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S3StatisticsFoundation

Charts & Graphs

Charts turn data into a picture so patterns jump out. You need to read and draw bar charts, pictograms and pie charts — and know which chart suits which kind of data.

35 min AQA GCSE Maths

What you'll learn

  • Read and draw bar charts
  • Use pictograms with a key
  • Draw and interpret pie charts
  • Choose a suitable chart
1

Bar charts and pictograms

A uses bars whose height shows the frequency — leave gaps between bars for separate categories. A uses symbols, so always check the key to see how many each symbol represents.

2

Pie charts

A pie chart shows proportions as slices of a circle. Since a full circle is , each item’s angle is its frequency divided by the total, times .

Pie chart slice angle.
1.
2.
Answer

Tip — Check your pie chart angles add up to 360°.

Remember these

Angle for each slice.
Pie chart check.

Watch out for these

Ignoring the key on a pictogram.
One symbol can represent more than one item — read the key.
Pie chart angles that do not add to 360°.
Total all angles to check they make 360°.

Key takeaways

  • Bar charts: bar height = frequency, gaps between categories.
  • Pictograms: always read the key.
  • Pie angle = (frequency ÷ total) × 360°.

Test yourself

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