How To Write an AP Lab Report
In order to be successful in the lab portion of this class, you will need to write a lab report
for each experiment/lab activity you do. In order to receive credit for a written report it
will be necessary for it to be complete and in the appropriate format.
Lab Report Guidelines:
Each student must use a bound laboratory notebook in which all lab reports will be
written. PAGES SHOULD BE NUMBERED IN ADVANCE.
a) Your name and lab period should be on the outside of the book cover.
b) The first page is the table of contents. Each experiment must be listed in the table of
contents.
Label it like this:
DATE
TITLE OF EXPERIMENT
PAGE
c) All entries must be in black or blue INK only. You should have no extra papers or
scratch work cluttering the work area.
d) Skip 2 pages before your first lab report. You may use both sides of the page in your
book, but make sure each lab report begins on a new page.
Formal Lab Report:
a) Each student must have read the experiment before coming to the lab. You are required
to have:
TITLE, DATE, LAB PARTNER(S), INTRODUCTION, MATERIALS/METHODS,
PROCEDURE, and any required DATA TABLES prepared in your composition book
before coming to the lab. Make sure to leave room for a 100 word ABSTRACT at the
beginning. I will check pre-labs regularly before you can begin the lab. If you are not
prepared for the lab, you will not be allowed to do the experiment, and you will receive
an ‘F’ for that lab report.
b) All entries must be legible, logically organized, with sufficient space to avoid
crowding. Just draw a single line through errors. You may find out later that you were
right the first time! NO WHITE OUT. Points will be taken off.
c) Graphs must be completed on graph paper and must be done in pencil. Graphs should
be neatly attached or glued in to your lab book.
d) The write-up is due in class the next class meeting after you finish the experiment.
Each student must do a lab report, but frequently I will grade one lab per group and
everyone in that group will receive the same grade. (Randomly selected)
Informal Lab Reports:
Informal lab reports only need to include the TITLE, DATE, PARTNER(S), PURPOSE,
HYPOTHESIS, DATA, RESULTS and CONCLUSION. They also must be set up before
coming to lab, and included in your composition book, unless specified otherwise.
Pre-Lab Handouts and Quizzes: Occasionally I will have you complete a ‘Pre-Lab’
Handout in addition to the pre-lab in your lab book. This handout may also be given as a
quiz in class prior to performing the lab. Make sure that you have thoroughly read the lab
instructions prior to coming to class!
Your FORMAL lab write-up should consist of:
Name:
Date:
Period:
Lab partners:
LAB TITLE (first line, center of the page)
ABSTRCT:
The abstract must be short and concise. It should be the last thing you write after all of
the other sections are completed. It is a brief summary of everything that was done in the
experiment. It will include a sentence pertaining to all parts of the experiment. The results
and findings will be found here as well as introductory material. (approx. 100 words)
INTRODUCTION:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: This is similar to the background information
given in the lab handout and in your text. Make sure that you include and define
vocabulary terms. Always write in the background information in your own words
and cite your sources. Example: (College Board, 2013). (approx. 200 words)
PURPOSE: 1-2 sentence description of the “why” of the lab. Begin the purpose
with… “The purpose of doing this lab exercise is…” Always write the purpose in
your own words. (It is helpful to look at the “Objectives” of the lab when
writing the purpose.)
HYPOTHESIS: Write a statement making an educated guess about the results of
the lab. It should be a predicted answer to the purpose. Always write the
hypothesis in your own words.
MATERIALS and METHODS:
Most of the experiments being conducted this year will come from the AP Biology
Laboratory Manual. A complete listing of the materials and supplies that were used to
conduct the experiment should be included in this portion of the report. Then discuss
what type of data you are collecting and how you are going to collect it. This is also
where you describe your controls and variables.
CONTROLS & VARIABLES:
a. The controls are the lab parts that are there to keep the experiment consistent
from one set-up to another, thereby eliminating all variables expect the one being
tested.
b. The variable that is deliberately changed is called the “independent variable.”
Not all labs involve us manipulating something like time or light or gender etc.—
you don’t have to list this if there is no independent variable.
c. The variable that is observed and that changes in response to the manipulated
variable is called the “dependent variable.”
PROCEDURE:
List any precautions or warnings. Also give a brief overview of what you are doing in the
lab. Think of how you would describe the lab to your partner if they missed the lab. I
should be able to repeat your exact experiment based of off this section.
DATA:
Data is the information gathered in the lab during the experiment. Data may take the form
of DATA TABLES, DIAGRAMS, or WRITTEN OBSERVATIONS and MODELS.
Each lab report will have specific instructions as to how to collect and record data. Data
tables must have a title. All drawings of specimens must be done in pencil. If drawing
specimens from a microscope slide you must draw the specimen within a circle and label
with total magnification and the name of the specimen under the circle.
RESULTS:
GRAPHS: Graphs must be done on graph paper and have a title, properly labeled
axes and variables correctly identified. A legend must be included if necessary.
All graphs must be done in pencil. Neatly attach any graphs in your notebook.
CALCULATIONS: Show ALL arithmetic, including additions, and subtractions,
labeled completely. Please BOX your answers.
DISCUSSION: The Discussion is the answers to questions on the laboratory
experiment. All questions are to be answered in FULL SENTENCES in your own
words or no credit will be given for your discussion.
CONCLUSION:
1. Interpretation of results: drawing valid conclusions (i.e. support or reject your
hypothesis) based on your data, with an explanation. Where appropriate, results
are compared with given/known values.
2. Evaluate procedure: The procedure (i.e. materials and methods) including
limitations, weaknesses or errors in manipulation are evaluated (discussion of the
limitations of data analysis may be included.)
3. Modifying the Procedure: Suggest ways to improve the lab or suggest an area
for further study. This should be based on the identification of weaknesses or
limitations. This is not the time to slam the instructor on how useless the lab was
in your eyes.
LITERATURE CITATION:
Given that some of the information included in your lab write up will have been taken
from a published lab activity or other sources, you should include a citation of the source.
The source(s) used should be cited within your lab write-up (especially in the
introduction section) using scientific citation. Example: (College Board, 2013) or
(Campbell & Reese, 2005)
The following citation format will be appropriate for lab reports based on one of the 13
AP Biology labs:
Lab # _____ Title of Lab (College Board, 2013)
AP® Biology Lab Manual for Students (2013) New Jersey: College Board. p. ______.
QUESTIONS:
Any assigned discussion questions found throughout the laboratory should be written and
answered in this section.
Grading Rubric
Report Item
Title
Possible Points Points Earned/Comments
3
Introduction:
Background Info
Purpose
Hypothesis
(12)
Materials and Procedures:
Materials listed
Control(s) and Variables
identified
Procedures Stated
(15)
5
5
Results:
Data recorded in tables
Graph(s) present
Titled
Axes labeled
Variables correctly identified
(20)
8
6
2
2
2
Conclusion:
Summarize results
Conclusion stated
Errors identifies
Improvements recommended
(12)
4
4
4
4
Literature Citation:
Cited within write up
Citations correct
(4)
2
2
Questions:
Questions written
Answer correctness
(34)
10
24
Total Points:
(100)
5