University of Namibia

Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology

A Guide to Writing Laboratory Reports

(For Engineering Courses Labs)

1. Introduction
It is common practice that students write their lab reports in different formats and, in
most cases, these reports are not properly structured, which leads to producing
unprofessional quality documents.

The intention/aim of this handout is to provide the student with general guidelines used
for writing a formal, typed laboratory report for an electrical and/or electronic lab; as well
as a brief description of different sections of a good laboratory report.

The writing of laboratory reports is an essential part of the practical course. Therefore it
is important to follow a standard format in order to allow the reader to locate the
information that he/she requires immediately without having to read the entire report.

Like any other writing, lab reports have their own format and style. Their purpose is to
communicate to others exactly what was done in a lab/experiment, to explain why it was
done, to describe how it was done, to present what was found and to clearly say what it
means (discuss the results).
A lab/experiment is meaningless if it is not duplicable or repeatable. Other people
should be able to read the report, do the experiment following the description, and get
the same or similar results. If they can’t, the report is not good enough.

2. General Guidelines
2.1 Lab Attendance and Makeup Labs:
 Students are required to perform ALL laboratories and submit ALL
reports to pass the lab.

 Excused Absence: If a student is absent to the lab with permission,

he/she has 1 calendar week to contact the lab TA and schedule a
makeup lab. The student will be allowed to perform the lab on the
makeup date and submit a lab report with no score penalty. Makeup
lab reports are subject to the same late penalty from the new due date
as designated by the lab TA. If the student is absent with permission
but fails to schedule the makeup lab for more than a week, then this
will be regarded as an unexcused absence.
 Unexcused Absence: If a student misses a lab without permission,
he/she will get zero mark. It’s up to him/her to schedule a makeup lab

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 with the TA, and perform the lab and submit a report; otherwise he/she
will fail the course.
 All makeup labs must be performed and lab reports submitted on or
before due date.
 If he/she missed 2 labs without permission, then he/she will fail the lab.

2.2 Use the standard format: Lab reports have a standard format to make them
easy to follow and read. This helps the reader to find information that he/she
requires directly without having to go through the entire report.

2.3 Be concise: While it is essential to write as much as necessary, it is equally

important to use as few words as possible. Lab reports should be detailed
and systematic, but repetition should be avoided. The entire report should be
clear and straightforward.

2.4 Figures and Tables:

 Tables are referred to as tables, and all other items (graphs,

photographs, drawings, diagrams, etc.) are referred to as figures.
 Numbering: All tables and figures should be numbered (Table 1,
Table 2, etc.; and Figure 1, Figure 2, etc.)
 Title: All tables and figures should have descriptive titles for the reader
to understand their content without the text.
 Labeling: Tables are usually labeled at the top and figures at the
bottom.
 Each table or figure should be introduced by a sentence of
explanation, with a comment that should point out the highlight (s) or
significant trend (s).
 Tables and figures may be placed at the end of the paper, or within the
text as soon as possible after they are mentioned without interrupting
the text.
 Avoid referring to the table below because you don’t know exactly
what the final placement of the table will be. Refer to the specific
table or figure number, and the readers will always be able to find the
information.
 The tables and figures should enhance the report, but the reader
should be able to understand and follow the results even if the
tables/figures were removed.
 Be sure that figures and tables are clear, complete, and accurate.
 Be sure that all figures and tables are referred to in the Results
section.

2.4 Write in the third person: Avoid using the word “I” or “we” when referring to
the experimental procedure.
For example, instead of writing, “I tested the transistor,” you should write,
“the transistor was tested.”

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 2.5 Use correct verb tenses: Many students find it difficult to use the
appropriate tense in their reports.
The general rules for verb tenses are as follows:
1. As the experimental procedure has already been done, you should use
the past tense of the verb, in an impersonal style, when referring to it:
e.g.: The purpose of the experiment was…
The voltage was measured to 5V…
2. On contrary, the report, equipment, and theory still exist, therefore use
the present tense of the verb for them:
e.g.: The purpose of this report is …

2.6 Be prepared for the lab: Before coming to the lab session, read the
procedure in the lab manual/sheet thoroughly. Write down a purpose,
hypothesis, and a general plan for procedure you will follow and bring them to
the lab with you. If you understand what you will be doing before beginning, it
will be much easier to take relevant notes during the lab and to see what you
will need to include in the report afterwards.

