UQ1937

What do students usually write about in a Life Sciences laboratory report?

A Life Sciences laboratory report usually explains the experiment’s purpose and background, materials and methods, observations or measurements, analysis and discussion, and conclusions. It may also include tables or graphs, relevant calculations, references, and an explanation of what the results mean, as well as sources of error, limitations, or possible improvements.

Key points

  • Present the purpose, methods, results, discussion, and conclusion in a logical order.
  • Organize data clearly using tables and graphs where appropriate.
  • Explain how the results should be interpreted and discuss errors or methodological limitations.
  • Check the required references and formatting.

Things to check

  • Required sections, format, and length vary by university, faculty, and course, so students should follow the instructor’s guidelines and laboratory manual.