Using AI in the TOK Essay...
without getting caught
What you need to know about using AI and ChatGPT to write the TOK Essay.
Are you planning on using AI to write or research for your TOK Essay! Here is how teachers know if you cheated or not...and what you can do about it!
Click here to download the notes from my video! And if you want to Zoom or need TOK tutoring, reach me here!
1. Fake or Misused TOK Concepts
AI-generated essays often include TOK terms that sound impressive but don’t align with how those concepts are actually used in real TOK discussions. Watch for buzzwords like “epistemology” or “axiomatic reasoning” thrown in without proper context—it's a major red flag.
2. Overuse of Em Dashes (—)
While em dashes can be stylistically effective, they’re not common in student writing. AI tools tend to overuse them, creating an unnatural and overly formal tone. If an essay is packed with dashes where commas or periods would suffice, it's probably a robot!
3. Generic, Boring Examples
AI tends to use examples that are vague, outdated, or clearly lifted from the internet (or made up!). Phrases like “in the field of science” or references to Einstein or Picasso—without deeper analysis—are a clue the essay lacks real-world, personal engagement, as expected by those pesky teachers.
4. Language Too Advanced for High Schoolers
Look out for overly complex vocabulary or sentence structures that don’t match your known writing level or style. When phrases like “incontrovertible empirical paradigms” show up in an essay from a 17-year-old, it’s def a robot
5. Wrong Format, Structure, or Length
TOK essays usually follow similar patterns and structures (and lengths!). AI-generated essays often break these rules—either missing the introduction/conclusion, mislabeling paragraphs, or rambling way over the limit. That’s a clear signal something’s off.
6. Hallucinations and Made-Up Facts
AI often fabricates sources, events, or examples that don’t exist. Claims about “a 1983 study by Dr. X” or bizarre historical anecdotes that can’t be verified are strong indicators the essay wasn’t written by a human—or at least not one doing proper research. Even if it reads or sounds real, just double-check it first!