2.7 Take good lab notes: When conducting the lab, remember to record all the
results that will be needed for the report as well as all observations, any
materials and equipment used, and anything out of the ordinary that may
have happened. Tables are useful for keeping large amount of experimental
data in order, so you may want to include them in your laboratory notebook.
Taking good notes will help you to write a meaningful and accurate report.

2.8 Don’t copy the laboratory manual: Lab manuals can be used as a helpful
guideline when explaining the procedure and the purpose of the experiment;
consequently, you should not copy them entirely. By using your own words,
you are showing your lecturer/technical assistant that you have a good
understanding of what is being done and why it is being done.

2.9 Write about what really happened in the experiment: Never falsify results.
It is an academic crime. Lab reports are marked based on understanding of
the experiment rather than the results achieved, so if things did not go exactly
as planned in the lab, avoid lying about the results in the report. Instead, try to
explain what might have gone wrong and recommend ways the experiment
might be improved in the future.

2.10 Cite your sources: Always use parenthetical citations in your report to
document all sources you have referenced, including all ideas that are not
yours.

2.11 Safety in the laboratory: To minimize electric shock hazards, the

experiments are designed for low-voltage; however you should never assume
that electric circuits are safe. Few milliamps of current through the body can
be fatal.
Some basic electrical laboratory safety guidelines for your safety:
 Turn off power before working on circuits.
 Know the location of emergency power-off switch.
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  Make sure that the transformers and equipment are plugged into
utility lines, have no exposed wiring.
 Always check and re-check circuit wiring and have the technician
check before switching on power.
 Always switch the circuit power off before changing components or
connections.
 Always ask for directions or help if you are unsure of the correct
measurement procedure or circuit connection. Ask for assistance
from technician if you don’t understand what you are doing.

3. Pre-Lab Work Preparation

It is recommended that you prepare/plan your lab/experiment, pre-lab, before
starting your lab/experiment. Know what types of results you expect to observe.
 Pre-labs are intended to help familiarize you with the experiments and
reduce the amount of time spent in the lab.
 Pre-labs contain several tasks that must be performed before arriving at
the lab. This may include calculation of specific component values,
prediction of the behavior to be measured in the lab, filling pre-lab data
sheets, and preparation using computer simulation.
 The TA will mark the pre-labs at the beginning of the lab.
 Any late pre-labs will automatically receive a zero.
 You need to have read the lab assignment before entering the lab. You
must get the TA to sign both the pre-lab and lab data sheets.
 It is your responsibility to see that the TA signs these pages during
the lab period. Don’t blame the TA for “forgetting” to sign these sheets.

4. Laboratory Report Format

 Each section heading should stand by itself, bold, underlined, and
centered on the page.
 The text in the section follows immediately and is not bold, not
underlined, and not centered.

A lab report should contain the following main sections:

4.1 Title, Date, and Names:

The title is the first part of the lab report, it tells the reader the purpose of
the lab that was performed, and it should be just a few words in length, but
not a complete sentence.
 Indicate the Lab/Experiment title and number.
e.g.: Lab #2 Rectifier Circuit.
 Indicate the date(s) on which the lab/experiment was performed.
 Indicate the date on which the report was due
 Include the following names:
 Your name

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  Names of your lab partners
 Your class
 Name of the Teaching Assistant (TA)

4.2 Abstract/Executive Summary: What did you do? How did you do it? What
did you find?
The abstract is a brief summary describing the whole report (not the
experiment), from introduction through conclusion and should include about
two or three sentences summarizing the highlights from each of the following
main sections:
 Introduction
 Purpose of the experiment
 Methods
 Key results
 Major points of discussion
 Main conclusion

To reflect the content of the paper accurately, it is much helpful to complete

the other sections of the report before writing the abstract, as these six main
points can be drawn from them, although it is placed at the beginning of the
paper.

