What is a hypothesis and how should it be written?

• A. A description of the equipment used.
• B. A summary of the data collected.
• C. A testable statement predicting an outcome, usually written as If-Then-Because.
• D. A statement of a belief about the results.

Answer: (C)

A hypothesis is a testable prediction about what will happen in an experiment. It connects the things you change with what you measure, so you can see if your idea holds up.

Typically you state it as an If-Then statement, and often add Because to show your reasoning. For example: If a plant receives more sunlight, then it will grow taller, because sunlight powers photosynthesis which fuels growth. This makes the idea testable, since you can measure growth under different light conditions.

A hypothesis should be specific and falsifiable—there should be a possible result that could show it’s not true. Describing the equipment, summarizing the data, or simply stating a belief about the results aren’t predictions about what will happen in an experiment, so they aren’t hypotheses.