A lab report explains what you did in the laboratory, what you found and what it means. Most science departments use the same structure (sometimes called IMRaD).
1. Title
Specific and informative, e.g. “Effect of Temperature on the Activity of Catalase Enzyme.”
2. Abstract
150–250 words written last: aim, method, key result (with numbers) and conclusion.
3. Introduction
Background theory, why the experiment matters, and a clear aim and hypothesis.
4. Materials and Methods
Written in past tense and passive voice, with enough detail to repeat the experiment: chemicals and concentrations, equipment, procedure, number of replicates and how data were analysed. Avoid writing it as a numbered list of instructions unless your teacher asks for that.
5. Results
Present data in tables and graphs with numbered captions, units and error bars. Describe the main trends in words (“Activity increased up to 37 °C and decreased sharply at 60 °C”). Do not explain causes here.
6. Discussion
Explain the results using theory, compare with expected values or published studies, state whether the hypothesis was supported, discuss sources of error and suggest improvements.
7. Conclusion
Two or three sentences answering the aim.
8. References
Textbooks and journal articles in the required style.
Graph tips
- Independent variable on the x-axis, dependent on the y-axis.
- Label axes with units.
- Use mean ± SD (or SEM) error bars and say which one in the caption — see our guide to error bars.
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