Graph questions lose marks to axis-misreads, not maths. In an 11+ paper a child rarely gets a data question wrong because the arithmetic is hard — they get it wrong because they read the wrong bar, missed the scale jumping in twos, or answered the question before the last one in a chain. This page teaches the whole data-handling topic step by step, shows you exactly how it appears in a real GL paper, and points you to the free graded worksheets and timed mini-mocks that build the habit that actually earns the marks: read both axis labels and the scale before you touch the question.
What 11+ data and graphs questions cover
At 11+ level, "data and graphs" is a family of related skills rather than one topic. A child needs to read and interpret every common chart type, pull single values out and compare them, and then do a small calculation on top — a difference, a total, or an average. The most-tested forms are:
- Bar charts and bar-line charts — reading heights, comparing categories, finding totals and differences.
- Pictograms — where one symbol stands for several items and half-symbols count for part.
- Line graphs — reading between marked points, spotting the steepest rise, and conversion-graph readings.
- Tables and timetables — cross-referencing a row and a column, working out elapsed time.
- Pie charts — reading fractions of a total, and (at Greater Depth) turning a fraction into a number.
- Venn and Carroll diagrams — sorting by two properties and counting overlaps.
Averages travel with this topic constantly, so it is worth pairing your reading with our mean, median and mode worksheets — a huge share of data questions end with "find the mean". Our free worksheet library grades every one of these across four tiers — Foundation, Developing, Secure and Greater Depth — so a child can enter at their level and climb.
A worked example: reading a bar chart carefully
Suppose a bar chart shows books read by a class in four terms, and the vertical axis is labelled in 2s (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10). The bars reach: Autumn 8, Spring 6, Summer 10, and the question asks, "How many more books were read in Summer than in Spring?"
- Read the scale first. Each gridline is 2, not 1 — this is the single most common trap.
- Read the two bars named in the question. Summer = 10, Spring = 6.
- Do exactly what is asked. "How many more" means subtract: 10 − 6 = 4.
- Check the last sentence. It said Summer vs Spring — not the total, not Autumn. Answer the question actually asked.
On a pictogram the same logic applies, but you multiply. If one book-symbol = 4 books and Summer shows 2½ symbols, that is 2.5 × 4 = 10 books. A half-symbol is half the key value — write the key value down before you start counting.
Named methods worth drilling
- Label-Scale-Read (LSR): before every data question, say the axis labels aloud, then the size of one step, then read the value. Three seconds that saves the mark.
- Key-first for pictograms: write "1 symbol = ___" at the top of your working every time.
- Fraction-of-total for pie charts: a quarter of 200 people is 200 ÷ 4 = 50. Convert the slice to a fraction, then find the fraction of the total.
Fraction, decimal and percentage of a total
Pie charts and "what fraction of the data" questions lean on the equivalences below. Learning this small table by heart turns many two-step questions into one step.
| Fraction | Decimal | Percentage | Of 200 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 | 0.5 | 50% | 100 |
| 1/4 | 0.25 | 25% | 50 |
| 1/5 | 0.2 | 20% | 40 |
| 1/10 | 0.1 | 10% | 20 |
How it appears in a real GL 11+ paper
In a GL maths paper — typically around 50 questions in 50 minutes, roughly a minute a question — data questions come in short clusters. One chart is printed, then two or three questions hang off it, each with multiple-choice answers A–E marked on a separate OMR answer sheet, and no calculator is allowed. GL rewards accurate reading under time pressure, so the diagram is usually clear but the scale is deliberately awkward (going up in 2s, 5s, 20s). Because the raw score is turned into a Standard Age Score (roughly 69–141, where 100 is average and many grammar schools look for about 111+), and the score is adjusted for the child's age, steady accuracy on "easy" data questions matters as much as cracking the hard ones. Practise the format with our GL-style papers and full timed mock papers, and check regional differences on the 11+ process guide — CSSE and independent papers lean more on probability and free-response data than GL does.
Common mistakes and exam traps
- Ignoring the scale. Reading a bar at "8" as 8 when each gridline is 2 and the true value is 16.
- Answering the wrong bar. Reading Autumn when the question names Spring — underline the category first.
- Missing the last twist. A chain question that ends "…and how many fewer than Class B?" — the final clause changes the answer.
- Half-symbols on pictograms. Counting a half-symbol as one whole item.
- Total vs difference. "Altogether" means add; "how many more" means subtract. Circle the key word.
Difficulty progression: Year 5 vs Year 6
Year 5 (Developing): a bar chart with a scale in 1s or 2s, asking a single reading or a one-step difference — "How many pets did the class own in total?"
Year 6 (exam level): a line graph or pie chart with an awkward scale where the child reads two values, finds a fraction of the total, and then compares — "3/8 of the 240 visitors came on Saturday; how many more came on Sunday?" Same core skill, but two or three steps chained under the clock. Build from one to the other using the graded tiers.
How to use the worksheets
- Diagnose: one Secure-tier sheet, unaided. Score under 70%? Drop a tier. Over 90%? Climb one.
- Little and often: 15–20 minutes daily beats a weekend marathon — retention lives in the gaps between sessions.
- Review errors out loud: the child explains what went wrong; you resist explaining first. Self-diagnosis sticks.
- Fold into mocks: once a topic hits Greater Depth, let full timed mock papers keep it warm rather than more isolated drilling.
Download free data and graphs worksheets
Every data and graphs worksheet — with Answer Keys and OMR sheets — is free in our worksheet library under the Maths tab. No card, no email wall. For exam-style application, the mock library and free papers hub carry the same topic inside full papers, and the revision hub ties data handling to the rest of the maths syllabus.
Frequently asked questions
Is a calculator allowed on the 11+ data questions?
No. GL 11+ maths is done without a calculator, so children need quick mental methods — finding a fraction of an amount, simple subtraction and multiplying by a pictogram key all in their head.
How long should a data question take?
Aim for about a minute, matching the GL pace of roughly 50 questions in 50 minutes. A cluster of three questions on one chart should take three to four minutes, because the first read sets up the rest.
Which chart types are most important to practise?
Bar charts, pictograms and tables appear most often in GL papers, with line graphs close behind. Pie charts and probability show up more in CSSE and independent-school papers, so weight your practice to your target exam.