I’ve helped many students with their IB Theory of Knowledge class, so I can say that the TOK Nov 2025 essay titles are a good mix of academic ideas and practical applications. At first glance, they may seem complex, but each one is a chance to show how well you understand TOK, express creativity, and think critically.
This piece will guide you through the TOK essay November 2025 questions. I will explain the purpose of each required title and give you some tips to help you approach them with confidence. There’s something here for every IB student, whether they are just starting to outline or are done with it.
IB TOK Essay Prescribed Titles: November 2025
TOK essay titles are questions that the IB releases twice a year for all students to pick from while writing their Theory of Knowledge essays. These titles were formulated to measure your ability to reflect on the nature of knowledge while using real-world situations and TOK concepts.
You can’t come up with your question. You must instead choose one of the official IB TOK essay recommended titles for November 2025 and write an up to 1,600-word, organized, critical essay in response to it:
- For historians and artists, do conventions limit or expand their ability to produce knowledge? Discuss with reference to history and the arts.
- What is the relationship between knowing and understanding? Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
- Should knowledge in an area of knowledge be pursued for its own sake rather than its potential application? Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.
- To what extent do you agree that, however, the methods of an area of knowledge change, the scope remains the same? Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge.
- In the pursuit of knowledge, is it possible or even desirable to set aside temporarily what we already know? Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge.
- Is empathy an attribute that is equally important for a historian and a human scientist? Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.
Getting the right title is the first big thing that you need to do to be successful. In light of this, you must know what each option really asks and whether it fits with your academic skills and personal interests. Your work will be more confident and authentic if you have a strong link to the title.
📚 TOK Essay Titles Breakdown for May 2025 – check out our guide on May 2025 titles.
How to Approach TOK 2025 Essay Titles?
Take a look at these tips on how to carefully approach the TOK 2025 essay titles before you start writing.
1. Conventions in History and the Arts
“For historians and artists, do conventions limit or expand their ability to produce knowledge?” Discuss with reference to history and the arts.
It’s one of my favorite TOK essay Nov 2025 titles because it encourages you to consider the importance of structure in creativity. On the one hand, traditions, such as historical citation methods or artistic genre expectations, provide a framework. On the other side, overdependence on them may hinder fresh ideas.
From my perspective, this subject shines when you compare how fixed historical traditions (e.g., source interpretation and chronology) vary from the more flexible expectations in the arts. You may use instances like Picasso defying creative conventions or revisionist historians questioning accepted narratives.
So, use this TOK essay prompt to investigate the contradiction between freedom and structure. It is a TOK classic.
2. Knowing vs. Understanding
“What is the relationship between knowing and understanding?” Discuss with reference to two areas of knowledge.
This title addresses one of the oldest questions in epistemology. From reading other students’ essays, I have noticed that they often confuse these terms. First, let’s be clear: “knowing” can mean “facts,” while “understanding” means “deeply integrating those facts into a coherent whole.”
Consider combining areas like the natural sciences (where ideas explain known events) with history or ethics if you’re picking this title. Just because you know that World War I began in 1914 doesn’t mean you understand the complicated reasons why it happened.
I also think you should look at this title through the lens of TOK ideas like shared and personal knowledge, or even the concept of knowledge as a map. Here, understanding comes from seeing the big picture instead of just individual points. Another great view is systems thinking, which says that knowing the parts of a system is different from knowing how they work together as a whole.
3. Knowledge for Its Own Sake?
“Should knowledge in an area of knowledge be pursued for its own sake rather than its potential application?” Discuss with reference to mathematics and one other area of knowledge.
This one immediately reminded me of disputes in pure mathematics and theoretical physics. Many ideas began with no specific application in mind, but eventually formed the foundation for crucial advances. According to typical IB requirements, this is the kind of essay in which historical background and intellectual depth truly shine through.
In mathematics, number theory is an excellent example. Combine this with another area, such as the arts or natural sciences, to demonstrate opposing viewpoints. Do artists produce for personal expression or an audience? Do scientists seek truth or utility?
The contrast allows for a well-developed TOK essay argument. Just be cautious not to fall into the trap of using clichés—make your argument unique.
4. Methods Change, Scope Stays the Same?
“To what extent do you agree that, however the methods of an area of knowledge change, the scope remains the same?” Answer with reference to two areas of knowledge
This title is about the nature of progress in knowledge systems. I’ve found that students do well when they examine how methods have evolved.
Let’s break it down. It is the tools, ways, and techniques that are used to gain knowledge. Some examples of methods are testing, observation, interpretation, and data analysis. This isn’t quite true for scope, though.
For instance, the transition from Newtonian physics to quantum mechanics didn’t just introduce new approaches in the natural sciences. Did the field’s focus narrow down, or did the reach broaden? That’s an essential point of contention.
On the other hand, think about the past. The way historians do their work has changed since the rise of digital studies. But has it changed what scholars try to figure out? One could say that history’s primary goals have remained largely unchanged, even though the tools used to achieve them have evolved.
Just base your research on specific case studies and stay away from broad statements.
5. Setting Aside What We Know
“In the pursuit of knowledge, is it possible or even desirable to set aside temporarily what we already know?” Discuss with reference to the natural sciences and one other area of knowledge
This option for your TOK essay may seem abstract. However, it actually addresses a very practical difficulty in how we learn and evolve. In the natural sciences, improvements often arise when current frameworks are challenged or abandoned.
However, in other areas of knowledge (such as ethics), disregarding established norms might be significantly more troublesome. Abandoning essential moral ideals, even briefly, runs the danger of eroding ethical reasoning itself. That’s where the title becomes intriguing.
In my experience, students who investigate cognitive bias, belief revision, or Kuhn’s paradigm changes tend to develop powerful arguments here. Get a balance by demonstrating where challenging knowledge helps to grow and where it may create misunderstanding. It is a thought-provoking title with significant depth.
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6. Empathy in History and Human Sciences
“Is empathy an attribute that is equally important for a historian and a human scientist?” Discuss with reference to history and the human sciences.
It’s one of the most relevant and thought-provoking TOK November 2025 essay titles. It combines intellectual analysis with emotional intelligence. Empathy is a main part of how both historians and human scientists understand how people act, but its purpose and value differ in each field. In the human sciences, such as psychology or anthropology, empathy often supports qualitative studies. It helps researchers understand the subjects’ perspectives and real-life situations.
Historians, on the other hand, may use empathy to put the deeds of historical figures into context. However, they must also remain objective so that they don’t impose current standards on past events. So, use this title if you’re comfortable comparing emotional and analytical methods of knowing.
Remember, the ways that empathy helps and hinders the creation of knowledge depend on the methods and goals of each field. It’s a great opportunity to connect key TOK concepts and personal experience.
Final Advice on TOK Essay November 2025 Titles
No matter which title you choose for writing your TOK essay, keep these three rules in mind:
- Stay focused – Don’t drift from the title’s intent.
- Use real-life examples – Not just invented ones.
- Balance your argument – Acknowledge counterclaims seriously.
Start early, too. Discussion boards and teachers can help you generate ideas. Don’t be afraid to rethink. The TOK essay doesn’t just look for flashy words; it also seeks clarity, innovation, and critical thinking.
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