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Reading charts and tables

Strategy card

Data questions reward careful reading over speed.

  1. Step 1: Read the title, axis labels and units.
  2. Step 2: Find the exact values the question needs.
  3. Step 3: Compute (difference, total, average) step by step.
  4. Step 4: Check if the answer is reasonable.

Tip: Watch the units and the scale: is it tens or hundreds?

Worked example

How many votes in all?

Votes for the class pet. Fish: 50, Hamster: 65, Turtle: 10, Rabbit: 70.0357050Fish65Hamster10Turtle70Rabbit
Votes for the class pet (votes)
  • A: 183
  • B: 180
  • C: 184
  • D: 187
  • E: 195 (the answer)

Why: Add them: 50 + 65 + 10 + 70 = 195.

Your turn

Your turn 1 of 3

What is the percent change from 2021 to 2022?

Visitors to a science museum (hundreds). 2021: 100, 2022: 120, 2023: 50, 2024: 90, 2025: 70.06012010020211202022502023902024702025
Visitors to a science museum (hundreds) (hundred visitors)

Your turn 2 of 3

What is the median (middle value when put in order)?

Trees planted by each group. Group A: 75, Group B: 70, Group C: 55.0408075Group A70Group B55Group C
Trees planted by each group (trees)

Your turn 3 of 3

What is the mean (average)?

Books read by each reading club. Owls: 35, Foxes: 70, Bears: 85, Otters: 18.0459035Owls70Foxes85Bears18Otters
Books read by each reading club (books)

Keep practicing

Grown-ups: Discuss a chart from the news: what does it show, and what does it not? Parent guide

Next lesson: Unknowns and balances