• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
GO TO EXPAT LIVING SINGAPORE
GET OUR NEWSLETTER

Expat Living Hong Kong HomepageExpat Living Hong Kong

Moving to Hong Kong and not sure where to start? Expat Living is the essential lifestyle guide to living in Hong Kong.

Login Pelcro Shop

Menu
  • Living In Hong Kong
      • Living Here
      • Where To Live
      • Schools
      • For Guys
        • What it’s like living on Peng Chau
        • Pets and Planes: 5 Things to Consider
        • City meets country in this residential development
        • Financial considerations for expats leaving Hong Kong for Australia - how a qualifying foreign superannuation fund can provide tax advantages - Northland GroupThings to consider when moving to Australia
      • View all
    Close
  • Things To Do
      • Things To Do
      • What’s On/Calendar
      • Competitions & Offers
        • W Hotel Hong Kong Poolside PartyTop 35 Best Things To Do In Hong Kong This Weekend
        • What to watch this month – Netflix & more!
        • Best museums in Hong Kong - The Palace Museum14 of the best museums in Hong Kong
        • Great podcasts we are listening to!
      • View all
    Close
  • Kids
      • Activities & Things To Do
      • Education & Enrichment
      • Health & Wellness
      • Mums & Babies
      • Podcasts
        • Choosing a university and finding the right fit
        • Pregancy in Hong Kong - maternity care at Matilda International HospitalPregnant in HK? What you need to know
        • A boarding school with wildlife on the doorstep!
        • A fun summer camp for teens in Cebu
      • View all
    Close
  • Homes
      • Home Décor
      • Readers Homes
        • Home design and décor tips - ginger jarsHow to bring your living room to life!
        • Rebecca, Brian and daughter Billie in their newly renovated Fortress Hill homeTransforming a Hidden Gem in Fortress Hill
        • Horizon Plaza stores - Indigo Living Boston Brownstone CollectionOur guide to furniture shopping at Horizon Plaza
        • See the Soho home of a professional organiser
      • View all
    Close
  • Travel
      • Short Breaks
      • Further Afield
        • Pets and Planes: 5 Things to Consider
        • Sri Lanka - Where to go for a girls tripWhere to go for a girls’ trip
        • Best Surf Breaks in Southeast Asia - padang padangBest Surf Breaks in Southeast Asia
        • Outdoor activities in Hong Kong - hikingOutdoor activities for all the family
      • View all
    Close
  • Wine & Dine
      • Recipes & Groceries
      • Bars & Restaurants
        • Seafood restaurant in Hong Kong - Lobster Shack4 restaurants to satisfy your cravings
        • Taste Test: Chinese Cuisine in HK
        • New bars and restaurants in Hong Kong - RositaNew nibbles: where to dine this May
        • Middle Eastern Restaurants and cuisine in Hong Kong - Mama MaloufTaste Test: Middle Eastern Eats
      • View all
    Close
  • Style & Beauty
      • Fashion
      • Hair & Beauty
        • Considering getting hair extensions?
        • Paraben-free skincare for men
        • Skincare anti-ageing products, overnight creams, face and eye serumsTried and Tested: Anti-ageing Products 
        • Sensitive skin moisturisers, serums & more!
      • View all
    Close
  • Health & Fitness
      • Medical & Dental
      • Fitness
      • Wellness
        • recurrent miscarriages – causes, risk factors, ivf treatmentHealth help: A focus on recurrent miscarriage
        • lung cancer - symptoms and treatmentLung Cancer: 8 Common Myths
        • Osteopathy in Hong KongOsteopathy for Body Aches & Pains
        • image of mum and baby for article on postnatal depression by clinical psychologist Dr Zaidi of MindNlife Hong KongBaby blues or something more?
      • View all
    Close
  • Shop
    • Magazine
    • Advertise With Us
    • Close

IBDP Insights: Talking about the TOK!

