AP Chemistry Lab Report Grading Rubric
Lab reports need to be typed and organized. Lab reports will always be due 3 days after the
completion date of the lab. Lab reports can be handed in during class or emailed to me no later than
midnight of the due date for full credit. If you do decide to email your report, you will not receive any
written comments. You will only receive a grade slip. If you need to know the details of a report
grade, feel free to talk to me about it and I would be happy to explain.
Pre-lab and Purpose
This consists of the pre-lab questions you must complete before the day of the lab. These will be
completed on a separate sheet of paper and turned in before you start the lab. These calculations and
questions will be similar to the ones performed during the lab and are essential. Also include a
purpose section and statement. This should be a sentence or two outlining the reason for the lab. See
your lab manual for details.
 4 points
 Turned in on time
 All work shown
with units
 Include purpose
 3 points
 Not on time
 Minor mistakes
on units or answers
 Include purpose
 2 points
 Not on time
 All questions not
answered
 No purpose
 1 point
 Not on time
 Missing most
questions
 Minor mistakes
 No purpose
 0 points
 Not turned in
 Missing most
questions
 Major mistakes
 No purpose
Procedure
This should be a numbered or bulleted list of the steps you performed in the experiment. Be specific
when discussing chemicals and lab equipment. Another individual should be able to perform the same
experiment you did by following the steps.
 4 points
 All steps listed
 All terms used
correctly
 3 points
 All steps listed
 Minor mistakes
in terminology
 2 points
 Minor gaps in
procedure
 Minor mistakes
in terminology
 1 point
 Major gaps in
procedure
 Minor mistakes
in terminology
 0 points
 Major gaps in
procedure
 Major mistakes in
terminology
Data
Your data should be organized in a data table. Make sure to include units for your values. Make a
separate table for values that you calculate, such as your results. Data tables can also be made for your
observations and changes. All significant information and data should be reported.




4 points
All data shown
Organized
Correct units
 3 points
 Missing units
 Not all data
shown




2 points
Missing data
Missing units
unorganized
 1 point
 Most data
missing
 No labels and
units
 unorganized




0 points
Missing all data
No labels or units
unorganized
Calculations
You need to show one example of each type of calculation performed for the lab. If you did multiple
trials, you do not have to include the same calculation done for each trial. Make sure you include all
types of calculations with units and labels. Calculations can be hand written in after you print out your
lab.
 4 points
 Calculations
shown
 Formulas shown
 Correct units
 correct answers
 3 points
 Calculations
shown
 Formulas shown
 Wrong units
 Some incorrect
answers
 2 points
 Missing
calculations
 Missing formulas
 Wrong units
 Incorrect answers
 1 point
 Missing
calculations
 No formulas
 wrong units
 incorrect answers
 0 points
 Missing section
 No units
 All wrong
answers
Graphs
If a graph is required, you must make a graph using a program such as Excel. Include all necessary
information in your graph. Make sure everything is labeled.
 4 points
 All labels present
 Data properly
marked
 Lines drawn
appropriately
 3 points
 Missing some
labels
 Data properly
marked
 Lines drawn
appropriately
 2 points
 Missing some
labels
 Data not properly
marked
 Lines incorrect




1 point
Missing labels
Incorrect data
Lines incorrect


0 points
No graph
Conclusion
You must include a short paragraph restating the purpose of the experiment and your results. Only
include facts from the lab that have to do with your results and how you got them.
 4 points
 Include results
 Include purpose
 How you got
your results
 3 points
 Include results
 Include purpose
 Missing parts of
what you did




2 points
Include results
Missing purpose
Include opinions




1 point
Missing results
Wrong units
Include opinions




0 points
No results
Include opinions
Missing
Error Analysis
You must include a short paragraph stating any errors that would explain why your results were not
perfect. When you state an error, you must include how that error would affect your results. Avoid
terms such as “kind of”, “maybe”, and “a little off”. Also, don’t include general errors, such as
calculation errors (those can be fixed!) or errors you don’t know for sure. Be specific!
 4 points
 Error mentioned
 State how results
are affected
 3 points
 Error mentioned
 State how results
are affected
 Not specific
 2 points
 Error mentioned
 Don’t explain
results
 Not specific
 1 point
 Negligible errors
 Don’t explain
results
 Not specific
 0 points
 No error
mentioned
Questions
Occasionally your lab will ask you a series of questions. Those should be answered here at the end of
your lab report. Use full sentences. You can show calculations here for a question or in the
calculation section.
 4 points
 All questions
answered and
demonstrate a deep
understanding of the
lab.
 3 points
 Missing questions
or lack complete
answers.
 2 points
 Missing many
questions, units, and a
lack of understanding.
 1 point
 Missing most
questions and have a
lack of understanding
 0 points
 Missing all
questions and show
no real thought