Bar Chart - GCSE Maths - Steps, Examples & Worksheet

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GCSE Maths Statistics Representing Data Bar Chart
Bar Charts
Here we will learn about bar charts, including constructing and interpreting bar charts, comparative bar charts and compound bar charts.
There is also a bar chart worksheet based on Edexcel, AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further guidance on where to go next if
you’re still stuck.
What is a bar chart?
A bar chart is a representation of a data set by using vertical or horizontal bars. The larger height of the bar, the higher the value for the
individual category.
To draw a bar chart we need the following:
A pair of axes. Usually the horizontal axis (x-axis) is labelled with the categories of the data set and the vertical axis (y -axis) is the
frequency. Your axes must be labelled.
The frequencies need to be labelled on the vertical axis in equal intervals.
The bars need to have equal gaps between them as it is representing discrete data.
The bars need to be of equal width.
The chart needs a title.
When bar charts are represented vertically they are sometimes called column charts.
Bar charts can also be represented horizontally where the vertical axis represents each class and the horizontal axis represents the
frequency.
E.g.
The bar chart below represents the frequencies of people’s favourite colour.
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Bar charts can display numerical or categorical data.
The numerical data is discrete because the frequency will be something which is counted. This bar chart is showing categorical data
(also known as qualitative data) each colour is a category. The horizontal axis has the category labels (Red, Yellow etc) and the vertical
axis is labelled as a frequency.
Here, the taller the bar, the higher the frequency.
A grouped bar chart or histogram would be used for continuous data.
What is a bar chart?
Types of bar chart/ bar graph
There are several different bar chart types.

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The main benefit of using a bar chart to represent data is that we can quickly calculate statistics such as the mean, mode and range for
a set of data. This allows us to spot certain trends and to compare the data against other data sets.
How to construct a bar chart
In order to construct a bar chart:
1 Draw the axes with a ruler and label them.
2 Use a ruler to draw each bar with the correct height.
3 Give the chart a title.

Explain how to construct a bar chart
Bar chart worksheet
Get your free bar chart worksheet of 20+ questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.
DOWNLOAD FREE
Related lessons on representing data

Bar chart is part of our series of lessons to support revision on representing data. You may find it helpful to start with the
main representing data lesson for a summary of what to expect, or use the step by step guides below for further detail on individual
topics. Other lessons in this series include:
Representing data 
Line graph 
Pie chart 
Frequency polygon 
Scatter graphs 
Two way tables 
Frequency diagram 
Frequency graph 
x and y axis 
Time series graph 
Tally chart 
Stem and leaf diagram 
Pictograph 
Bar chart examples
Example
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Draw a bar chart to represent the frequency of coloured cars that triggered a speed camera on a busy road during one month.
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There are 12 black cars in the first category, so we draw a bar with the height of 12 units on the vertical axis. Repeating this for each
category, we get the bar chart:

Example 2: construct a bar chart using numerical data
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The table below shows the number of goals scored in 25 matches. Represent this information in a bar chart.
Show step
Show step
Show step

Example 3: constructing a comparative bar chart
The table below shows the student destinations from a sixth form college to the original six UK red brick universities over the past 5
 years.
Draw a comparative bar chart to represent the data.
Show step
Show step
Show step
Example 4: construct a compound bar chart (percentages)
The table below shows the percentage of students from three classes and their favourite music genre.
Show step
Show step
Show step
Example 5: construct a compound bar chart (frequency)
An Academic Mentor is researching the favourite STEM subject of 68 students across Year 12 and Year 13. The results are shown in a
table below.
Represent the frequencies of the favourite STEM subjects for students in each year group, using a compound bar chart.
Show step
Show step
Show step
Analysing bar charts
There are two approaches when analysing data represented in a bar chart, depending on what information you are collecting from the
chart.
Option 1: how to determine a frequency
If we want to state how many items of data are in a category / categories, calculate averages (mean, mode, range), or compare the size of
two bars, we need to determine the value(s) from the vertical axis. This will give us the frequency / frequencies required to then use in
the solution.
In order to determine a frequency from a bar chart:
1 Locate the necessary bar(s).
2 Read the frequency from the vertical axis.
3 Complete the calculation.
Option 2: how to determine the category
If we need to determine a category from a frequency from a standard bar chart, we need to locate the required bar(s) and read the
category label from the horizontal axis. If you have a composite / compound bar chart, you will also have to use the legend.
In order to determine a category from a bar chart:
1 (Comparative or compound bar chart only) Use the legend to determine the specific category within the bar(s).
2 Use the vertical axis to determine the size of the bar(s) required.
3 Read the category label on the horizontal axis.

Analysing bar chart examples
Example 6: determine a frequency from a standard bar chart
Below is a bar chart that represents the number of minutes of exercise per day for an adult, over one week.
How many more minutes of exercise did she do on Saturday compared to Tuesday?
1 Locate the necessary bar(s).
Show step
2 Read the frequency from the vertical axis.
Show step
3 Complete the calculation.
Show step
Example 7: determine a category from a comparative bar chart
A somnologist is recording the sleep data for a patient between 10pm and 6am over four nights. He records the length of time the
patient is in a different stage of sleep as a percentage. He records the results in a compound bar chart.

