N-Q

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM N-Q
QUARTERLY SCHEDULE OF PORTFOLIO HOLDINGS OF REGISTERED
MANAGEMENT INVESTMENT COMPANIES
Investment Company Act file number 811- 4079
John Hancock Equity Trust
(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
601 Congress Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)
Michael J. Leary
Treasurer
601 Congress Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
(Name and address of agent for service)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 617-663-4490
Date of fiscal year end:	October 31
Date of reporting period:	July 31, 2009

ITEM 1. SCHEDULE OF INVESTMENTS

John Hancock Small Cap Fund
Securities owned by the Fund on
July 31, 2009 (Unaudited)

	Shares	Value
Common stocks 93.14%		$45,611,386
(Cost $38,030,438)
Airlines 2.54%		1,242,998
Allegiant Travel Co. (I) (L)	28,700	1,242,998
Apparel Retail 1.72%		843,880
Citi Trends, Inc. (I)	28,900	843,880
Apparel, Accessories & Luxury Goods 5.35%		2,618,191
Fossil, Inc. (I)	41,000	1,079,940
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (I)	87,100	1,053,039
True Religion Apparel, Inc. (I)	21,700	485,212
Application Software 2.03%		994,356
Synchronoss Technologies, Inc. (I)	83,700	994,356
Asset Management & Custody Banks 2.40%		1,174,656
Riskmetrics Group, Inc. (I)	64,400	1,174,656
Automotive Retail 1.44%		704,635
Monro Muffler Brake, Inc.	26,500	704,635
Casinos & Gaming 2.77%		1,357,875
Bally Technologies, Inc. (I)	37,500	1,357,875
Communications Equipment 4.35%		2,131,503
Adtran, Inc.	43,300	1,046,128
Polycom, Inc. (I)	45,700	1,085,375
Computer Hardware 1.41%		691,439
3PAR, Inc. (I)	72,100	691,439
Construction & Engineering 1.82%		892,164
Orion Marine Group, Inc. (I)	39,900	892,164
Data Processing & Outsourced Services 3.19%		1,560,600
Cybersource Corp. (I)	90,000	1,560,600
Distributors 2.20%		1,078,194
LKQ Corp. (I)	60,100	1,078,194
Electrical Components & Equipment 1.55%		760,068
Woodward Governor Co.	38,700	760,068
Electronic Manufacturing Services 1.85%		905,612
IPG Photonics Corp.	84,400	905,612
Food Distributors 2.58%		1,262,301
United Natural Foods, Inc. (I)	46,700	1,262,301
Footwear 2.34%		1,144,056
Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (I)	65,300	1,144,056
Health Care Equipment 3.58%		1,751,596
Symmetry Medical, Inc. (I)	124,748	1,067,843
Zoll Medical Corp. (I)	37,100	683,753
Health Care Services 9.46%		4,632,798
Air Methods Corp. (I)	62,300	1,832,243

Page 1 

John Hancock Small Cap Fund
Securities owned by the Fund on
July 31, 2009 (Unaudited)

	Shares	Value
Health Care Services (continued)
HMS Holdings Corp. (I)	35,000	1,344,000
IPC The Hospitalist Co., Inc. (I)	52,300	1,456,555
Health Care Supplies 2.41%		1,177,750
Inverness Medical Innovations, Inc. (I)	35,000	1,177,750
Health Care Technology 2.64%		1,293,973
Allscripts-Misys Healthcare Solutions, Inc.	75,100	1,293,973
Industrial Machinery 2.80%		1,371,763
Chart Industries, Inc. (I)	45,300	872,478
Dynamic Materials Corp.	30,500	499,285
Investment Banking & Brokerage 2.90%		1,420,121
KBW, Inc. (I)	22,300	650,937
SWS Group, Inc. (L)	55,900	769,184
Oil & Gas Exploration & Production 2.56%		1,252,885
Encore Aquisition Co. (I)	16,100	573,160
Goodrich Petroleum Corp. (I)	26,500	679,725
Pharmaceuticals 1.60%		784,555
King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (I)	86,500	784,555
Property & Casualty Insurance 4.92%		2,408,452
Amtrust Financial Services, Inc.	108,000	1,319,760
Tower Group, Inc.	43,600	1,088,692
Railroads 1.78%		873,280
Genesee & Wyoming, Inc. (Class A) (I)	32,000	873,280
Regional Banks 6.85%		3,356,529
Independent Bank Corp.	48,900	1,043,037
Pinnacle Financial Partners, Inc. (I) (L)	72,900	1,137,240
Signature Bank (I)	39,900	1,176,252
Semiconductors 3.76%		1,841,514
Cavium Networks, Inc. (I)	30,400	573,648
Techwell, Inc. (I)	132,900	1,267,866
Specialty Chemicals 2.54%		1,246,097
Nalco Holding Co.	28,900	511,241
Zep, Inc.	45,700	734,856
Specialty Stores 3.62%		1,772,191
Tractor Supply Co. (I)	22,300	1,069,731
Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (I)	62,000	702,460
Systems Software 2.18%		1,065,354
Radiant Systems, Inc. (I)	105,900	1,065,354
Investment Companies 4.98%		$2,437,755
(Cost $2,115,740)
Investment Companies 4.98%		2,437,755
iShares Russell 2000 Index Fund (L)	40,132	2,232,543
iShares S&P SmallCap 600 Index Fund (L)	4,200	205,212

