Lab Report Format
Use this Format if your Teacher has not given you a
template, or if you need clarification on what to include in
each section.
This Lab Report Format is generally suitable for
a Descriptive Lab - a lab which does not use a Hypothesis;
the procedure is followed and your findings are reported.
It is important to know the Experimental Skill for which
you are being assessed and its corresponding Lab Report
Format. The Template below is suitable for the
assessment of:
• Observation, Recording and Reporting
• Analysis and Interpretation
• Measurement and Manipulation
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General Guidelines
Your writing should be clear and concise. This is very
important in scientific writing as detailed - and sometimes
complicated - procedures and data are discussed. Please
do not be verbose!
Check your writing for grammatical and spelling errors.
Errors make it difficult for the reader to understand. Your
teacher may factor in errors in his mark scheme and
penalize you for them!
• Include all sections of the report in the correct
sequence; marks are awarded just for this.
• Capitalize section headings. Although, not mandatory,
it helps the headings to stand out so you teacher can
easily locate when marking.
• Use a single line to underline each section heading
and titles of diagrams, drawings, tables and graphs.
• Skip a line between sections.
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• Write within the left hand margin. This includes
bulleted lists in the APPARATUS/ MATERIALS section
and numbered list in the PROCEDURE.
Specific Guidelines
The following sections should be included in your Biology
Lab Report:
1. DATE:
2. LAB #
3. TITLE:
4. AIM:
5. APPARATUS/MATERIALS:
6. DIAGRAM:
7. PROCEDURE:
8. OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS:
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9. DISCUSSION:
10. CONCLUSION:
DATE:
1. Write the date on which the experiment was
conducted, or on which it was started if observations
are made over a number of days.
2. Use the standard date format used in your region e.g.
in the United States the date is recorded as
mm/dd/yy, whereas in Barbados dates are recorded
as dd/mm/yy.
LAB #
1. Indicate the order in which labs were done by writing
the lab number.
2. Ensure that you have the correct order, particularly is
labs are ran concurrently or if lab groups are streamed.
TITLE:
1. The TITLE should be brief and descriptive.
2. Usually provided by your teacher or instructor.
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3. Examination bodies require investigations to be
carried out under given topics. Find out what they are
and compare your lab titles with the list.
4. Do not underestimate the significance of the title; it
reveals the underpinning theory for the experiment
and should inform your background reading,
understanding of the procedure and interpreation of
the results.
AIM:
1. States the purpose or objective of the experiment
2. The AIM usually starts with: 'To investigate...', 'To
demonstrate...', To test...', etc.
3. The AIM should be kept in sharp focus throughout
the experiment and write-up - including when writing
the CONCLUSION. The CONCLUSION must answer
the AIM.
APPARATUS/MATERIALS:
The APPARATUS/MATERIALS section is a comprehensive
list of all the apparatus and materials used. The list is very
useful in preparation for the experiment, should it
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be duplicated using your lab notebook.
1. List all apparatus first, and then materials. If no
apparatus are used, then just Materials should be
written. Apparatus are equipment e.g. Bunsen burner,
thermometer, forceps; materials are not equipment
but things consumed within the experiment e.g. red
and blue litmus paper, ethanol and hibiscus leaves.
2. Related apparatus may be grouped together,
preceded by the same bullet e.g. Bunsen burner,
tripod stand and gauze mat.
3. When conducting a number of tests, e.g. food tests,
use the names of the tests as sub-headings and list
apparatus and materials below.
4. Some apparatus and materials are implicit and should
not be mentioned e.g. matches.
DIAGRAM:
A 2D line diagram of the experimental set-up is very
insightful for anyone reading your report.
1. Diagrams should be drawn neatly and with a pencil.
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2. A diagram should be on one page, not split over two
pages. If this seems impossible, drawing it smaller, or
splitting the diagrams and having more than one
TITLE.
3. Labels must be in lower case script and correctly
spelled.
4. Labelling lines should be drawn neatly with a pencil
and ruler, should not cross each other, nor should
they have arrow heads. Labelling lines should touch
the structures which they are labelling.
5. Include the TITLE underneath the diagram. The title
should in uppercase, in pen, centred and underlined in
pencil. The title should be descriptive e.g. DIAGRAM
SHOWING THE SET-UP OF APPARATUS FOR: I)
BOILING A LEAF IN WATER AND II) BOILING A LEAF
IN ETHANOL
6. A DIAGRAM may not be necessary if Lab Manual with
a Diagram is used.
PROCEDURE:
The PROCEDURE is a descriptive yet concise account of all
the steps taken, in a sequential order.
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1. Use a numbered list.
2. Mention the staggering of or repetition of tasks at
intervals.
3. Include adequate detail so that the experiments can
be duplicated, including the set-up of the positive
and negative controls, use of equipment,
measurements taken and where, when and how they
were obtained and precautions taken.
4. The PROCEDURE should be written in the past tense
and passive voice. In other words, write as though it
has been done, but by no one in particular. For
example:
A few drops of Iodine solution were added to the leaf
and any colour changes were observed
5. Include any significant deviations form the
PROCEDURE if you had followed the PROCEDURE
from a book, handout, etc.
OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS:
Observations are sometimes referred to as RAW DATA and
are obtained directly through the use of our senses,
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or indirectly through the use of instruments which extend
our senses.
1. Observations should be relevant, giving rise to
qualitative and/or quantitative data. Thorough
theoretical research before the experiments will help
you to determine what is relevant or not and will
improve the quality of your observations.
1. Qualitative data are words and terms and are
subjective - such as colour and smell - and are
sometimes recorded using plus signs (+++),
photographs and drawings. Certain words or
terms are used conventionally within the
scientific community e.g. brick-red precipitate,
blue-black colour and vigorous effervescence.
2. Quantitative data are numerical values obtained
from counting or measurements.
2. Observations should be accurate and
precise. Significant changes - both the initial and final
conditions must be recorded. When working with
large numbers of objects, error may be minimized by
using a tally chart. Or if doing field work, develop a
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protocol for sampling e.g. counting from left to right,
particularly when working with quadrats. Pay
particular attention to the precision of the measuring
instrument you are using. Can the variable be
measured correct to 2 decimal places?
3. Observations should be appropriately recorded
during the experiment. This means preparation of
tables with appropriate headers prior to the
experiment. Headers should contain the physical
quantity measured and the appropriate S.I. unit,
separated by a solidus also know as forward slash (/).
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