LABORATORY REPORT FORMAT

I- General Layout
The report must contain the full documentation
of the experiment done. It must consist of the
following parts:
(a) Sections providing an introduction or
overview of the experiment, i.e. Title page,
Abstract, Contents, Introduction.
(b) Sections providing detailed information of
the study, i.e. Theory, Apparatus, Experimental
Procedure, Results and Discussion.
(c) Sections that complete the report and provide
supportive information.. e.g. Conclusion,
References, Appendices.
The report must be usually is in the following
order:

Title Page
Abstract
Contents List
Object
Introduction
Theory
Equipment
Experimental Procedure
Results
Discussion
Conclusion
Recommendations
References
Appendices ( Data, sample calculations,
Computer
programs,
Instrument
specifications)

Title Page:
The title page should include: Course name and
number, name of the author, name of the
instructor who received the report, date of
submission.
Abstract:
This portion must include (i)
statement
introducing the subject, (ii) what was done, (iii)
major results.
Contents list:
If the report is long or complex, a table of
contents should follow the title page. It lists the

divisions and subdivisions of a report in the order

of appearance. Reference should be given to
page numbers.
Object:
The object should be concisely stated, in past
tense, using complete sentences. Education of
the experimenters is only a secondary object and
not to be stated as an object of the experiment.
This section not only informs the reader of the
nature and purposes of the experiment, but it also
becomes the writers own guide to all that is to
follow in the report.
Introduction:
The introductory section may describe the aims
of the report, the experiment directive, how the
report is structured other historical background to
the subject under investigation.
Theory:
Pertinent principles, laws and equations should
be stated. Analytical diagrams such as theoretical
flow and field patterns should be included here.
All variables should be identified either
following the equation in which they are first
used, or in a collective Nomenclature included
near the end of the report. Equations are
numbered only if they are to be referred to within
the report. The number of the equation is
included after the equation and on the same line.
Equipment:
It is intended to describe fully the equipment and
its layout. A sketch of the test setup should be
included. The diagram should be discussed and
expanded upon in the written text.
Experimental Procedure:
This section is sometimes called the
Experimental Method or Operating procedure. It
should begin with a brief overview of the entire
operation. Subsequently, individual aspects of
should be described clearly and in sufficient
detail. The nature of the tests or runs must be
stated. Special precautions for obtaining
accuracy, and means of controlling conditions
should be described.

Results:
This section contains the data obtained from the
experiment usually transformed and presented in
tables, graphs, etc.
Here the findings are to be summarized in a few
short paragraphs. Tables should include pertinent
material only. Original data sheets and other data
material for record are placed in the appendix.
Theoretical results are often included for
comparison. Sample calculations are also
included in appendices.
Discussion:
It refers to the discussion of the results presented
in the previous section. The discussion does not
simply state observations, obvious facts or
isolated known facts. It is a discussion of why
something occurred than what was observed. It is
important to state any assumptions, sources of
errors, and extent of the agreement with theory or
other published work. Any exception should be
explained and supported by experimental data
and/or references. Explain why the graphs look
the way they do.
Conclusion:
This section consists of a series of brief, concise
sentences that answers the questions relating to
the purpose of the work.
Recommendations:
Recommendations should be made for any
changes or further work that would more
adequately accomplish the original object.
References:
The reference list should contain references that
are cited in the text.
Appendices:
The appendices contain all the supportive
information that is associated with the
experiment, but which is not essential for
inclusion in the main body of the report.
II- Presentation
Use A4 size paper with adequate margins.
Reports must be either written using an ink
pen or typed using a word processor on a
PC.
Use only black or blue ink.
Write or type on one side only.

All pages are numbered starting after either

the title page, or the contents page.
Tables and figures should each be numbered
in order.
Report must be written in good English.
The style used in report should be simple,
clear, and formal.
Reports must be written in the third person
impersonal, past tense.
Avoid typing errors, untidy corrections,
incomplete
diagrams,
and
incorrect
references.
Do not assume that marks awarded are
proportional to the length of the report.
Curves are to be drawn in blank ink on
graph papers.
Each of the curves on a sheet should be
clearly identified and all the test points
shown.
If a curve is plotted from an equation the
points are not shown.
Each table, graph, etc. must be selfexplanatory; this requires inclusion of an
informative title and legends.
Axes must be labeled with the correct
quantities and units.
Curves do not need to pass through all data
points, but should be representative of the
data.
III- Some Important Notes
The reports must be submitted the week
following the experiment. Late reports will
not be accepted.
Students who are absent in the experiment
can not submit their report.
Some books containing examples of reports
and information on report writing are;
Ray,
S.
M.,
Engineering
Experimentation,
McGraw-Hill
Book
Company, London, 1988.
Tuve, G. L. and Domholdt, L. C.,
Engineering Experimentation, McGraw-Hill
Book Company, 1966.
Bragg, G. M., Principles of
Experimentation and Measurement, PrincetonHall, New Jersey, 1974.