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Which night did the patient have the least amount of Light sleep?
1 (Comparative or compound bar chart only) Use the legend to determine the specific
category within the bar(s).
Show step
2 Use the vertical axis to determine the size of the bar(s) required.
Show step
3 Read the category label on the horizontal axis.
Show step
Common misconceptions
Gaps between bars
There should be gaps between the bars so that data is easy to read.
Inconsistent labelling on each axis
Each axis must be labelled in equal steps. This will help keep the bars at an equal width, and the height of each bar remains consistent.
Reading the highest value of a section from a compound bar chart for a frequency
To determine the frequency of a section within a compound bar chart, we need to record the values where the section starts and finishes.
The difference between these two values is the frequency.
If we break a compound bar chart into pieces, the bar is made from small blocks stacked on top of each other, not towers of blocks in
front of each other.
Not labelling axis
The horizontal and vertical axes need to have data labels.
Bars of equal width
The bars need to be of equal width


Using a bar graph for continuous data
Bar charts should only be used for discrete or categorical data. A histogram should be used for continuous data.
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Practice bar chart questions
1. The table below provides information about the favourite snack of 25 students. Represent this information in the form of a bar chart.
2. A florist sells 5 different types of bouquet. The number of sales for each bouquet in one day of trading is recorded in the table below.
Represent this information using acookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept
bar chart.
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3. 34 students in Class 7C were asked about what they eat for breakfast. Below is a table of their results. Represent this data using a
comparative bar chart.

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4. The table below shows the percentage popularity of different film genres for three age groups. Represent this data in a compound bar
chart.

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5. The table below describes the make of second hand cars and the city they were distributed to for resale. Using the set of axes below,
complete a compound bar chart to represent the data.

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6. A sample of 318 students from Year 10 and Year 11 were asked about their favourite team sports. The results were represented in a
comparative bar chart.
Use the bar chart to calculate the probability of choosing a student in Year 11 who chose Basketball as their favourite team sport.
32
318

32
57

52
318
25
32

Bar chart GCSE questions
1. John asked 110 gym members about their main type of exercise carried out in the gym. The Show answer
bar chart shows the results of his research.

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Complete the bar chart.
(1 mark)
2. The bar chart below shows the type of transport that a sample of people use to get to work. Show answer
Give two reasons why this bar chart is misleading.
(2 marks)
3. This chart shows the number of boys and girls on the School Council in each group. Show answer
(a) Which year group has the most boys on the school council?
(b) Which
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our website.

(c) How many more girls are there in Year 8 than in Year 7 on the council?
(d) There are 280 students in Year 8. What proportion of Year 8 students are on the School
 Council? Write your answer as a fraction in the simplest form.
(6 marks)
Learning checklist
You have now learned how to:
Interpret and present data using bar charts
Solve one-step and two-step questions [for example ‘How many more?’ and ‘How many fewer?’] using information presented in
scaled bar charts
The next lessons are

Mean, median, mode 
Frequency table 
Cumulative frequency 
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In order to access this I need to be confident with:
Tally charts
Mean, median, mode

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What is a bar chart?

To draw a bar chart we need the following:

The frequencies need to be labelled on the vertical axis in equal intervals.

The bars need to be of equal width.

The chart needs a title.

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

Bar charts can display numerical or categorical data.

Here, the taller the bar, the higher the frequency.

A grouped bar chart or histogram would be used for continuous data.

What is a bar chart?

Types of bar chart/ bar graph

There are several different bar chart types.

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

How to construct a bar chart

In order to construct a bar chart:

1 Draw the axes with a ruler and label them.

2 Use a ruler to draw each bar with the correct height.

3 Give the chart a title.

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

Bar chart worksheet

Related lessons on representing data

Two way tables 

Time series graph 

Stem and leaf diagram 

Bar chart examples

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

1 Draw the axes with a ruler and label them.

2 Use a ruler to draw each bar with the correct height.

3 Give the chart a title.

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

1 Draw the axes with a ruler and label them.

2 Use a ruler to draw each bar with the correct height.

3 Give the chart a title.

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

Draw a comparative bar chart to represent the data.

1 Draw the axes with a ruler and label them.

2 Use a ruler to draw each bar with the correct height.

3 Give the chart a title.

Example 4: construct a compound bar chart (percentages)

1 Draw the axes with a ruler and label them.

2 Use a ruler to draw each bar with the correct height.

3 Give the chart a title.

1 Draw the axes with a ruler and label them.

2 Use a ruler to draw each bar with the correct height.

3 Give the chart a title.

Analysing bar charts

Option 1: how to determine a frequency

In order to determine a frequency from a bar chart:

1 Locate the necessary bar(s).

2 Read the frequency from the vertical axis.

3 Complete the calculation.

Option 2: how to determine the category

In order to determine a category from a bar chart:

3 Read the category label on the horizontal axis.

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

Example 6: determine a frequency from a standard bar chart

1 Locate the necessary bar(s).

2 Read the frequency from the vertical axis.

3 Complete the calculation.

Example 7: determine a category from a comparative bar chart

cookies and how to manage or change your cookie settings. Accept

3 Read the category label on the horizontal axis.

Gaps between bars

Bar Chart - GCSE Maths - Steps, Examples & Worksheet

Bar Chart - GCSE Maths - Steps, Examples & Worksheet