long-term environmental objectives.
4. Do the ever-improving tools of an area of knowledge always result in improved knowledge?
Tools aid in knowledge production, but their effectiveness is not always guaranteed.
- AOKs – History and Human Sciences
- WOKs – Language, Reason
This prompt encourages a fair assessment of whether continuously advancing instruments in a field of expertise always result in better knowledge. To successfully address it, you must examine the benefits and drawbacks of various tools and bolster your claims with examples from real-world situations.
Relevant RLSs
History has become more approachable and visually captivating with AI and digital reconstruction technologies, such as 3D modeling, to reproduce historic buildings like the Parthenon. However, if these tools are based on subjective or insufficient interpretations, they may include bias or mistakes, resulting in disputed reconstructions of historical objects.
Today, AI techniques, such as sentiment analysis software, are used to investigate human behavior and social media trends. Although these technologies effectively process large amounts of data, their dependence on preset algorithms may cause them to miss linguistic subtleties, which might skew the results.
5. To what extent do you agree with the claim “all models are wrong, but some are useful” (attributed to George Box)?
By their very nature, models simplify reality and make difficult occurrences easier to comprehend. While they are essential in many fields of study, we cannot overlook their shortcomings.
- AOKs – Mathematics, Natural Sciences
- WOKs – Reason, Imagination
In my view, students should emphasize that models are useful tools for comprehending and resolving issues rather than flawless depictions of reality. Essays should highlight a model’s usefulness in certain situations while balancing its limits.
Relevant RLSs
Climate models simulate the Earth’s climatic system to forecast future warming scenarios. They consider atmospheric fluctuations, ocean currents, and greenhouse gas emissions. Although useful for policymaking, climate models are significantly ambiguous because their accuracy depends on predictions about future human behavior.
Economic models use data analysis to forecast financial stability and market developments. Although they provide valuable insights, their forecast accuracy is sometimes limited by their inability to completely account for human behavior or unexpected events, as the financial crisis of 2008 demonstrated.
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6. Does acquiring knowledge destroy our sense of wonder?
Human curiosity is fueled by wonder, often aroused by the unknown. But when we learn more about the universe, the mysteries that astonish and wonder may give way to answers that don’t seem as remarkable.
- AOKs – Natural Sciences, Arts
- WOKs – Sense Perception, Emotion
A good essay balances arguments for and against this notion. To demonstrate the importance of perspective and context, give instances of how knowledge has increased and decreased wonder. Instead of drawing firm conclusions, investigate the complex connection between wonder and comprehension.
Relevant RLSs
Space research turns secrets into things that can be measured. For example, the tracking and study of Mars’s surface have replaced wild ideas about the possibility of life there with scientific facts. These findings help us understand things better but can also diminish the sense of awe from not knowing something.
Learning art skills like color theory or perspective can change our thoughts about creation. Understanding these techniques can help you appreciate skill and expertise more. Still, shifting the focus from personal interpretation to technical analysis may also diminish a piece’s emotional effect.
Conclusion
Understanding the May 2025 TOK essay prompts requires careful consideration, lucid organization, and substantial real-life examples. You’ll be well on your way to creating an exceptional TOK essay if you analyze each prompt critically and use the advice provided here. As I usually say, answering the question is just one aspect of success in TOK; another is actively participating in it.
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