4.3 Introduction (Purpose/Objective):W hat was the purpose of this experiment?

This section provides the reader with sufficient background information
necessary for the experiment in order to understand why the lab was
performed (what was the purpose of the lab)
The introduction should, therefore, include the following two main categories:
 Purpose or objective of the experiment: Clearly state/explain why the
lab/experiment is being performed.
 Background and theory pertaining to the experiment. State the
problem to be solved/investigated, and the way you solved it, or the
experiment to be performed. This may include information from
previous research, explanation of theories, methods or equations used,
etc.
 It may be necessary to also include additional information, such as a
’hypothesis: what is expected to happen in the experiment based on
background information,’ etc.

4.4 Equipment and Materials: How was the experiment performed?

This section provides a list of all the equipment and major
components/materials needed to perform the experiment.
 Make a complete, accurate, neatly organized list of all required test
equipment and materials used in performing the experiment in the form
of a bulleted list, but it should be complete and accurate.
 Specify the manufacturer, equipment model and serial numbers which
can allow retracing if a defective or uncalibrated piece of equipment
was used.

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 4.5 Wiring (Schematic) Diagram

 Include a schematic diagram of the circuit(s) used in the experiment.

 Neatly draw and properly label the diagram with all components values
used.
 The use of templates to draw symbols is not mandatory; that is the
symbols can be drawn freehand. However, all connecting lines must
be drawn with a straightedge.
 Alternatively, software packages can be used to create schematic
diagrams.
 Include any modification to the experiment

4.6 Experimental Procedure: What did you do?

 Give a numbered, detailed list of all procedure steps used in the lab;
what you did and what measurements you made. Write in past tense
because the experiment has been done already.
 This needs to be clear enough that others could follow it just as you
did without your explaining.
 This section includes the process of the experiment exactly as it was
done in the laboratory.
 There should not be any results included in this section; only include
the procedures carried out.
 It is very important to include enough information, when writing
experimental procedure, so that others who read the report would be
able to duplicate the experiment at a later date.

4.7 Results/Data of the experiment: What did you find?

Give all data collected and show any equations or calculations that were
performed during the experiment.
Be sure to show your data in clearly labeled tables or graphs with correctly
labeled parts.

This section contains all the results of the experiment, including:

 Raw (unprocessed) data organized into graphs or tables. Each
graph, table, or figure should be labeled and titled properly. The key to
making tables and figures effective is to refer to and explain each one
in the body of the paper.
 Sample Calculations: Usually all labs/experiments require a certain
number of calculations before final results are obtained. Sample
calculations that are completely identified should be included. It is not
necessary to show repeated calculations.
Give the formulas that you applied to the raw data to transform it to
processed data. Correct significant figures should be used in all
calculations. Make sure units, (Hz, V, m, N, etc.) are included in all
calculations, and that major results of each calculation stand out from
the rest of the numbers.

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  Important results in verbal form. Clearly provide a record of the data
you obtained during the experiment. Data should be retrieved from the
lab notebook and presented in a clear manner using tables.
Data should be displayed in neat tables and graphs which are clearly
labeled.

4.8 Results discussion: What does it mean? How does it relate to previous work
in the field?
If your lab had questions that it asked along the way through the procedure
or after each step, for example, answer them in this section.
Number the questions just as they are numbered in the lab.

Explain what you think your data/results mean: Analyze and explain your
results. Evaluate what happened, based on the hypothesis and purpose of
the experiment. If the results contained errors, analyze the reason(s) for the
errors. The discussion shows how well you understand the procedures used
and the processes that occurred, so will probably be the longest section of the
report.

The following are some of strategies to help focus your discussion:

 Compare expected results with actual results

If the experiment did not turn out exactly as expected, think about why
the results might have been different and try to explain why you got the
results you did.

 Analyze experimental error

There is a degree of error in every experiment, so every lab report
should mention potential causes of error. Be specific about what
caused the error. Was it due to the equipment? Errors in calculations?

