Writing Your Lab Report

Title: 

The effect of IV on DV. 

This is where you show you have a clear idea of what the experiment is about and you know what you changed and measured. IV and DV come from your variables section, so make sure you do that bit first! Easy English is needed here, as you use the structure above. 

Research Question: 

How does IV affect DV?

This is where you show you know what the experiment is about and pose it as a question that needs to be answered. Again, IV and DV come from your variables section, so once that is clear in your mind, you can put them into a question to answer in your conclusion. Easy English is needed here, as you only need to change your title into a question. 

Background Information: 

This is where you show you have done some focused research and you can get information from trusted places. Now you can look online and in your textbooks. Write down, in bullet points, relevant facts (Why?) — You need to base the next section, the Hypothesis, on some real science!

Find some information about your Research Question. Remember, as this is a science report, you must include some science! If you are using an interesting measurement technique, or you will be including some calculations in the results, this is a good place to include them.

Medium-level English is needed here, as you do not have to write a lot and you are writing down information that you have read. Write clear, short sentences and make sure everything you write is relevant to the Research Question. It’s very important that all the words are your own, and that you don’t Copy and Paste! It will be obvious to the person who marks your work, it is not academically honest, and can get you in trouble. Try writing down the information you want to use in bullet points, and then turn them into sentences and paragraphs.

For more detailed advice on the Background Information section, click here. 

If you speak another language apart from English, write the bullet points in your first language, and then into English. These tips will stop you being accused of plagiarism. 

Hypothesis: 

As the IV increases/decreases, the DV will increase/decrease. This is because….. 

(use reasoning from your Background Information). 

This is where you show you can use the facts from above to explain your thinking. What you think will happen in the experiment. Look at your Research Question and Background Information. This bit needs a little bit of writing, but not too much! Keep it short and clear - what and why. 

Medium-level English is needed here but you don’t need to write a lot. Use the above structure and summarise the most relevant bit of science in your Background Information. See this example lab report.

Variables: 

The independent variable is the height of the ramp, measured in centimetres using a ruler. The different heights will be 10 cm, 20 cm, and 30 cm.

The dependent variable……  (See above)

This is where you show how clear you can be about what you did in the experiment. Include specific examples, the units and any measuring devices you will use. You don’t need to write a lot! For example:

Easy English is needed here, as you use a clear structure and the information from your table. For more help on this section, click here. 

Materials: 

• 1 wooden ramp, 50 cm.

• 1 plastic car, 50 g.

• 1 stopwatch.

• 1 digital balance.

• 1 stand and clamp.

• 1 piece of chalk.

This is where you show you know the scientific name for any lab equipment. This can be a list, maybe with bullet points, with all the things you need to do the experiment. 

Easy English is needed here, as you don’t write in sentences. You do not need to say why you need something. However, be clear and include important details like size and material.

Method: 

1. Set the stand and clamp so the top of the ramp is 10 cm above the top of the desk.

2. Measure 1 m metre from the end of the ramp and mark a line using the chalk.

3. Place the car on the ramp so the back of the car is in line with the top of the ramp.

4. Start the stopwatch when you let go of the car

This is where you show you can write clear instructions that anybody in the world can follow. There is not much writing needed in this section as you use a numbered list. You do not need to start with things like ‘Go to the lab’ or ‘Get all the things ready’. As good scientists, we assume you have already done that! Look at your variables table and use that, then for the final step, say ‘Repeat steps 1–7 (for example) with the other heights’.

Easy English is needed here, because you include 1 action per step. There is a clear structure and you start every step with a bossy (command) verb. The sentences should be short and simple.

Results: 

This is where you show you can record your data clearly, and transform it using some basic calculations. 

Easy English is needed here, as you don’t write any sentences, unless your teacher wants you to record some observations.

Remember to draw a table using a ruler and a sharp pencil! Whether or not you are using a computer for the lab report, your table will normally look something like this, with a title: 

In this example, you have done some maths to calculate the average, but you might need to do a bit more. Using our example of the car experiment: 

Lab reports can be fun or frustrating — it’s up to you! 

You can have fun in the lab and start every lab report knowing you are going to get a good mark. Use our help here to practise, and after a few tries you will be able to do it without our help. You could even help your friends finish their lab report and have more free time together!

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