What counts as a good justification for a claim?
TOK Exhibition Prompt 19 — Object Examples & Rationale
A complete, examiner-written breakdown of IB TOK Exhibition IA Prompt 19 — five worked object examples exploring justification across science, law, language and ethics, with linked optional themes, knowledge questions and top-band commentary for IB DP May 2026.
The Prompt
“What counts as a good justification for a claim?” — Prompt 19 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 19 – “What counts as a good justification for a claim?”
IB TOK Exhibition Prompt 19 sits at the centre of how the academic and public worlds defend their claims. The prompt pushes you to examine the standards, processes and authorities that make a justification ‘good’ — whether that is empirical reproducibility, peer review, legal precedent, fact-checking, or transparent reasoning. For a strong exhibition, each of your three objects must spotlight a different mechanism through which a claim earns the right to be believed.
A top-scoring IB TOK exhibition on Prompt 19 does three things well: it links each object to a specific real-world context where justification is being tested, it identifies the criteria that make the justification strong (or weak), and it connects the analysis to an optional theme or area of knowledge.
TOK Exhibition Objects for Prompt 19
Each example below includes the object, linked optional theme, examiner-written rationale, and a knowledge question to extend your analysis.
A Peer-Reviewed Research Article on Climate Change
A peer-reviewed article on climate change, published in a reputable scientific journal, serves as an exemplar of rigorous justification in the scientific community. The process of peer review itself, requiring scrutiny by multiple experts in the field, ensures that claims made within the article are supported by empirical evidence, methodological soundness, and logical reasoning. This object highlights the importance of consensus, reproducibility, and transparency in justifying scientific claims, emphasising the role of peer review in maintaining the integrity of scientific knowledge.
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Supreme Court Decision on Digital Privacy Rights
A landmark Supreme Court decision that addresses digital privacy rights, such as the case of Carpenter v. United States, illustrates the complex issues at the intersection of law, technology, and individual freedoms. This decision, which required law enforcement to obtain a warrant before accessing cell phone records, highlights how advancements in technology necessitate the re-evaluation and justification of legal principles in the modern age. It reflects on how legal claims, especially those concerning privacy and surveillance in the digital realm, are justified through a rigorous examination of constitutional rights, technological capabilities, and societal values.
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An Encyclopedia of Logical Fallacies
This encyclopedia, detailing various logical fallacies, serves as a tool for understanding what does not constitute a good justification for a claim. By identifying common errors in reasoning, such as ad hominem attacks, straw man arguments, and false dilemmas, the encyclopedia provides a foundation for critically assessing the strength of arguments and the validity of justifications. It underscores the importance of logical consistency, evidence-based reasoning, and the avoidance of fallacious thinking in constructing sound justifications.
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2 More Objects for Prompt 19
Two additional examiner-written object examples to help you finalise your TOK exhibition selection.
User Data Privacy Policy of a Major Social Media Platform
The privacy policy of a social media company, detailing how user data is collected, used, and protected, represents the attempt to justify the company’s practices to users and regulators. This document exemplifies how justification in the context of technology and data ethics involves balancing corporate interests with user rights and societal norms. It prompts discussion on the adequacy of such justifications in addressing privacy concerns, highlighting the role of transparency, accountability, and ethical considerations in justifying business practices in the digital age.
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A Fact-Checking Report on a Politician’s Statement
Fact-checking reports play a crucial role in the political landscape by evaluating the accuracy of public statements and providing evidence-based assessments of their veracity. Such reports demonstrate how justification in the public and political sphere relies on evidence, source credibility, and logical analysis to assess the truthfulness of claims. This object emphasises the importance of critical scrutiny, evidence hierarchy, and the commitment to factual accuracy in justifying claims within public discourse.
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Knowledge Questions for Prompt 19
Use these knowledge questions to strengthen the analytical depth of your exhibition commentary.
Is empirical evidence the gold standard of justification, or just one standard among many?
How does peer review differ from democratic consensus as a form of justification?
Can a claim be well-justified in one community of knowers but unjustified in another?
Are there fields where good justification looks fundamentally different — for example, the arts versus the sciences?
Does the absence of fallacies guarantee a good justification?
When justifications conflict, how do we decide which to trust?
How to Score High on Prompt 19
Three strategies our IB examiners use when coaching students through the TOK exhibition.
Pick objects that show justification in action
A peer-reviewed paper, a court ruling, a fact-check report — these objects make justification visible. Avoid abstract objects where the justification process isn’t obvious.
Name the specific criteria of justification
Top-band commentary names the exact standards being met (or violated) — empirical reproducibility, legal precedent, logical consistency, source credibility. Don’t write generically about ‘good reasoning’.
Show what counts as a bad justification too
Including one object that demonstrates weak justification (a fallacy guide, a partisan policy document) sharpens the analysis by contrast. Examiners reward this nuance.
TOK Exhibition Prompt 19 — FAQs
What is TOK Exhibition Prompt 19?
How many objects do I need to present for Prompt 19?
Which optional themes work best with this prompt?
What is the word limit for the TOK exhibition commentary?
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