AP Biology Lab Notebooks
Labs are a large part of the AP Biology curriculum and are based heavily on student inquiry. All lab work
must be completed in a graph-lined composition notebook. Lab activities are important not only for
application of concepts discussed in class, but also in preparation for lab design/analysis questions on the
AP exam. Every lab performed in this course must be thoroughly documented in your lab notebook, and
you will have additional lab assessments (practicals, formal reports, group presentations, etc.) for the
majority of labs.
Lab notebooks are to be set up as follows:
1. Your name and block should be clearly marked on the cover of your composition book.
2. Only use the page fronts (right sides) of your notebook. The page backs (left sides) can be
considered “scrap paper” for writing bits of information during lab (notes, informal calculations,
raw data, etc.).
3. Number the pages—ONLY ON THE FRONTS (RIGHT SIDES)
4. Do not write anything (besides page numbers) on the first two pages of your notebook. This will
become your “Table of Contents”. Your table of contents will grow to include the titles of your
labs with their corresponding page numbers. This information should be filled in at the
completion of each lab activity.
5. Each lab should contain the following sections (labeled clearly):
a. Title
b. Introduction/Background Information
c. Hypothesis
d. Experimental Design/Methodology
e. Data (collected during lab in the form of tables, drawings, or observations)
f. Analysis (includes graphs and formal calculations)
g. Conclusion
i. Rejecting/not rejecting hypothesis
ii. Answers to any lab questions
iii. Connection to course material
iv. Suggested modifications to methodology or additional testing
6. Always use a pen when writing in your notebook. Errors should be marked out with a single
line, and entire pages to disregard should have one large “X” over them. NEVER USE WHITE
OUT OR REMOVE PAGES!
7. A ruler must be used for every line you draw, whether you are underlining a title/heading,
making a table, or drawing a graph.
Failure to adhere to these guidelines may result in reduction/loss of credit on lab activities.