> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://guide.fariaedu.com/tok/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://guide.fariaedu.com/tok/timeline.md).

# Timeline

The **deadlines** for the **essay and exhibition** for the different **sessions** that most schools follow are summarized in the table below.

| **Assessment** | **May session (northern hemisphere)** | **November session (southern hemisphere)** |
| -------------- | :-----------------------------------: | :----------------------------------------: |
| **Essay**      |                 March                 |                  September                 |
| **Exhibition** |              May or June              |            November or December            |

Most schools will spend the **first year** of the course trying to help you build a clear understanding of the **concepts of TOK**, such as ‘knowledge questions’, ‘perspectives’, and ‘implications’, and familiarizing you with the **five areas of knowledge**, the **core theme**, and the **optional themes**. In the **second year**, you will apply that understanding to the production of the **two assessment tasks**.

### Essay

The **prescribed essay titles (PTs)** are released approximately six months before you are due to complete your essay. You are obliged to **meet with your teacher** for **three formal interactions.** During these meetings you will:

1. Discuss these **PTs** and your **reasons for choosing** **your title**.
2. Create an **essay plan**.
3. Go over your **draft essay**. 

![](/files/-MajaFqR0W_c52lwPGba)

{% hint style="info" %}
**Your teacher** is allowed to provide you with **written comments of a ‘global’ nature in the last of these interactions**.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
You will **record the content of these interactions** in your **PPF (planning and progress form)**.
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="info" %}
In total, you should be spending around **10 hours** on your **TOK essay**.
{% endhint %}

### Exhibition

The **exhibition** should be carried out in **four stages** as described below. 

1. **Select your Internal Assessment (IA) prompt** from the list of 35 options. As you do this, think to yourself how they can be linked to the course, via the ‘optional’ or ‘core’ themes of the course. 
2. **Select your three ‘objects’.** You can run these by your teacher, but they should have a specific real-world context, and be of interest to you. 
3. **Write a 950-word commentary** about how they link to the prompt, within the context of one of the TOK themes. 
4. **Submit** all this (with digital images of your objects) in a single exhibition file, together with citations and references. 

{% hint style="info" %}
The IB recommends that you spend around **8 hours** in total on the **exhibition**.
{% endhint %}