There should be a column for

• each set of readings taken (never omit these!) and an average - 'each set' means all readings - repeat readings too! - even single repeats of anomalous results - do not give just one 'average' column - we need to se each reading taken!
• each set of calculated values from the experimental data (these may be derived for you to calculate values or plot a graph)

Headings should

• be at the top of a column of numbers (this is preferable to on the left of a series of results).
• give the physical quantity measured in words (eg. current, potential difference, length, time) . Abbeviations (I, V, l, t) can be used only if it is clear what they stand for in the text - it is best to include both! Do not use 'amount of' or 'quantity of'' - use 'volume' or 'mass'
• include the unit the physical property is measured in. This should preferably be the S.I. unit (as this is the one that will be required in calculations).e.g. Current I A. You should use the '/' rather than put the unit in brackets as this is not acceptable at higher levels.
• have an indication of the error involved in taking the reading (if applicable). This can be given as a + value or percentage and indicates the uncertainty you have in taking the measurement - the reading is usually taken to about the nearest of a half a sale marking.You only do this for readings taken - not for calculated values!
• have border lines drawn around them.

Columns should

• contain only numerals (Your units are at the top already.... it would be a mistake to put them in again!)
• contain numbers to the correct number of significant figures. This should indicate the accuracy to which you can read the instruments you have used. (e.g. 0.20 m indicates a reading taken to the nearest cm whereas 0.2 cm indicates you can only read to the nearest 10 cm and 0.200 m to the nearest mm). Therefore a column representing a set of readings taken with the same instrument should all have the same number of significant figures.
• have border lines drawn around them

Word-processing results can lead to errors. You should be very careful to check your final draft carefully

Common errors that lose you marks:

• Using the wrong font: remember the symbol allows you to put in greek letters such as W, n, and m.
• Puting numbers in to the wrong number of significant figures (especially if worked out on a spreadsheet without thought to formatting the numbers in the column.
• Missing out the columns with readings taken - only including columns needed to calculate the conclusion value or plot a graph is a major error - you must include the columns of results you took during the experiment!
• Incorrectly calculated derived values because you have put in the wrong formula - always check at least two values in a 'fill down' column with your calculator!
• Not drawing a border - making it a list of numbers not a table of results.

Displaying complicated results

An experiment where a series of little experiments are performed with an additional variable incorporated can be difficult to display clearly.

Here is an example . A group of experimenters are trying to find out whether the rate of cooling of a beaker of water depends on the volume of water in the beaker. They are doing that by allowing varying volumes of water in a beaker to cool and taking the temperature as time progresses. They are recording the temperature each minute so that any anomalies can be spotted and so that she could compare cooling for different times if she so wished.

By three minutes there a big enough difference in temperature between the 500 ml beaker and the 100 ml beaker to reach a conclusion – the intermediate stages support the final result.

You should always record ALL readings you take – all data including repeat readings must be recorded.

Each set of readings could be displayed like this:

Set 1

Note – there is no need to draw lines in between each result.

The quantity in the shaded area could be expressed in a different colour ink instead of shading – but remember you cannot use green or red ink on assessed work – only black and blue. In the exam only black ink!

A set of readings for the repeats would then need to be drawn and finally a table of the average results would be needed.