How to write a Scientific Report

TITLE

Name of the experiment. All experiments must have a title, which should relate to what is said in the “Aim”.

AIM

• State in 1 -2 sentences what you are trying to find out, investigate or discover. This should begin with “To…” (e.g. To show that sugar can dissolve in water.)

• This should be written in present tense.

HYPOTHESIS

• A statement you can test. Links the independent variable to the dependent variable. This is the possible answer to the problem being investigated, e.g. all acid reactions produce a salt. This should be written in present tense.

MATERIALS

• List of all materials (equipment and chemicals) needed to do the experiment.

METHOD

• A step by step set of instructions of how to carry out the experiment. May include illustration. Describe what you did. It must be in:

  • • Past tense (e.g.,’ Measured in 10ml of water’ or ‘10ml of water was measured’)

    • Point or numbered form

    • Passive voice (what was done rather than what you did) (e.g., ‘The circuit was set up’ rather than ‘I set up the circuit’)

• INDEPENDENT VARIABLE: The ONE variable changed by the scientist. Plotted on the x axis.

• DEPENDENT VARIABLE: The ONE variable being recorded by the scientist. Plotted on the y axis.

• CONTROLLED VARIABLES: All other variable which are held constant so the experiment is a fair test.

DIAGRAMS

• These should be labelled and drawn in pencil. At times they may be used instead of a written method.

RESULTS

• This is a record of what was observed and/or measured during the experiment. A neat ruled-up table and/or graph may be used to record these observations or measurements. This should be written in past tense.

• QUALITATIVE DATA: written description, photographs, drawings

• QUANTITATIVE DATA: data collected is accurately measured and recorded in tables, graphs

DISCUSSION

• These are specific questions about the experiment, which may include:

  • • Is the hypothesis supported or disproved?

    • Trends and observations from the results.

    • Links to scientific theory.

    • Limitations and errors in the experiment.

    • What problems were encountered?

    • How could the experiment be improved?

    • Future experiment you could perform.

• The discussion should be written in past tense.

CONCLUSION

• Write a generalisation which links the results to the hypothesis and aim of the experiment. This is a short statement directly related to the aim.

• This should be written in past tense.