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Presentation10 cardsAbout 8 min to speakIntermediateUniversity

Lab report presentation

Present a practical or lab experiment as a short talk for school or university science: aim, theory, method, results, analysis of error, conclusion and improvements.

Use this template

Free to use, edit, print and study. No account needed: your set stays on this device.

The cards

  1. 1

    Title and aim

    Good [morning]. Our practical was [experiment title].

    The aim was to [determine / investigate / measure] [what], using [technique or apparatus].

  2. 2

    Theory

    • Key principle: [law, reaction, process or equation, explained in words]
    • Expected relationship: [variable] should [increase / decrease] as [variable] [changes]
    • Hypothesis: [prediction]
  3. 3

    Variables and safety

    • Independent: [variable and range]
    • Dependent: [variable and units]
    • Controlled: [variables]
    • Key safety point: [hazard and control, such as eye protection or handling a chemical]
  4. 4

    Method

    1. [Set-up step]
    2. [Measurement step]
    3. [Repeat step: number of trials]
    4. [Data processing step]

    Show a photo or diagram of the set-up if you have one.

  5. 5

    Raw results

    We recorded [quantity] for each [condition].

    Point out any anomalous result: Trial [number] was unusual because [observation], so we [kept it / repeated it / excluded it, with reason].

  6. 6

    Processed results

    This graph plots [y variable] against [x variable].

    • Trend: [description]
    • Gradient or key value: [value with units]
    • Compared with the accepted value: [value and percentage difference, if relevant]
  7. 7

    Reading the graph aloud

    Use this pattern for any graph:

    1. This graph shows [y] against [x].
    2. As [x] increases, [y] [increases / decreases / levels off].
    3. The line of best fit is [straight / curved], which suggests [relationship].
    4. Error bars show [how much the repeats varied].
  8. 8

    Analysis of error

    • Random error: [source] — shown by [spread of repeats]
    • Systematic error: [source] — would make results [higher / lower]
    • Uncertainty: [instrument resolution and how it affects the result]
  9. 9

    Conclusion

    Our results [support / do not support] the hypothesis that [hypothesis].

    Evidence: [key result]. This is consistent with [theory] because [reason].

  10. 10

    Improvements and extension

    • Improvement: [change that reduces a specific error]
    • Extension: [new question to investigate next]

    Thank you. Any questions?

How to use this template

Use this template to present a practical or laboratory experiment as a spoken report, as required in many senior school science courses and first-year university labs in chemistry, biology and physics. The cards follow the familiar lab report order, so your talk matches the written report: aim, theory and hypothesis, variables and safety, method, raw and processed results, analysis of error, conclusion and improvements. The analysis of error card separates random and systematic error and asks you to think about uncertainty, which is often where marks are won or lost. The talk runs for around eight minutes and works for individuals or lab partners presenting together.

Tips

  • Explain what each graph shows, including axes and units, before you talk about the trend.
  • Discuss anomalous results openly. Saying what you did with them, and why, shows you understand your data.
  • Link every error to its effect. Instead of saying there was human error, say which measurement was affected and in which direction.
  • Make improvements specific to the errors you named, such as using a data logger to reduce reaction-time error in timing.
  • Use correct units and significant figures on your cards so you say them correctly.
  • If you present with a lab partner, split the cards at method and analysis so each person covers theory and evidence.
  • Prepare for the question of what you would do if you had more time; a thoughtful answer shows you understand the experiment, not just the steps.
  • Rehearse saying chemical names, equations and units aloud, as they are easy to stumble over under pressure.

Make it fit

  • For a three-minute summary, keep aim, method in one line, processed results, conclusion and one improvement.
  • For younger students, replace the analysis of error card with what went wrong and how we could make it fairer.
  • For a field study in geography or environmental science, change apparatus to site and sampling method.
  • For a poster or practical exam viva, use the cards as answers to the questions a demonstrator is likely to ask.
  • For an online lab demonstration, record a short video of the set-up and play it during the method card instead of describing every step.

Updated October 28, 2026

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