Page 2 

John Hancock Small Cap Fund
Securities owned by the Fund on
July 31, 2009 (Unaudited)

	Rate	Shares	Value
Short-term investments 6.23%			$3,051,929
(Cost $3,049,738)
Cash Equivalents 6.23%			3,051,929
John Hancock Collateral Investment Trust(T)(W)	0.4185% (Y)	304,861	3,051,929
Total investments (Cost $43,195,916)† 104.35%			$51,101,070
Other assets and liabilities, net (4.35%)			($2,131,860)
Total net assets 100.00%			$48,969,210

The percentage shown for each investment category is the total value of the category as a percentage of the net assets of the Fund.

(I) Non-income producing security.

(L) All or a portion of this security is on loan as of July 31, 2009.

(T) Represents investment of securities lending collateral.

(W) Issuer is an affiliate of John Hancock Advisers, LLC (the Adviser).

(Y) The rate shown is the annualized seven-day yield as of July 31, 2009.

† At July 31, 2009, the aggregate cost of investment securities for federal income tax purposes was $44,174,533. Net unrealized appreciation aggregated $6,926,537 of which $10,023,403 related to appreciated investment securities and $3,096,866 related to depreciated investment securities.

Page 3 

Notes to the Schedule of Investments (Unaudited)

Security valuation
Investments are stated at value as of the close of the regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), normally at 4:00 p.m., Eastern Time. Equity securities held by the Fund are valued at the last sale price or official closing price (closing bid price or last evaluated price if no sale has occurred) as of the close of business on the principal securities exchange (domestic or foreign) on which they trade. Debt obligations are valued based on the evaluated prices provided by an independent pricing service, which utilizes both dealer-supplied and electronic data processing techniques, which take into account factors such as institutional-size trading in similar groups of securities, yield, quality, coupon rate, maturity, type of issue, trading characteristics and other market data as well as broker quotes. Foreign securities and currencies are valued in U.S. dollars, based on foreign currency exchange rates supplied by an independent pricing service. Securities traded only in the over-the-counter market are valued at the last bid price quoted by brokers making markets in the securities at the close of trading. Equity and debt obligations, for which there are no prices available from an independent pricing service, are valued based on broker quotes or fair valued as described below. Certain short-term debt instruments are valued at amortized cost. John Hancock Collateral Investment Trust (JHCIT), an affiliated registered investment company managed by Manulife Global Investment Management (U.S.), LLC, a subsidiary of Manulife Financial Corporation (MFC), is valued at its net asset value each business day. JHCIT is a floating rate fund investing in money market investments.

Other portfolio securities and assets for which no such quotations are readily available are valued at fair value as determined in good faith by the Fund’s Pricing Committee in accordance with procedures adopted by the Board of Trustees. Generally, trading in non-U.S. securities is substantially completed each day at various times prior to the close of trading on the NYSE. The values of such securities used in computing the net asset value of the Fund’s shares are generally determined as of such times. Occasionally, significant events that affect the values of such securities may occur between the times at which such values are generally determined and the close of the NYSE. Upon such an occurrence, these securities will be valued at fair value as determined in good faith under consistently applied procedures established by and under the general supervision of the Board of Trustees.

Valuations change in response to many factors including the historical and prospective earnings of the issuer, the value of the issuer’s assets, general economic conditions and market conditions, interest rates, investor perceptions and market liquidity.

Fair Value Measurements

The Fund uses a three-tier hierarchy to prioritize the assumptions, referred to as inputs, used in valuation techniques to measure fair value. The three-tier hierarchy of inputs and the valuation techniques used are summarized below:

• Level 1 — Exchange traded prices in active markets for identical securities. This technique is used for exchange-traded domestic common and preferred equities, certain foreign equities, warrants, rights, options and futures. In addition, investment companies, including mutual funds, are valued using this technique.

