A results table and a biological drawing each have a short checklist. Following both lists covers the basics of presentation.
This lesson belongs to biological investigation and continues from identifying variables and controls.
What should a results table contain?
List the manipulated variable in the first column, then each trial, then the average. Put units in the headings only.
Before you start an experiment, draw the empty table so you know what to record. Here is one for a test on the effect of salt concentration on potato mass.
| Salt concentration (%) | Initial mass (g) | Final mass (g) | Change in mass (g) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | |||
| 5 | |||
| 10 | |||
| 15 |
The heading for each column names the quantity and unit. The first column holds the manipulated variable, and the last holds a calculated value.
What should a biological drawing contain?
Use a sharp pencil and a single clear line for each outline. Draw only what you see, not what you expect to see.
- Give the drawing a title naming the specimen.
- Draw a large, clean outline with no shading.
- Draw straight label lines with a ruler, never crossing one another.
- Write labels in a column, horizontally, outside the drawing.
- Add magnification or a scale bar if asked.
Worked example: a table with repeats
Situation. A student times how long a yeast and sugar mixture takes to produce 10 cm³ of gas at 20 °C, 30 °C and 40 °C. Each temperature is tested 3 times.
The table needs a first column for temperature (°C), three columns for Trial 1, 2 and 3 with units (s), and a final column for the average time (s). At 30 °C the trials are 90, 96 and 84 seconds.
Average = (90 + 96 + 84) ÷ 3 = 270 ÷ 3 = 90 s.
The unit appears in the heading, and the average is worked out only after all three trials are recorded.
The mistake that costs marks
The common slip is to write the unit next to every number in the body of the table, such as “20 °C, 30 °C, 40 °C”. The numbers are correct, but the table looks cluttered and the heading is incomplete.
For drawings, the usual slip is crossing label lines or using arrowheads. Keep lines straight and end them on the structure.
Check yourself
A student measures the length of onion root tips after 2, 4 and 6 days. List the headings the results table should have, including units.
Answer
First column: Time (days). Second column: Length of root tip (mm). If there are repeats, add columns for each trial and an Average length (mm) column.
The manipulated variable goes first, and the units are in the headings only.
What to study next
Put this into practice in the biological investigation practice set, or see how conclusions are separated from observations in distinguishing observation, inference and conclusion. For a teacher to review your table and drawing, see online one-to-one Biology tuition.