IB Core: TOK, EE, CAS & IA
The IB core is where Diploma candidates win or lose three bonus points - and where the most stressed-out, under-supported work usually lives. These guides walk you through Theory of Knowledge (essay and exhibition), the Extended Essay (topic choice, research question, supervisor management, formatting), CAS expectations and reflections, and Internal Assessments across subjects.
We also cover the core points matrix itself, so you know exactly what combinations of TOK and EE grades earn you 1, 2, or 3 points - and which combinations risk a failing condition. If you're early in DP1, prioritise the EE topic and IA planning guides; if you're in DP2, the TOK essay walkthrough and the core points calculator are the highest-leverage reads.
Pair these with your subject guides when you start IA work - most IAs are subject-specific in execution but identical in marking principles.
Guides in this category
- TOK Essay: Word Count, Criteria, Titles and Grades - The TOK essay: 1600-word limit, six prescribed titles, the holistic 10-mark rubric, grades A-E, and how the EE core points matrix works.
- IB Extended Essay: The Complete Guide (2026) - Everything you need to know about the IB Extended Essay: word count, assessment criteria, RPPF, supervisor rules, and the TOK bonus point matrix.
- IB CAS: Hours, 7 Learning Outcomes and Project Rules - What IB CAS requires: the three strands, the seven learning outcomes, what the IB actually says about hours, the CAS project, and reflections that count.
- IB Internal Assessment: Marking, Weighting, Deadlines - How IB internal assessments are marked and moderated, what each subject IA looks like, weightings, deadlines, and the academic honesty rules.
- TOK and EE Points Matrix: How IB Core Points Work - How TOK and EE grades combine in the 3x3 matrix to award 0-3 bonus points, the E-grade automatic fail rule, and the 24-point diploma pass requirements.