What features of knowledge impact its reliability?
TOK Exhibition Prompt 3 — Object Examples & Rationale
A complete, examiner-written breakdown of IB TOK Exhibition IA Prompt 3 — five worked object examples, linked optional themes, knowledge questions and top-band commentary to help you nail the TOK exhibition for IB DP May 2026.
The Prompt
“What features of knowledge have an impact on its reliability?” — Prompt 3 of the 35 prescribed IA prompts.
Assessment Weight
TOK exhibition = one-third of your final TOK grade.
Word Count
950 words max across all 3 objects combined (plus references).
Session
Updated & mapped for TOK assessment.
Decoding Prompt 3 – “What features of knowledge have an impact on its reliability?”
IB TOK Exhibition Prompt 3 goes to the heart of how we trust what we know. Reliability is not a fixed property of a claim — it emerges from features built into the process that produced the knowledge: peer review, methodology, transparency, replicability, decentralisation, institutional scrutiny, and the conceptual frameworks that shape what counts as valid evidence. Your three objects must each surface a different feature that affects reliability.
A top-band exhibition on Prompt 3 identifies features at different layers: institutional (peer review), theoretical (paradigm shifts), technological (cryptographic consensus), linguistic (fact-checking methodology), and representational (simplification for usability). Rich examples come from the natural sciences, Knowledge & Technology, and Knowledge & Language.
TOK Exhibition Objects for Prompt 3
Each example below includes the object, linked optional theme, examiner-written rationale, and a knowledge question to extend your analysis.
“The Structure of Scientific Revolutions” by Thomas S. Kuhn
Kuhn’s seminal work introduces the concept of paradigm shifts within scientific communities, fundamentally challenging the notion of scientific progress as a linear accumulation of knowledge. The book argues that the reliability of scientific knowledge is influenced by the prevailing paradigms or conceptual frameworks within which scientists operate. These paradigms, which determine what questions are asked and how evidence is interpreted, can both enable and constrain the development of reliable knowledge. Kuhn’s analysis suggests that shifts in paradigms, while disruptive, are necessary for the advancement of science, as they allow for the overcoming of anomalies that the previous paradigms could not account for. This object underscores the impact of theoretical frameworks on the reliability of knowledge, illustrating that what is considered reliable can change with shifts in underlying assumptions and worldviews.
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A Map of the London Underground
The London Underground map, designed by Harry Beck in 1931, revolutionised the way people navigated the city’s subway system by prioritising clarity and ease of use over geographical accuracy. This object exemplifies how the simplification and abstraction of information, while enhancing usability, can also impact the reliability of knowledge by omitting or distorting certain features of reality. Beck’s design highlights the trade-offs between accuracy and utility in the production of knowledge, with the map’s reliability being contingent upon the specific purposes it serves. The map’s evolution over time also reflects ongoing efforts to balance these considerations, adapting to changes in the underground network and the needs of its users. This object prompts reflection on how technological and design choices influence the reliability of knowledge, particularly in terms of how information is represented and understood.
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A Fact-Checking Website’s Methodology Page
The methodology page of a reputable fact-checking website, such as Snopes or FactCheck.org, provides insight into the processes and criteria used to evaluate the veracity of claims, highlighting the role of rigorous analysis and evidence in establishing the reliability of knowledge. This object demonstrates that the reliability of knowledge, especially in the context of public discourse and media, is heavily influenced by the methods employed to verify information, including source evaluation, cross-referencing, and the application of logical analysis. The transparency and thoroughness of these methodologies are crucial in distinguishing reliable knowledge from misinformation, underscoring the importance of critical thinking and evaluative skills in the assessment of knowledge claims. This object invites consideration of how language and communication practices, including the presentation of evidence and argumentation, are fundamental to the construction and appraisal of reliable knowledge.
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2 More Objects for Prompt 3
Two additional examiner-written object examples to help you finalise your TOK exhibition selection.
Blockchain Ledger Technology Documentation
Documentation explaining the workings of blockchain technology, which underpins cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, offers a clear example of how decentralisation and cryptographic security contribute to the reliability of knowledge. By ensuring that transactions are transparently verified by a network of users without the need for a central authority, blockchain technology demonstrates a feature of knowledge production that significantly impacts its reliability: the distributed consensus mechanism. This method of validation, where multiple independent verifications are required to confirm the authenticity of information, illustrates how technological design can enhance the reliability of knowledge by reducing the potential for tampering and ensuring the integrity of the data. The blockchain ledger’s resistance to modification makes it a powerful tool for establishing trust in digital transactions, underscoring the importance of system architecture in the production of reliable knowledge.
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A Peer-Reviewed Climate Change Research Paper
A peer-reviewed research paper on climate change serves as a testament to the scientific community’s commitment to accuracy, rigour, and the collective scrutiny of research findings. The peer review process itself is a critical feature that impacts the reliability of knowledge within the natural sciences, as it subjects researchers’ work to evaluation by other experts in the field. This process helps to ensure that the methods used are sound, the data are interpreted correctly, and the conclusions drawn are justified based on the evidence presented. By facilitating a critical appraisal of research before it is published, peer review acts as a gatekeeper for scientific knowledge, aiming to filter out unsubstantiated claims and inaccurate conclusions. This object exemplifies how the institutional practices of science, particularly the mechanisms of peer review and replication studies, are designed to build a body of knowledge that is as reliable as possible.
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Knowledge Questions for Prompt 3
Use these knowledge questions to strengthen the analytical depth of your exhibition commentary.
What institutional features are most essential for establishing the reliability of knowledge?
Is the reliability of knowledge a property of the claim, or of the process that produced it?
Can knowledge be reliable in one context and unreliable in another — and what does this tell us about truth?
How do the tools we use — microscopes, maps, algorithms — shape what we take to be reliable?
Is consensus among experts a feature that increases reliability, or simply a feature that increases acceptance?
What does it mean for knowledge to be reliable if our underlying theories may one day be overturned?
How to Score High on Prompt 3
Three strategies our IB examiners use when coaching students through the TOK exhibition.
Pick objects with a real-world context
Your object must be specific — “my grandfather’s 1998 copy of the Britannica” beats a generic encyclopedia every time. Examiners reward specificity.
Anchor to one optional theme per object
Don’t float between themes. Each object should clearly link to one optional theme or area of knowledge and stay consistent throughout.
Justify — don’t just describe
The top markband (9–10) is reached only when the commentary explains why the object illustrates the prompt, not just that it does.
TOK Exhibition Prompt 3 — FAQs
What is TOK Exhibition Prompt 3?
How many objects do I need to present for Prompt 3?
Which optional themes work best with this prompt?
What is the word limit for the TOK exhibition commentary?
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