What makes a good explanation?
TOK Exhibition Prompt 32 — Object Examples & Rationale
A complete, examiner-written breakdown of IB TOK Exhibition IA Prompt 32 — 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 makes a good explanation?” — Prompt 32 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 32 – “What makes a good explanation?”
TOK Exhibition Prompt 32 invites you to examine one of the subtlest demands the Theory of Knowledge course makes: that you distinguish between an explanation that merely describes a phenomenon and one that genuinely illuminates it. The prompt asks you to interrogate the criteria, mediums and audiences that shape what counts as a ‘good’ explanation — from accuracy and parsimony to accessibility and narrative power. For a strong exhibition, each of your three objects must reveal a different angle on this — whether through scientific annotation, museum curation, software interactivity, public lecture, or popular journalism.
A top-scoring IB TOK exhibition on Prompt 32 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 explanation, and it connects back to an optional theme or area of knowledge.
TOK Exhibition Objects for Prompt 32
Each example below includes the object, linked optional theme, examiner-written rationale, and a knowledge question to extend your analysis.
A Well-Annotated Genome Sequence
A genome sequence that is well-annotated with information about gene functions, regulatory elements, and genetic markers serves as an exemplary model of a good scientific explanation. It not only presents data but also contextualises it, providing insights into how different genes may contribute to traits or diseases. This object exemplifies clarity, relevance, and the ability to connect complex information to broader biological understandings, making it accessible and informative to both experts and non-specialists.
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A Museum Exhibit on Human Evolution
A museum exhibit that effectively explains human evolution through fossil records, comparative anatomy, and genetic evidence exemplifies a good explanation in the context of anthropology and history. By integrating various types of evidence into a coherent narrative, the exhibit demonstrates how good explanations often rely on interdisciplinary approaches, engaging storytelling, and visual aids to enhance understanding and retain the audience’s interest.
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Interactive Software for Learning Quantum Physics
Interactive educational software that simplifies quantum physics concepts through simulations, animations, and problem-solving exercises represents a good explanation in the domain of complex scientific theories. It highlights the importance of interactivity, visualization, and incremental learning in making challenging content comprehensible and engaging, illustrating how technology can facilitate deeper understanding through innovative explanatory methods.
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2 More Objects for Prompt 32
Two additional examiner-written object examples to help you finalise your TOK exhibition selection.
A TED Talk on the Impact of Climate Change
A TED Talk that effectively communicates the impact of climate change by weaving together empirical data, personal narratives, and visual storytelling exemplifies a good explanation by making abstract or large-scale phenomena relatable and urgent. This object underscores the power of narrative and visual evidence in enhancing comprehension and emotional engagement, demonstrating how good explanations often transcend mere data presentation to connect with audiences on a deeper level.
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A Financial Blog Demystifying Stock Market Trends
A financial blog that demystifies stock market trends with clear, concise explanations, and easy-to-understand graphs and examples shows how complex economic information can be made accessible. Good explanations in this context break down jargon, relate concepts to everyday experiences, and provide actionable insights, thereby empowering readers with the knowledge to make informed decisions.
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Knowledge Questions for Prompt 32
Use these knowledge questions to strengthen the analytical depth of your exhibition commentary.
What features turn a description into a genuine explanation?
Do good explanations require a specific audience to be ‘good’?
Is parsimony (Occam’s Razor) a sound criterion for choosing between competing explanations?
Can an explanation be true but bad, or false but good — and what does that reveal about the concept of explanation?
How do narrative and visualisation contribute to, or detract from, an explanation’s quality?
Do different areas of knowledge mean different things by ‘good explanation’?
How to Score High on Prompt 32
Three strategies our IB examiners use when coaching students through the TOK exhibition.
Pick objects that explain something difficult
The harder the underlying knowledge — quantum physics, deep time, genetic regulation — the easier it is to evaluate the quality of an explanation. Easy topics make for thin commentary.
Discuss the audience explicitly
Examiners reward students who recognise that ‘good’ is audience-relative. The same explanation can be excellent for a child and inadequate for a specialist.
Connect explanation to truth, not just clarity
Top-band answers refuse to equate ‘good explanation’ with ‘easy explanation’ and explore whether clarity and accuracy can pull apart.
TOK Exhibition Prompt 32 — FAQs
What is TOK Exhibition Prompt 32?
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