• Level 2 — Prices determined using significant observable inputs. Observable inputs may include quoted prices for similar securities, interest rates, prepayment speeds and credit risk. Prices for securities valued using these techniques are received from independent pricing vendors and are based on an evaluation of the inputs described. These techniques are used for certain domestic preferred equities, certain foreign equities, unlisted rights and warrants, and fixed income securities. Also, over-the-counter derivative contracts, including swaps, foreign forward currency contracts, and certain options use these techniques.

4 

• Level 3 — Prices determined using significant unobservable inputs. In situations where quoted prices or observable inputs are unavailable, such as when there is little or no market activity for an investment, unobservable inputs may be used. Unobservable inputs reflect the Fund’s Pricing Committee’s own assumptions about the factors that market participants would use in pricing an investment and would be based on the best information available. Securities using this technique are generally thinly traded or privately placed, and may be valued using broker quotes, which may not only use observable or unobservable inputs but may also include the use of the brokers’ own judgments about the assumptions that market participants would use.

The inputs or methodology used for valuing securities are not necessarily an indication of the risk associated with investing in those securities.

The following is a summary of the inputs used to value the Funds’ investments as of July 31, 2009, by major security category or security type.

Investments in Securities		Level 1	Level 2	Level 3		Total
Consumer Discretionary	$	9,519,022	-	-	$	9,519,022
Consumer Staples		1,262,301	-	-		1,262,301
Energy		1,252,885	-	-		1,252,885
Financials		10,797,513	-	-		10,797,513
Health Care		9,640,672	-	-		9,640,672
Industrials		5,140,273	-	-		5,140,273
Information Technology		9,190,378	-	-		9,190,378
Materials		1,246,097	-	-		1,246,097
Short-term Investments		3,051,929	-	-		3,051,929
Total Investments in Securities	$	51,101,070	-	-	$	51,101,070

Securities lending
The Fund may lend portfolio securities from time to time in order to earn additional income. The Fund retains beneficial ownership of the securities it has loaned and continues to receive interest and dividends associated with securities and to participate in any changes in their value. On the settlement date of the loan, the Fund receives cash collateral against the loaned securities and maintains the cash collateral in an amount no less than the market value of the loaned securities.

The market value of the loaned securities is determined at the close of business of the Fund. Any additional required cash collateral is delivered to the Fund or excess collateral is returned to the borrower on the next business day. Cash collateral received is invested in JHCIT. JHCIT is not a stable value fund and thus the Fund receives the benefit of any gains and bears any losses generated by JHCIT.

The Fund may receive compensation for lending their securities either in the form of fees, and/or by retaining a portion of interest on the investment of any cash received as collateral. If the borrower defaults on its obligation to return the securities loaned because of insolvency or other reasons, the Fund could experience delays and costs in recovering the securities loaned or in gaining access to the collateral. The Fund bears the risk in the event that invested collateral is not sufficient to meet obligations due on loans.

Risk and Uncertainties

Industry Risk
The Fund may concentrate investments in a particular industry, sector of the economy or invest in a limited number of companies. The concentration is closely tied to a single sector or industry of

5 

the economy which may cause the Fund to underperform other sectors. Specifically, financial services companies can be hurt by economic declines, changes in interest rates, regulatory and market impacts. Accordingly, the concentration may make the Fund’s value more volatile and investment values may rise and fall rapidly.

6 

ITEM 2. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

(a) Based upon their evaluation of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures as conducted within 90 days of the filing date of this Form N-Q, the registrant's principal executive officer and principal accounting officer have concluded that those disclosure controls and procedures provide reasonable assurance that the material information required to be disclosed by the registrant on this report is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms.

(b) There were no changes in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 3. EXHIBITS.

Separate certifications for the registrant's principal executive officer and principal accounting officer, as required by Rule 30a-2(a) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, are attached.

SIGNATURES 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

John Hancock Equity Trust

By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 15, 2009

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer

Date: September 15, 2009

By: /s/ Charles A. Rizzo
-------------------------------------
Charles A. Rizzo
Chief Financial Officer

Date: September 15, 2009

EX-99.CERT

CERTIFICATION

I, Keith F. Hartstein, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of John Hancock Equity Trust (the “registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: September 15, 2009

By: /s/ Keith F. Hartstein
-------------------------------------
Keith F. Hartstein
President and Chief Executive Officer

CERTIFICATION

I, Charles A. Rizzo, certify that:

1. I have reviewed this report on Form N-Q of John Hancock Equity Trust (the “registrant”);

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3. Based on my knowledge, the schedules of investments included in this report fairly present in all material respects the investments of the registrant as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which the report is filed;

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 30a-3(c) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 30a-3(d) under the Investment Company Act of 1940) for the registrant and have:

(a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

(c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this report, based on such evaluation; and

(d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial information; and

(b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: September 15, 2009

By: /s/ Charles A. Rizzo
-------------------------------------
Charles A. Rizzo
Chief Financial Officer