This rubric outlines the criteria for grading a physics lab report across several sections, including the objective, procedures, raw data, processed data, questions, discussion/conclusion, and formatting. Each section is worth a certain number of points and criteria for "excellent", "good", "fair", and "poor" performance are provided. The total number of points for the lab report is 20.

1. Physics Lab Report Rubric
(Total: 20 points)
Objective(2 pts) Excellent (2) Good (1) Poor (0)
Objective is clear & Objective is Objective is
- Outlines the scientific purpose of concise and demonstrates present but is unrelated or is not
the lab performed. a knowledge of the missing the included.
- Always starts with the phrase: independent and independent and
“The objective of this lab was to…” dependent variables and dependent
the purpose of the lab. variables or does
not demonstrate an
understanding of
the purpose of the
lab.
Procedures(3pts) Excellent (3) Good (2) Fair (1) Poor (0)
List of materials is List of materials is List of materials is Procedure is
A short paragraph answering the complete and steps of somewhat incomplete and missing.
questions “What materials were experiment are clear, complete and steps procedure is
used?” and “How were they used?” sequential, and in of experiment are lacking.
complete sentences. present but lacking
Picture of apparatus is completeness.
included.
Raw Data(3pts) Excellent (3) Good (2) Fair (1) Poor (0)
Data is complete with 1-2 omissions of Data is present but Raw data is missing
Data table including raw data. columns labeled with label, unit or data. in wrong format,
units. and/or major errors
or omissions. 2-3
labels missing
Processed data(3pts) Excellent (3) Good (2) Fair (1) Poor (0)
Data is complete with 1-2 omissions of Data is present but Processed data or
Data table including processed columns labeled with label, unit or data in wrong format, graph is missing
data. All graphs are included in units. Graph axes must in table or scale, and/or major errors
this section. be scaled and labeled and label or best fit line or omissions. 2-3
best fit line drawn on graph. labels missing or
correctly. errors in graph.
Questions(3pts) Excellent (3) Good (2) Fair (1) Poor (0)
All questions answered 1-2 omissions in >1/2 of the Question section is
This section includes answers to completely in complete questions or questions are missing.
any questions included in the lab. sentences. answering in unanswered or
incomplete incomplete.
sentences.
Discussion/Conclusion Excellent (3) Good (2) Fair (1) Poor (0)
(3 pts)
Conclusion is complete 1-2 omissionsor >1/2 of the Conclusion section is
and written in compete incomplete required topics are missing.
A short paragraph that includes:
sentences. Sources of sentences. unanswered or
Two things you have learned
error may not include Sources of error or incomplete.
Statement of the percentage error
“human error” or “faulty improvement not
and assessment of how accurate
equipment” unless fully well thought out.
you were
explained.
Two sources of error
What can be done to improve the
accuracy of the lab
Title/Format/Structure Excellent (3) Good (2) Fair (1) Poor (0)
(3pts) Includes a title that is Includes a Includes a title that Title is not included,
relevant to experiment, somewhat does not describe more than 3 of the
lab is written with college- descriptive title, lab the lab, one or sections are out of
level format is written in correct more of the sections place
format. is out of place