How to Write a Research Abstract

The abstract is the most-read part of any research paper.

Judges skim it. Readers decide whether to continue based on it. Conference organizers accept or reject based on it.

A great abstract can open doors. A weak one closes them before anyone reads your actual work.

This guide shows you how to write abstracts that work.

What is a Research Abstract?

An abstract is a 150-300 word summary of your entire research project.

It answers:

• What problem did you address?
• Why does it matter?
• What did you do?
• What did you find?
• What does it mean?

Think of it as a movie trailer for your research—it gives the highlights and makes people want to see more.

Why Abstracts Matter

For Science Fairs

Judges read hundreds of abstracts. Yours needs to:

• Quickly communicate your project's value
• Stand out from similar projects
• Make judges want to visit your poster

For Journal Submissions

Editors and reviewers scan abstracts to assess:

• Is this relevant to our journal?
• Is this original and significant?
• Is the methodology appropriate?

For College Applications

When you mention research, admissions officers may look it up. Your abstract is often the first thing they'll read.

The IMRAD Structure

Most research abstracts follow the IMRAD structure:

I - Introduction (1-2 sentences)

• What's the problem/context?
• Why does it matter?

M - Methods (2-3 sentences)

• What did you do?
• How did you do it?

R - Results (2-3 sentences)

• What did you find?
• Key numbers/outcomes

A/D - And Discussion/Conclusion (1-2 sentences)

• What does it mean?
• What are the implications?

Total: 150-300 words (check specific requirements)

Step-by-Step Writing Process

Step 1: Write Your Paper First

Don't write the abstract until your research is complete and written up. You need to know:

• Exactly what you did
• Your final results
• Your conclusions

Step 2: Answer These Questions

Write 1-2 sentences for each:

1. What problem did you address?

   • State the gap or question

2. Why does it matter?

   • Real-world significance

3. What was your approach?

   • Methods in brief

4. What did you find?

   • Key results with numbers

5. What does it mean?

   • Conclusions and implications

Step 3: Combine and Refine

• Merge your sentences into flowing paragraphs
• Remove redundancy
• Cut unnecessary words
• Check word count

Step 4: Polish

• Read aloud (does it flow?)
• Check for jargon (can a non-expert follow?)
• Verify accuracy (does it match your paper?)
• Proofread carefully

Abstract Template

Use this template as a starting point:

[PROBLEM/CONTEXT - 1-2 sentences]
[Current situation] is problematic because [reason].
[Existing solutions] fail to [address gap].

[PURPOSE - 1 sentence]
This study [investigated/developed/examined] [specific focus].

[METHODS - 2-3 sentences]
[Data source/participants] were [analyzed/surveyed/examined]
using [method/approach]. [Additional methodological details].

[RESULTS - 2-3 sentences]
Results showed that [key finding 1] and [key finding 2].
[Specific numbers/statistics].

[CONCLUSION - 1-2 sentences]
These findings suggest [implication]. [Future direction or application].

Example Abstracts (Before and After)

Weak Abstract

"I did a project on how sleep affects grades. I surveyed students at my school about their sleep and grades. I found that students who sleep more get better grades. This shows that sleep is important for students."

Problems:

• Too vague
• No specific methods
• No numbers
• No context or significance

Strong Abstract

"Adolescent sleep deprivation is associated with poor academic outcomes, yet the specific relationship between sleep patterns and GPA remains understudied in high school populations. This study examined the correlation between self-reported sleep duration and academic performance among 247 high school juniors across three schools. Participants completed validated sleep questionnaires and provided GPA data. Multiple regression analysis revealed that each additional hour of weeknight sleep was associated with a 0.15-point increase in GPA (p<0.001), controlling for socioeconomic status and extracurricular involvement. Students averaging fewer than 6 hours of sleep had GPAs 0.4 points lower than those sleeping 8+ hours. These findings suggest that school start time policies and sleep education interventions could significantly impact academic achievement."

Strengths:

• Clear context and significance
• Specific methods
• Concrete numbers
• Statistical support
• Clear implications

Field-Specific Examples

Biology/Medicine Abstract

"Antibiotic resistance poses a growing threat to global health, with traditional drug development failing to keep pace with bacterial evolution. This study investigated the antimicrobial properties of three plant-derived compounds against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Compounds were extracted from [plant species] and tested using disk diffusion assays and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) protocols. Compound B demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity (MIC: 32 μg/mL), comparable to vancomycin (MIC: 16 μg/mL). Synergy testing revealed enhanced efficacy when combined with standard antibiotics. These findings identify a promising lead compound for further development as an adjunct therapy for MRSA infections."