3 January, 2023 by Expat Living 3 Min Read

https://expatliving.hk/theory-of-knowledge-tok-tips-and-insights-from-an-ib-tutor/

Theory of Knowledge (TOK) is part of the core IB Diploma (IBDP) curriculum – and mandatory for all students. It can also be quite the challenge! We asked JEROME BARTY-TAYLOR, IB tutor at BartyED for expert advice on tackling the IB TOK.

What’s your background with IB TOK?

I’ve tutored the IB TOK for the last decade and previously served as an examiner in the subject. TOK “interventions” are often some of the most enriching short-term assignments. You’re able to help a young person make rapid progress and gain a new understanding of the world as well as themselves.

Teaching the subject also allows me to get to know our final year students better, which is a joy. Once upon a time, many moons ago, I was an IB TOK student myself, so I can always empathise with students who say they find the subject challenging or don’t understand its relevance to them.

IB tutors Hong Kong - BartyED team
Looking for guidance on the IB TOK? Jerome Barty-Taylor and his team at BartyED can help!

Tell us more about the structure of the subject.

Theory of Knowledge is designed to get students to explore the nature of knowledge and the process of knowing. That sounds intimidating, but really it’s quite simple: students learn about how we know things, and the cultural, religious, scientific and ethical beliefs that underpin methodology and what we believe to be true. Basically, the course is designed to encourage students’ critical thinking and evaluation skills. In the so-called “post truth” age, there’s never been a more important subject.

There are two assessments: the exhibition and the essay. The exhibition is marked internally by the teacher and comprises 33 percent of the student’s grade; the essay is marked externally by IB examiners and counts for 66 percent.

There have been some changes to the TOK recently, right?

Like many IBDP subjects, the TOK underwent an overhaul of its curriculum and structure in 2019. Whereas students had previously been required to deliver an oral presentation, this has been replaced by the exhibition. This is a project where students present three objects that embody how concepts discussed in TOK are applicable to the world around them. Students trip up because the word count is extremely tight – only 300 words per object; through this, they must communicate philosophical complexity if they wish to score highly.

IB TOK - tutor at BartyED with student, how to tackle Theory of Knowledge

What tips can you offer students (and parents!)?

The TOK is certainly a challenging component of the IBDP, but there are simple ways students can get the most out of the experience, and even enjoy it! Organisation and time management are key. The essay prompts are released in September each year, so there’s no excuse for students not to get started early. As an “A” in TOK can deliver potentially two additional points on the IB Diploma, careful planning of the essay can make all the difference to a candidate’s profile when applying to top universities.

It’s important to prioritise clarity of thought and argument over trying to sound “clever” or “deep”. It astounds me how few schools assign textbooks for the subject – there are many readily available and endorsed by the IB. Students often get themselves tangled in a knot when dissecting TOK’s epistemological questions; some help from a primer, or the opportunity to discuss arguments with an IB tutor can help inordinately in maintaining a clear, focused argument. This is essential in producing IBDP-worthy work.

IB tutor at BartyED Hong Kong with student studying for TOK

How can BartyED help?

It’s very common for students to feel intimidated by the IB Theory of Knowledge. You’re being asked to use skills in a way that you’ve never done before, and that can result in a lot of confusion over expectations or sometimes even how to begin. Our IB tutors are always delighted to help students make sense of the subject, and guide them clearly and methodically.

Find out more by emailing enquiries@bartyed.com or calling 2882 1017.
bartyed.com


This article first appeared in the Winter 2022/23 issue of Expat Living magazine.
Subscribe now so you never miss an issue.

Categories: Education & Enrichment Kids

Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox
Get the latest events, stories and special offers sent to your inbox

You May Also Like

A fun summer camp for teens in Cebu

image of mum and baby for article on postnatal depression by clinical psychologist Dr Zaidi of MindNlife Hong Kong

Baby blues or something more?

Pregnancy Myths – Answered!

Primary Sidebar

  • COMPETITIONS & OFFERS
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Subscribe

© 2023 Expat Living Hong Kong, All Rights Reserved.