General instructins: Use all possible materials you can find. You can start with the materials and links below. Remember the school's TOK Handbook.

Step 1: Familiarize yourself with the example TOK essays. Before seeing the examiner's comments, try to evaluate at least a couple of the samples with the TOK essay assessment instrument. How many marks would you give to each sample you cover?

Step 2: Choose ONE title from list of prescribed titles (PT). Make sure that you use the right list! Your TOK teachers will provide you with the correct lists and the lists are also updated to ManageBac. The chosen title should be used exactly as given; it must not be altered in any way.

Step 3: Update your choice of PT to ManageBac

Step 4: Write your first interaction of the PPF form to ManageBac. Base your first interaction on the question "Why did you choose the the topic you chose from the list of six prescribed titles?" and classroom discussions. Always make a backup of your interaction!

Step 5: Start writing the TOK essay. Remember the following:

- The essay must be written in standard 12 font and double spaced. Maximum length of the essay is 1600 words.
- The word count includes: (1) the main part of the essay and any (2) quotations. The word count does NOT include: (1) any acknowledgements, (2) the references (whether given in footnotes, endontes or in-text and bibliography) and (3) any maps, charts, diagrams, annotated illustrations or tables.
- There shouldn't be any personal data in the TOK essay (no names and no candidate codes).
- Choose one referencing system (footnotes, Chicago, APA etc.) and use that consistently throughout the essay.  
- Keep your focus on the PT. 
- Define the key concepts in the PT and your essay text. In other words, unpack the key terms. Use the terms to resolve into something. Moreover, use the terms as a part of your overall argument.
- Utilise the 12 KEY CONCEPTS OF TOK: evidence, certainty, truth, interpretation, power, justification, explanation, objectivity, perspective, culture, values and responsibility.
- Think of your TOK essay as a massive argument that resolves into something. The whole argument should address the PT with different claims and counter-claims, arguments and counter-arguments and different perspectives. 
- Keep the FOCUS narrow, incisive and concise. Aim for interesting and informative analysis. Avoid superficialisms.
- Do NOT fall into the pithole of epistemic relativism. Although there are obstacles to knowledge, we know a great deal. The point of TOK is NOT to challenge the basic foundations of knowledge at any cost. Despite difficulties in knowing, knowledge is REAL!
- TOK essay is comparative in nature. Compare AOKs according to the PT. Use the KNOWLEDGE FRAMEWORK when covering and comparing AOKs. Keep your FOCUS on knolwedge with each AOK. If you reference history as an AOK for example, do not state historical narratives, but explain the nature of knowledge in history as a part of your essay. Remember that the AOKs are Natural sciences, Human sciences, History, The Arts and Mathematics. Stay within the limits of these five AOKs.
- Do NOT use dictionary definitions. Use genuine sources with concepts and all other contents.
- Substantiate your claims, but don't reference everything. If you don't use any sources, your analysis will lack depth. If you reference every phrase in your TOK essay, you don't express your own thinking. Aim for a balanced approach with sources and your own thinking. Examiners reward original TOK essays.
- Use the TOK essay assessment instrument to self-assess the state of your TOK essay.

Step 6: Provide a TOK essay plan for your TOK teacher. This plan should contain the initial ideas in written form. Set of notes are perfectly fine. The plan doesn't have to be a piece of formal text. Use peer-review as well to get further support. 

Step 7: Write your second interaction of the PPF form to ManageBac. Base your second interaction on the initial exploration and discussions in step 6. The question "How have I developed my ideas related to the prescribed title I chose?".

Step 8: Upload the first submission of your TOK essay to ManageBac by the deadline provided by the TOK teachers.

Step 9: Wait for TOK teachers' feedback on your essay. It takes a lot of time to give extensive feedback to TOK essay. Be patient. You can progress your TOK essay without the the feedback from the first submission of your TOK essay.  After you have received your feedback, finalise the essay with the help of the feedback and the instructions in step 5.

Step 10: Write the third and final interaction of the PPF form to ManageBac. Base your third and final interaction on the question "How will I develop my ideas based on the TOK teacher's feedback?".

Step 11: Upload the final submission of your TOK essay to ManageBac by the deadline provided by the TOK teachers. 

Step 12: Upload the final version of your TOK essay to IBO's eCoursework by the deadline provided by the TOK teachers. Your job is to upload the essay. TOK teachers will upload the forms for you. 

Step 13: Relax and enjoy life!