LAB REPORTING GUIDELINES
A lab report is how you explain what you did in your experiment, what you learned,
and what the results meant.
Neatness matters
Never attempt to erase or obliterate an incorrect entry. Instead cross it out
with a single horizontal line and locate the correct entry as nearby as possible
Headings must be neatly written. They should be in capital letters and doubly
underlined (pencil width between lines.) A line should be skipped after each
heading.
The most efficient use of your laboratory time will be affected if you complete
table headings before coming to class. The chances of success in the laboratory
greatly improve when time is taken at the outset to read carefully and
understand each step in an analytical method and to develop a plan for how
and when each step is to be performed. For greatest efficiency, such studying
and planning should take place before entering the laboratory
When in the laboratory, collect all the experimental data before you do any of
the absolutely necessary calculations
Finally, remember the laboratory is first and foremost a place to learn but it
can also be an enjoyable experience. However, you must come prepared to
work and learn.
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PART OF A LAB REPORT
DATE: the date the lab was performed (day-mth-yr).
LAB NO: supply each entry with a number. (Number in ink each page in the folder in the
upper right hand corner for pages on the right and in the upper left hand corner for pages on
the left.) Each experiment must be recorded on a new right hand page.
TITLE: the title of the experiment
AIM: should be brief and describe the main point of the experiment or investigation. Why did
you do the experiment?
MATERIALS/APPARATUS: list everything needed to complete your experiment. The list
should be in one (or more) column(s) one line below the heading and directly below the colon
that follows the heading.
PROCEDURE: describe the steps you completed during your investigation. Be sufficiently
detailed that anyone could read this section and duplicate the experiment. Write as though
you were giving directions for someone else to do the lab. What did you do and how did you
do it? Use short concise statements in the passive voice, third person. Indent a further
centimeter from the previous left margin.
OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS: What happened? What did you find out? What did you see?
What did you hear? Numerical data obtained from your procedure usually is presented as a
table (may also be charts or graphs). Data encompasses what you recorded when you
conducted the experiment. It’s just the facts, not any interpretation of what they mean.
(Record the data beside the margin.)
DISCUSSION: describe in words what the data means. The analysis section contains any
calculations you made based on those numbers. This is where you interpret the data and
determine whether or not a hypothesis was accepted. Answer any questions asked. Write the
question followed by the answer along the margin.
LIMITATIONS: at least two sources of errors that occurred or may have occurred in your
experiment are to be stated here.
CONCLUSION: a clear, concise, simple statement answering the original question in the aim.
It should be stated in ONE sentence. It is not a restatement of the observations, but instead,
is a statement of non-observable properties that result from logical reasoning of associations
of the observations. The conclusion states how you interpreted your results and it is written
below the heading and beside the margin.
REFLECTION: gives the relevance of experiment to everyday life
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LABORATORY SKILLS ASSESSED
Measurement and Manipulation (MM)
Student’s ability to
Handle scientific equipment competently
Use of appropriate apparatus
Take accurate measurements
Observation, Reporting and Recording (ORR)
a. Recording
Student’s ability to record observations and to collect and organize data.
Observations and data may be recorded in the following format.
Prose: Written description of observations in the correct tense.
Table: (Neatly enclosed), Numerical: physical quantities in heading,
correct units stated in heading, symbols, decimal points. Non-
numerical: headings correct, details present.
Graph: Axes labelled with units, correct scales, correct plotting,
smooth curves/best fit lines.
Drawing of apparatus as set up for use
b. Reporting
Student’s ability to prepare a comprehensive written report on their assignments
using the following format
Date (date of experiment)
Aim (what is the reason for doing the experiment)
Apparatus and Materials (all equipment, chemicals and materials used
in the experiment must be listed)
Method/Experimental Procedure (step-by-step procedure written in the
past tense, passive voice)
Results and Observations (see (a) above: Recording)
Discussion and Conclusion (Analysis and Interpretation)
Analysis and Interpretation (AI)
Student’s ability to
identify patterns and trends
make accurate calculations
identify limitations and sources of error
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make a conclusion to either support or refute the hypothesis
compare actual results with expected results if they are different
suggest alternative methods or modifications to existing methods
analyse and interpret results and observations, and make conclusions
Drawing (DR)
Student’s ability to depict
large drawing; include magnification.
neat, continuous lines of even thickness
use of mechanical pencil, no shading
drawing accurately represents specimen
straight, horizontal label lines without arrows
all label lines touching structure being labelled
accurate label in either all common/capital letters
title of drawing capitalized, double underline and written below drawing
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