A lab report explains what you investigated, exactly how you tested it, what you found and what it means, in enough detail for someone to repeat the work. It follows a fixed structure, and learning that structure is most of the task.
This page covers the standard sections, how to write each one, tense and voice, an example results and discussion excerpt, common mistakes and a checklist.
The Six Parts of a Lab Report
Title and abstract, introduction (with aim and hypothesis), methods, results, discussion and conclusion, then references. Methods and results use the past tense; the discussion is where you interpret.
Write the abstract last, once every other section is finished.
The Standard Sections
| Section | What it answers | Tense |
|---|---|---|
| Title and abstract | What was investigated, plus a summary of the whole report | Mixed |
| Introduction | Background, aim and hypothesis | Present for theory, past for what you did |
| Methods | Exactly how the experiment was carried out | Past |
| Results | What was found: data, tables and figures | Past |
| Discussion | What the results mean and whether they support the hypothesis | Present and past |
| Conclusion and references | The key finding and the sources cited | Present |
The structure is closely related to the IMRaD format used in research papers. Some courses merge results and discussion or drop the abstract, so check your brief.
Introduction, Aim and Hypothesis
Give just enough theory to frame your experiment, then state the aim and a testable hypothesis. A lab report is not a textbook chapter; keep the background to what the reader needs.
Aim: To investigate the effect of temperature on the rate of catalase activity.
Hypothesis: The rate of oxygen production will increase with temperature up to an optimum, then fall as the enzyme denatures.
Methods: Past Tense, Usually Passive
Describe what was done, not instructions for the reader. Give quantities, equipment, conditions and procedure in enough detail for a competent peer to repeat it.
| Instruction (avoid) | Report (use) |
|---|---|
| Add 10 mL of hydrochloric acid to the flask. | 10 mL of hydrochloric acid was added to the flask. |
| Heat the solution to 60°C. | The solution was heated to 60°C. |
Some courses now accept the active voice ("we heated the solution"). Follow your guidelines.
Results: Data Without Interpretation
- Present findings in tables and graphs, each numbered and titled.
- Refer to every table and figure in the text.
- State what the data show, such as trends and key values.
- Include calculations and an estimate of uncertainty where appropriate.
- Report results that did not match your prediction.
Save the explanation for the discussion. The discipline here is restraint.
Discussion and Conclusion
The discussion is where most marks are. Interpret your results against the hypothesis, compare them with expected or published values and explain discrepancies.
- Do the results support the hypothesis?
- How do they compare with theory or published data?
- What sources of error might explain differences?
- How could the method be improved?
Be honest about limitations; acknowledging error shows scientific maturity. The conclusion then states the key finding briefly and answers the aim.
Example Results and Discussion Excerpt
Results. The rate of oxygen production rose from 0.8 mL/min at 20°C to a maximum of 2.6 mL/min at 40°C, then fell to 0.4 mL/min at 60°C (Figure 2).
Discussion. These results support the hypothesis. The increase to 40°C is consistent with greater molecular kinetic energy raising collision frequency, while the sharp fall at 60°C suggests denaturation of the enzyme's active site. The optimum may lie between 35 and 45°C; smaller temperature intervals would locate it more precisely. Variation in potato sample size is a likely source of random error.
The results report values and point to the figure; the discussion explains them, links to theory and suggests an improvement. These figures are illustrative only.
Common Mistakes and Checklist
- Writing methods as instructions instead of past-tense description.
- Interpreting data in the results section.
- Unlabelled figures or tables never mentioned in the text.
- Hiding unexpected results or ignoring error.
- A discussion that only restates the results.
Lab Report Checklist
- The aim and a testable hypothesis are stated in the introduction.
- Methods are detailed enough to repeat.
- Every figure and table is numbered, titled and referred to.
- Units and uncertainties are given.
- The discussion returns to the hypothesis and addresses error.
- The abstract summarizes aim, method, key result and conclusion.
- Sources are cited in your course's style, often Vancouver, APA or IEEE.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Methods and results use the past tense. The introduction and discussion use the present tense for established facts and theory.
Methods sections traditionally use the passive voice to focus on the procedure. Some courses now accept active voice, so check your guidelines.
In the discussion. The results section presents data objectively; the discussion explains what they mean.
Follow your brief. Many undergraduate reports are 1,500 to 3,000 words, but courses vary widely.
Report them honestly and use the discussion to explain possible reasons, such as error or a flawed assumption. Unexpected results are not a failure.
Yes, for any theory, published values or methods you draw on. Use the citation style your course requires.
One short paragraph covering the aim, the method in a sentence, the key result with its main figure and the conclusion. Write it last, after every other section is finished.
No. A lab report must be based on results you obtained. Send your own data and a writer can show how to present and discuss it.