ToK Expectations

OFS Theory of Knowledge

In the TOK Department, we expect you to

1. Arrive on time to lessons with all necessary books. This includes bringing your notes and journal to every lesson.

2. Give your full attention and participate in class

3. Ask questions when you do not understand

4. Be cooperative and have a positive attitude

5. Complete all assignments and homework within the set timeAvoid behaviour which interferes with or discourages other students learning effectively

6. Follow the school’s policy on Academic Honesty

7. Not bring food or drinks into the classroom, but water is permitted.

Assignments

Homework assignments will be set regularly.  Homework will be in the form of either a written piece of work or a presentation to be given on a topic.  Written assignments must be submitted at the beginning of the lesson on the due date. If a written assignment is handed in late, the school homework policy will apply and the maximum grade of 2 will be obtainable. It is expected that the piece of work will be submitted, even if it is late, so you may be kept in after school to complete tasks that have not be submitted. Presentations are to be made as assigned by the teacher. If a presentation cannot be made on the expected date without an acceptable reason, in most instances, you would not be able to make a later presentation.

If you have difficulty with an assignment, it is your responsibility to seek help from your teacher, before the due date.

Assessment Weighting, Quarter Grades and Semester Grades

There are two major categories of assessment: formative assessment and summative assessment.

Formative assessment is about helping you to learn. Summative assessment is about finding out what you have learned.

Formative assessment normally involves everyday homework tasks and your input into class discussions.

Summative assessment involves larger pieces of work and will be graded against the TOK criteria.

When your teacher generates your quarter grade, formative assessments are weighted at 60% and summative assessments are weighted at 40%. for the first semester. In the second semester the weightings will reverse with formative assessments weighted at 40% and summative assessments weighted at 60%

Semester grades are weighted as follows: 50% from the first quarter grade, 50% from the second quarter.

Plagiarism

Students are encouraged to discuss their assignments with classmates, friends and family. It is stressed, however, that they must write/produce the WHOLE assignment on their own. If any PART of the assignment is identical with that of another student, this is considered a breach of the Academic Honesty code, and the assignment will not be accepted. The student will be sent to the IB Diploma Coordinator.

IB Assessment

Part 1 External assessment (40 points) 

Essay on a prescribed title (1,200–1,600 words)

One essay on a title chosen from a list of ten titles prescribed by the IBO for each examination session.

Part 2 Internal assessment (20 points) 

The presentation (approximately 10 minutes per student)

One presentation to the class.

One written presentation planning document and presentation marking form.

• the knowledge issue that is the focus of the presentation

• a summary in note form of the knowledge issues to be treated during the presentation

• achievement levels for each of the four assessment criteria, briefly justified, from both student and teacher.

These assessment pieces will be delivered by the candidate in the second year (Grade 12) of the IB diploma.

TOK Points

Points awarded for the externally assessed component, part 1, the essay on a prescribed title (40 points), and for the internally assessed component, part 2, the presentation (20 points), are combined to give a total out of 60 points. The grade boundaries are then applied , to determine the band (a to E) to which the student’s performance in TOK belongs.

The band descriptors are:

A – Work of an excellent standard

B – Work of a good standard

C – Work of a satisfactory standard

D – Work of a mediocre standard

E – Work of an elementary standard

Each IB diploma candidate is eligible for up to three bonus points, depending on their results in TOK and Extended Essay [EE]. The result is based on a matrix of points from each component.

F* means that 28 points overall would be required to be eligible for the diploma if a student attains an E grade in either TOK or EE.

F means an automatic failure of the diploma.