Frequency tables and charts — Data, 11–13 years
Counting repeated answers turns a messy list into a pattern that can be read and compared.
From list to pattern
A frequency table records each possible answer and how many times it appears. A chart shows the same counts visually, so differences can be spotted quickly. For categories, bars should be separate because “cat”, “dog” and “fish” are different groups, not points along a scale.
Why count frequencies?
A raw list is useful for checking individual answers but awkward for seeing the whole set. Frequency counts solve that problem by grouping equal answers without losing how often they occurred. Tables came before modern charts; charts make the table easier to scan and compare.
Making a bar chart
Nine pupils record their transport: bus, walk, bus, car, walk, bus, bike, car, bus. First count: bus 4, walk 2, car 2, bike 1. Put the categories on the horizontal axis and counts from 0 to 4 on the vertical axis. Draw separate bars of heights 4, 2, 2 and 1.
Reading the shape, not the scale
People often compare the apparent lengths of bars without checking the axis labels. That is reasonable: our eyes notice shape before small numbers. But an axis that starts at 90 can make values 91 and 95 look dramatically different. Read the scale and units before describing the pattern.
Charts in daily decisions
Weather apps use charts for temperature and rainfall across a day. Sports reports chart scores, times or possession so a match can be compared quickly. Shops and public services use charts to see demand, but a chart is only as trustworthy as its labels, scale and data source.
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