12/3/2019 How to solve Data Interpretation Questions in Paper-I of UGC NET?

Useful Notes

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How to solve Data Interpretation Questions in Paper-I of

UGC NET? Useful Notes
356 upvotes 50 comments Updated : Sep 19, 2019, 17:00

By : Nikhil Verma

In this post, we will discuss important tips on how to solve Data Interpretation questions in
the Paper-I test of UGC NET exam. 

Let us begin with what does Data Interpretation exactly mean?

Interpretation is the process of making sense of numerical data that has been collected,
analysed, and presented. Interpreting data is an important critical thinking skill that helps
you comprehend textbooks, graphs and tables

Majority of the questions asked in UGC NET from Data Interpretation Section are based on
the following topics of the Arithmetic Section -

1. Ratios
2. Averages
3. Percentages

If the basics of these topics are clear, attempting DI in the exams becomes comparatively
easy.

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12/3/2019 How to solve Data Interpretation Questions in Paper-I of UGC NET? Useful Notes

Now, let us go through the types of DI graphs/charts that you may encounter in the exams -
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1. Pie Charts
2. Line Charts
3. Bar Graphs
4. Tabular Charts
5. Mixed Graphs

We shall now have a look at the types of questions that are asked under these Data
Interpretation Graphs -

Consider the following data presented in the bar graph:

Percentage of Students who like different sports in two different years is provided in the
following graph. Total number of Students is 1000 for both the years.

Year 2011 and Year 2012

Now the following types of questions may be asked from this data -

1. Sum or Difference based -

These are the most basic questions that may be asked in a DI set. For instance,

What was the sum of the total number of students who like Badminton and Cricket in
both the years?

Now for such questions, rst nd the number of students who like the two sports in the two
years -

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12/3/2019 How to solve Data Interpretation Questions in Paper-I of UGC NET? Useful Notes

2011 - Badminton = (12/100) * 1000 = 120

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Cricket = (45/100) * 1000 = 450
Total = 570
2012 - Badminton = (20/100) * 1000 = 200
Cricket = (37/100) * 1000 = 370
Total = 570
Sum = 570 + 570 = 1140

2. Averages based Questions -

Average based questions are very commonly asked in the Data Interpretation sets. For
instance,

What is the average number of students who like badminton, cricket and football in
2011?

Total students who like badminton, cricket and football in 2011 = (12 + 45 + 22) = 79% of
1000
Required average = 790/3

3. Ratio based question -

Another arithmetic operation based question that may be asked is Ratio based.
Now, these questions may be asked directly or in combination with the above. For instance,

What is the ratio of the students who like football and tennis in 2011 and those who like
volleyball and squash in 2012?

Students who like football and tennis in 2011= (22 + 4) = 26% of 1000
Students who like volleyball and squash in 2012 = (10 + 5) = 15% of 1000

Remember for such questions, you do not need to do the entire calculation, because such
numbers will eventually cancel out while calculating the ratios.
Required ratio = (26% of 1000) : (15% of 1000) = 26 : 15

4. Percentage based question -

These are yet other arithmetic problems that are usually asked in DI questions.
These problems again may be asked individually or in combination with the sum or
difference based problems. For instance,

The students who like badminton and squash in 2011 is what per cent of the students
who like football and swimming in 2011?

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12/3/2019 How to solve Data Interpretation Questions in Paper-I of UGC NET? Useful Notes

Students who like badminton and squash in 2011 = (12 + 2) = 14% of 1000
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Students who like football and swimming in 2011 = (22+7) = 29% of 1000
Here again, do not calculate the entire value.
Required % = (14% of 1000) / (29% of 1000) * 100 = 1400/29%

Same data may be presented in the form of other graphs as well, however, the approach
to attempt the questions would remain same. You may nd numbers in place of
percentages or vice - versa, so do read the question carefully before proceeding.

Line Graph:

Year 2011 and Year 2012

Tabular Chart -

Pie Chart -

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12/3/2019 How to solve Data Interpretation Questions in Paper-I of UGC NET? Useful Notes

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12/3/2019 How to solve Data Interpretation Questions in Paper-I of UGC NET? Useful Notes

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One more variety of question that may be asked in pie charts is the angle based. For
instance,

What is the central angle corresponding to football and volleyball together for 2012?
Angle = (20 + 10)% * 360 = (30/100) * 360 = 108

All the best for your exam,

Team gradeup!

356 upvotes 50 comments

Tags : NET Paper I

Sep 19 NET

Posted by:

Nikhil Verma
Educator, Philanthropist

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12/3/2019 How to solve Data Interpretation Questions in Paper-I of UGC NET? Useful Notes

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