Computer Science Abstract

"Misinformation on social media contributes to public confusion and democratic erosion, yet automated detection systems achieve limited accuracy on novel claims. This study developed a deep learning model for fake news detection combining linguistic features with social propagation patterns. A dataset of 50,000 news articles with verified labels was used to train a transformer-based classifier augmented with network analysis features. The model achieved 91.3% accuracy on held-out test data, outperforming existing approaches by 8.2 percentage points. Feature analysis revealed that propagation speed and source diversity were stronger predictors than text content alone. This hybrid approach offers a scalable method for platform-level misinformation detection."

Psychology Abstract

"Academic stress contributes to adolescent mental health challenges, but the mediating role of coping strategies remains unclear. This study examined how coping styles mediate the relationship between perceived academic stress and anxiety symptoms among 312 high school students. Participants completed validated measures of academic stress (PSS-A), coping strategies (Brief COPE), and anxiety (GAD-7). Structural equation modeling revealed that problem-focused coping partially mediated the stress-anxiety relationship (indirect effect = -0.18, p<0.01), while avoidant coping amplified anxiety symptoms (indirect effect = 0.23, p<0.001). These findings suggest that school-based interventions teaching adaptive coping skills could buffer against stress-related anxiety."

Common Abstract Mistakes

1. Too Vague

Bad: "Results showed significant findings." Good: "Reading comprehension improved by 23% in the intervention group (p<0.01)."

2. Too Much Background

Bad: [5 sentences of background before getting to the study] Good: [1-2 sentences of context, then straight to your work]

3. Missing Methods

Bad: "Students were studied..." Good: "247 students completed validated questionnaires measuring..."

4. No Numbers

Bad: "The model performed well." Good: "The model achieved 89% accuracy (F1=0.87)."

5. Overclaiming

Bad: "This proves that X causes Y." Good: "These findings suggest a significant association between X and Y."

6. Jargon Overload

Bad: "Utilizing a multivariate parsimonious paradigm..." Good: "Using statistical analysis to control for multiple factors..."

Abstract Checklist

Before submitting, verify:

Content:

• Problem/context clearly stated
• Significance explained
• Methods described specifically
• Results include numbers
• Conclusions are supported
• Implications mentioned

Quality:

• Word count within limits
• No unnecessary jargon
• Flows well when read aloud
• Accurate to full paper
• No grammatical errors
• No spelling mistakes

Format:

• Single paragraph (usually)
• No citations (usually)
• No figures/tables
• Correct font/formatting

Science Fair Abstract Tips

ISEF Requirements

ISEF has specific abstract requirements:

• 250 words maximum
• Must include: purpose, methodology, results, conclusions
• Cannot include acknowledgments or future plans
• Must fit in designated space

Making It Stand Out

Science fair judges see many abstracts. Yours should:

• Lead with significance (why should they care?)
• Include specific results (not just "positive results")
• Show clear methodology
• End with implications

Getting Feedback

Before finalizing, get feedback from:

1. Your mentor: Checks accuracy and rigor
2. Someone outside your field: Checks clarity
3. A peer: Checks readability

The YRI Fellowship provides multiple rounds of paper review, including abstract feedback, to ensure your writing meets publication and competition standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should my abstract be? Typically 150-300 words. Always check specific requirements—ISEF limits to 250 words, some journals allow up to 350.

Should I write the abstract first or last? Last. You need to know your full results and conclusions before summarizing them.

Can I include citations in my abstract? Generally no. Abstracts should stand alone. If you must reference prior work, do so briefly without formal citations.

What tense should I use? Past tense for what you did ("we investigated," "results showed"). Present tense for established facts and conclusions ("these findings suggest").

Should I include all my results? Only the most important ones. The abstract highlights key findings; details go in the full paper.

How do I make my abstract stand out? Lead with significance, include specific numbers, be clear and concise, and end with implications. Avoid vague language.

Next Steps

1. Complete your research before writing the abstract
2. Answer the five key questions (problem, significance, methods, results, meaning)
3. Use the template to draft your first version
4. Revise ruthlessly for clarity and concision
5. Get feedback from mentors and peers

Apply to YRI Fellowship →

Related guides:

• How to Publish Research in High School
• How to Win ISEF
• How to Present Research at Science Fairs