Start by reminding the reader what you were investigating. State the overall pattern in one sentence.
Check: Have you linked back to the original enquiry question?
Flowchart
Use this structure whenever you finish collecting data and need to write what it shows.
1) Restate the question and main result
2) Support with quantitative evidence
Quote data from tables or graphs (numbers, averages, ranges) to justify your statement.
Check: Does each conclusion sentence include specific data?
3) Compare with predictions or scientific ideas
Explain whether your prediction was correct and why the results make sense using scientific knowledge.
Check: Have you used science vocabulary to explain the trend?
4) Comment on confidence and next steps
Discuss reliability (repeats, range, anomalies) and mention improvements or further questions.
Check: Did you reflect on how trustworthy the data is?
Explanation
What is a conclusion?
A conclusion answers the investigation question using the evidence you collected. It is not a guess or a repeat of your method. Strong conclusions connect three things: the question, the data, and the science explaining why it happened.
Structure of a strong conclusion
- Answer the question: “The taller ramp made the toy car travel further.”
- Evidence: “At 10 cm the average distance was 45 cm, at 20 cm it was 68 cm.”
- Scientific reasoning: “A steeper ramp gives more gravitational potential energy which transfers to kinetic energy.”
- Reliability/uncertainty: “Repeats were close (range 4 cm) so we can trust this pattern, although one anomaly may be due to the car hitting a bump.”
Discussing confidence
Mention how many repeats you took, whether you calculated averages, and how large the range was. If there were issues (limited data, faulty equipment), be honest and explain how they might affect confidence.
Key Vocabulary
- Conclusion: The statement that answers the investigation question using evidence.
- Evidence: Data or observations that support your conclusion.
- Prediction: What you expected to happen before the investigation.
- Reliability: How consistent and trustworthy the data is.
- Uncertainty: Factors that might affect how confident you can be (equipment limits, sample size).
Why good conclusions matter
Drawing conclusions is the whole point of scientific enquiry. Without a clear conclusion, your experiment is just a list of numbers. Conclusions allow others to use your findings, compare with their own, or challenge your ideas.
Examples
Example 1: Dissolving sugar
“Sugar dissolved faster in hot water. At 20 A°C it took 180 s, at 60 A°C it took 35 s. Higher temperatures give particles more energy so they collide more often. The repeats were similar (range 8 s) so the conclusion is reliable.”
Example 2: Light and plant growth
“Plants under 12 hours of light grew to an average of 28 cm compared to 12 cm in shade. This supports the prediction that more light boosts photosynthesis. One plant died early, so we repeated that trial.”
Example 3: Friction investigation
“The rougher the surface, the greater the force needed to move the block (0.8 N on smooth card vs 1.5 N on sandpaper). This is because more bumps interlock. Some readings varied widely so further repeats are needed.”
Example 4: Secondary research
“According to NASA (2022) and ESA (2020) sources, Venus rotates once every 243 Earth days, which confirms our finding that Venus has the slowest rotation of the inner planets.”
Practice
Answer all questions, then check your answers. Your quiz result is saved on this device.
Common Mistakes
Mistake 1: Repeating the method
× Wrong: “We measured the temperature every minute.”
? Right: “The temperature increased by 10 A°C in the first 5 minutes.”
Mistake 2: No evidence
× Wrong: “The ramp made it faster, trust me.”
? Right: Give actual numbers from your table or graph.
Mistake 3: Ignoring prediction or science
× Wrong: “My prediction was wrong. Oh well.”
? Right: Explain why the result differed and link to scientific ideas.
Mistake 4: Pretending data is perfect
× Wrong: “Everything was fine.”
? Right: Mention ranges, anomalies, or improvements so the reader knows how confident to be.
Summary
- Answer the investigation question directly.
- Quote specific data (averages, ranges, key values).
- Explain the trend using scientific vocabulary.
- Discuss reliability, uncertainties, and improvements.
- State whether your prediction was supported.
Skills Checklist
- I can write conclusions that refer to the question and data.
- I can compare results with predictions using science knowledge.
- I can comment on reliability and uncertainties.
- I can suggest improvements or next questions.