A report has a fixed order: purpose, findings, recommendation. Findings are facts, grouped and stated with figures, and the recommendation follows from them.
This lesson belongs to extended writing. Clear figures also matter in information transfer, where meaning must not change.
What are the parts of a report?
- Title and purpose: one line saying what the report is about and why.
- Findings: grouped facts, with headings if useful.
- Recommendation: one or two actions based on the findings.
Worked example: homework time
This is a worked example. A class monitor asked 40 students how long they spent on homework on a weekday.
| Time spent | Students |
|---|---|
| Under one hour | 18 |
| One to two hours | 15 |
| More than two hours | 7 |
The totals add up: 18 + 15 + 7 = 40.
Purpose. “This report shows how long Form 4 Amanah students spend on homework on weekdays.”
Findings. “Most students spend two hours or less. Eighteen of the 40 students reported less than one hour, and 15 reported one to two hours. Seven students spend more than two hours, which is the smallest group.”
Recommendation. “Teachers of the seven students who spend more than two hours could check whether the tasks are the right length.”
The findings state the figures, group them and say what stands out. The recommendation follows directly from one finding and does not claim more than the data supports.
The mistake: listing numbers without a point
A student writes “18 students said under one hour, 15 said one to two hours, 7 said more than two hours” and stops. The figures are correct, but the reader must do the thinking.
| Weak | Strong |
|---|---|
| Lists three numbers | Says most spend two hours or less |
| No total | “18 of the 40 students” |
| No recommendation | One action linked to the smallest group |
After each group of figures, add one sentence that answers “so what?”.
Check yourself
A questionnaire asked 30 students how they travel to school: 12 by bus, 10 by car, 8 on foot. Write a one-sentence finding and one recommendation.
Answer
Check: 12 + 10 + 8 = 30.
Finding: “Bus is the most common way to travel, used by 12 of the 30 students, followed by car (10) and walking (8).”
Recommendation: “The school could ask the bus operator about pick-up times, since the bus carries the largest group.”
What to study next
Continue with developing a story with controlled pacing, which is a very different genre. If you want to test your choice of genre, see comparing writing genres before choosing a task.
The graph evidence and fair-comparison lab helps when a task includes a chart. For a teacher to read your reports, see online one-to-one English tuition.