 Explain how the methods could be improved

Once you have decided what might have caused error, you should
explain how the error might have been avoided. How could the setup
be made more effective? Should you have been more careful with
measurements? How could contamination have been prevented more
effectively? Should more precise equipment be used?

 Explain the results in terms of the purpose

If the original purpose of the experiment was achieved, explain how the
results show that the purpose was accomplished. If the purpose was
not achieved, prove this by the results in a similar fashion.
 Relate the results to those of others, similar experiments
Depending on the nature of the experiment and the lecturer’s
preferences, you may want to compare your results to those of the rest
of the class. If your results were similar to the others’, this can be an
indication that they were reasonably accurate. If they were very
different, explain why they may have been different.
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 4.9 Conclusion:
Describe your new answer to the question. Do not use personal pronoun
like I, we, our, group, etc. Instead, describe what the evidence or data
showed and refer to it factually. Include the following four parts:
 Answer the problem.
 Was your hypothesis right or wrong?
 Summarize your observations (What did you learn?)
 What were some reasons for error?

Conclusion should be as brief as possible, just few sentences but less than
one written page, and should summarize definitive conclusions from the
results. Conclusion should relate directly to the main objective of the
experiment. Avoid statement such as “Everything went well, as expected”.

4.10 References:
Using standard bibliographic format, cite all the published sources you
consulted during the conduct of the experiment and the preparation of your
laboratory report. List the author(s), title of paper or book, name of journal, or
publisher as appropriate, page number(s) if appropriate and the date. If a
source is included in the list of references, it must also be referred to at the
appropriate place(s) in the report.

4.11 Appendices:
Details of analysis, significant amount of extra data, computations, etc. that
were referenced in the main body of the report should be included in the
appendix. If the appendix contains more than on item, each one is designated
by a specific letter (Appendix A, Appendix B, etc.) and listed in the table of
content.

5. Professionalism
5.1 Tables, Graphs and Equations
 All tables, graphs, and equations should be introduced by a sentence
of explanation. They should also have an explanatory label.
 The label should be executed using the same formatting and
numbered sequentially throughout the report.
 Units and variables must always be identified.
 Equations should be embedded in the text of report and formatted
using the “Equation Editor” tool on your word processor.
 It is extremely important to define all variables used, although it is
necessary to define a variable only one time in the report.
 The equations should be numbered sequentially throughout the report.

5.2 Verb Tense

Reports should be written in the past tense in an impersonal style.
e.g.: The equipment was set up before the experiment was begun.
Current was measured using a Digital Multimetre/DMM.

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 5.3 Objective
Use action verbs such as “investigate, determine, measure, plot” in stating
you objective.

5.4 Section Headings

Use separate heading for each section. The headings should be in bold type.
The format used for the headings should be consistent throughout the report.
Allow space between sections.

5.5 Language
As you edit your report, delete unnecessary words, rewrite unclear phrases
and clean up grammatical errors.

5.6 Note on Plagiarism:

Labs/Experiments may be carried out by groups of students. It is therefore
expected that each member of a group has followed an identical procedure in
the laboratory and obviously has the same data. Members of a group are
also allowed to discuss the analysis of data with one another. Nevertheless,
preparation of the report and the discussion and interpretation of the results
should be done individually by the student submitting the report. There is
zero-tolerance policy regarding copying of old lab reports or your classmate’s
lab reports. Any plagiarism/academic dishonesty will result in a “Fail” grade
for the assignment. (See UNAM Policy on Plagiarism).

6. Marking Scheme
 Laboratory reports are marked not only for technical content but
also for writing and style.
 Lab report marking is essentially based upon the following issues:
1. Structure/Format: Are all the required sections included?
2. Language: Is the report free of spelling mistakes,
punctuation and gross grammatical errors?
3. Relevancy: Does each section of the report contain the
relevant information?
4. Data: Are all required experimental and pre-lab data
included in the report? Have the results been thoroughly
explained in the Discussion section?
5. Reference Materials: Are all of the reference materials
provided for a formal report?
6. Figures and Equations: Are figures, equations formatted
neatly and professionally?

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