Biology Lab Report Format

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

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.
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.
Specific Guidelines
The following sections should be included in your Biology Lab Report:
DATE:
LAB #
TITLE:
AIM:
APPARATUS/MATERIALS:
METHOD/PROCEDURE:
OBSERVATIONS/RESULTS:
DISCUSSION:
CONCLUSION:

DATE:
Write the date on which the experiment was conducted, or on which it was started if
observations are made over a number of days.

LAB #
Indicate the order in which labs were done by writing the lab number. Each student must have
labs in the same order.
Ensure that you have the correct order, particularly if labs are run concurrently or if lab
groups are streamed.
Table of Contents will give the order and respective lab numbers.

TITLE:
The title should be brief and descriptive.
Usually provided by your teacher or instructor.
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
interpretation of the results.

AIM:
States the purpose or objective of the experiment
The aim usually starts with: 'To investigate...', 'To demonstrate...', To test...', etc.
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:
This section is used to state all the lab equipment / instruments used in the investigation.
Apparatus need to be separated from the materials (see below) when writing lab report and
the correct items need to assigned to the appropriate heading as marks will be awarded for
this.
MATERIALS:
This section is used to state all the substances (water, chemicals, paper) that are used to help
carry out the experiment. These entities are usually spent during the process of the
experiment.

METHOD/PROCEDURE:
The method/procedure is a descriptive yet concise account of all the steps taken, in a
sequential order.
Use a numbered list and mention the staggering of or repetition of tasks at intervals.
Include adequate detail so that the experiments can be duplicated, including the set-up of the
positive and negative controls, use of equipment and measurements to be taken.
The method 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.
The procedure should be written in present tense and passive voice. This format is used for
Planning and Design Labs where the actual experiment is not being carried out.

OBSERVATIONS:
Observations are sometimes referred to as RAW DATA and are obtained directly through the
use of our senses, or indirectly through the use of instruments which extend our senses.
Observations should be relevant, giving rise to qualitative and/or quantitative data.
Qualitative data are words and terms and are subjective - such as colour and smell,
photographs and drawings. Quantitative data are numerical values obtained from counting or
measurements.
Observations for all labs should be tabulated with the exception of Drawing labs which will
have the actual drawing of the specimen as the observation. Each table used must have a title
written in Capital Letters and underlined, above the actual table.
Observations should be accurate and precise. Significant changes - both the initial and final
conditions must be recorded. Pay particular attention to the precision of the measuring
instrument you are using.
Observations should be appropriately recorded during the experiment. Headers should
contain the physical quantity measured and the appropriate S.I. unit.

GRAPHS:
To be placed after observation, this section serves to visually represent any trends that you
may notice within your results. A title for the graph must be included above the graph in all
Capital letters and underlined.

CALCULATIONS:
If necessary for the specific lab, this component would be placed after observation.

DISCUSSION:
This is where you do analysis of the results obtained. In the first paragraph, you can give
background information, definitions and equations on the topic being investigated. The next
paragraph discusses trends that you may observe from the observations. This is how you
interpret the results obtained. (keep in mind that this portion of the discussion may take up
more than one paragraph).
You can include the Precautions, Sources of Error, Limitations and Modifications in the body
of your discussion next, each as a separate paragraph. No need to have them as separate
headings in your lab.
Precautions refer to the steps you take in order to get valid and reliable results, to reduce any
errors. You will be required to include two (2) precautions for safety and two (2) precautions
for accuracy.
Sources of Error are differences between observed values and what is true in nature. Error
causes results that are inaccurate or misleading and can misrepresent nature. You can include
two (2) sources of error in the discussion.
Limitations include things that you may not be able to change or control but they may have
an effect the results obtained, you can include two (2) limitations in your lab write up.
Modifications involve any alterations/ changes that can be made to the lab in order to
improve results obtained, you can include one (1) modification.

CONCLUSION:
This is an answer to the aim of the experiment, no need to restate or explain the results. The
objective is to be concise so try to write a small paragraph.
Please Note
DIAGRAMS:
Diagrams should be drawn neatly and with a pencil.
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.
Labels must be in lower case script and correctly spelled.
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.
Include the TITLE underneath the diagram. The title should in uppercase, centered and
underlined in pencil. The title should be descriptive.