How can we judge when evidence is adequate?
TOK Exhibition Prompt 31 — Object Examples & Rationale
A complete, examiner-written breakdown of IB TOK Exhibition IA Prompt 31 — 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
“How can we judge when evidence is adequate?” — Prompt 31 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 31 – “How can we judge when evidence is adequate?”
TOK Exhibition Prompt 31 cuts to the methodological heart of the Theory of Knowledge course: how do we ever know when we know enough? The prompt pushes you to examine the thresholds, standards and conventions that different communities use to decide whether evidence is sufficient — from peer-reviewed journals to fact-check reports to crowdsourced ratings. For a strong exhibition, each of your three objects must reveal a different angle on this — whether through statistical inference, peer validation, journalistic verification, or historical sourcing.
A top-scoring IB TOK exhibition on Prompt 31 does three things well: it links each object to a specific real-world context, it justifies why that object illustrates the prompt through a clear knowledge claim about evidential adequacy, and it connects back to an optional theme or area of knowledge.
TOK Exhibition Objects for Prompt 31
Each example below includes the object, linked optional theme, examiner-written rationale, and a knowledge question to extend your analysis.
User Reviews and Ratings on a Consumer Product Website
User reviews and ratings on websites serve as a practical example of how the adequacy of evidence is judged in the context of consumer decision-making. These reviews, when aggregated, offer a form of evidence about the quality and reliability of products based on collective user experiences. The adequacy of this evidence can be judged based on the volume of reviews, consistency of user experiences, and the credibility of reviewers. This object highlights how technology facilitates the collection and assessment of experiential evidence, emphasizing the role of consensus and community feedback in shaping perceptions of product adequacy and trustworthiness.
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Statistical Analysis Report from a Clinical Drug Trial
A detailed statistical analysis report from a clinical drug trial represents a cornerstone in evaluating the adequacy of evidence in the medical field. This object exemplifies the rigorous standards applied to evidence in healthcare, where statistical significance, reproducibility of results, and comprehensive data analysis are paramount. It underscores how adequacy is judged based on methodological soundness, the statistical power of the study, and the clarity with which results are presented and interpreted, reflecting the critical role of empirical evidence in advancing medical knowledge and practice.
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A Peer-Reviewed Environmental Science Research Article
Peer-reviewed research articles in environmental science, particularly those contributing to contentious topics like climate change, serve as examples of how evidence must withstand scrutiny within the scientific community to be deemed adequate. The process of peer review assesses the validity, reliability, and significance of research findings, emphasizing the importance of transparency, data integrity, and the alignment of methodology with research questions in judging the adequacy of evidence.
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2 More Objects for Prompt 31
Two additional examiner-written object examples to help you finalise your TOK exhibition selection.
A Fact-Checking Report on Political Claims
Fact-checking reports that evaluate the accuracy of claims made by public figures or in media outlets highlight the criteria for adequate evidence in the context of journalism and public discourse. These reports rely on verifying information against credible sources, cross-referencing data, and assessing the context in which claims are made. This object illustrates how the adequacy of evidence is determined by its source, relevance, and the rigor of the verification process, especially in an era marked by misinformation.
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A Historian’s Compilation of Primary Sources for a Historical Thesis
A historian’s use of primary sources to construct a historical narrative or thesis demonstrates the criteria for adequacy in historical research. The selection, authenticity, and contextual analysis of primary documents and artifacts are crucial in establishing a credible and well-supported historical account. This object emphasizes how the adequacy of evidence in history depends on its directness, reliability, and the historian’s ability to critically engage with and interpret sources within their broader historical context.
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Knowledge Questions for Prompt 31
Use these knowledge questions to strengthen the analytical depth of your exhibition commentary.
What makes evidence ‘adequate’ — quantity, quality, source diversity, or coherence with existing knowledge?
Do different areas of knowledge require different standards of evidential adequacy?
Can statistical significance ever replace the question of practical or moral adequacy?
How do communities decide when ‘enough’ evidence has been gathered to act?
Is the absence of contradicting evidence ever sufficient to make a claim adequate?
How do biases of the knower influence what counts as adequate?
How to Score High on Prompt 31
Three strategies our IB examiners use when coaching students through the TOK exhibition.
Pick objects that surface a clear standard
Examiners reward objects that name the threshold of adequacy explicitly — a 95% confidence interval, a fact-check rating scale, an editorial sourcing standard. Vagueness costs marks.
Compare standards across areas of knowledge
A strong exhibition on Prompt 31 contrasts how natural sciences, history, and journalism each define ‘adequate’ — your three objects can stage this contrast for you.
Acknowledge what counts as adequate can fail
Top-band commentary admits that adequate evidence has produced wrong knowledge in the past — and uses that to deepen the analysis.
TOK Exhibition Prompt 31 — FAQs
What is TOK Exhibition Prompt 31?
How many objects do I need to present for Prompt 31?
Which optional themes work best with this prompt?
What is the word limit for the TOK exhibition commentary?
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