Writing a Strong Conclusion

The conclusion, placed prominently on the Right Panel ("The Payoff"), is arguably the most vital written component of your board. It serves as the final report on your experiment, directly answering the question you posed on the left panel. A strong conclusion proves to the judge that you understand the scientific process from start to finish—it transforms raw data into meaningful scientific insight. Structurally, the conclusion should always appear first on the right panel, clearly distinct from the future research section that follows.

The conclusion must begin with a direct statement addressing the hypothesis: was it supported by the results or not? It is critical to ensure that you use the data collected (which is detailed in the Center Panel) to explain why this outcome occurred. Avoid simply saying, "My hypothesis was correct." Instead, state, "The hypothesis was supported, because the plant receiving fertilizer grew an average of 3 cm taller, as evidenced by the data collected in Week 4." This data-driven explanation is what convinces a judge of the project's validity and depth.

To truly demonstrate high-level critical thinking, the conclusion must be followed by a section on Future Research. Thinking like a real scientist means recognizing that every experiment opens new questions. This section is where you can suggest improvements to the current experiment (e.g., repeating the experiment with a larger sample size) or propose the logical next experiment based on their findings. This thoughtful addition proves the project is comprehensive and the student understands the continuous and critical nature of scientific inquiry.

See The Ultimate Guide to a Winning Science Fair Display Board for more tips.