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Reading Tables

FoundationChallengeAQAEdexcelOCR

Reading Tables is a key statistics topic at GCSE Maths. This Foundation worksheet gives you exam-style questions on reading and interpreting tables, with a full mark scheme so you can check every method mark. Suitable for AQA, Edexcel and OCR. Download the free PDF and answers below. Check the headings and units before pulling out values.

Free downloads

These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

Foundation

WorksheetFoundation · PDFMark SchemeFoundation · PDF

Challenge / Extension

Stretch yourself beyond the basics.

WorksheetChallenge · PDFMark SchemeChallenge · PDF

Topic overview

Reading tables accurately is a skill in itself, and questions across the whole statistics topic depend on it.

Each row and column has a heading, and the value you want sits where they meet. Tracing across and down carefully, rather than by eye, prevents most errors.

Totals often appear in an extra row or column, and they are useful for checking. If the individual values do not add to the stated total, something has been misread — which is a quick way to catch a mistake before it propagates through the rest of the question.

Revision notes

Reading a value

Find the row heading and the column heading, then read the cell where they meet.

Use a ruler or finger to trace across, since tables in exam papers are often dense.

Using totals

Row and column totals let you check your reading and find missing values.

If a row totals \(50\) and three of its four entries are \(12\), \(15\) and \(9\), the fourth must be \(14\).

Interpreting the data

Read the headings carefully to understand what the numbers represent.

A table may show frequencies, percentages or amounts, and the units matter as much as the figures.

Key points

  • Each value sits where a row and column meet.
  • Read the headings before taking a value.
  • Totals can be used to check your reading.
  • A missing value can be found from a total.
  • Check what the numbers represent.
  • Trace with a ruler to avoid misreading.

Worked examples

Example 1

A row totals \(60\), with entries \(18\), \(22\) and one missing. Find the missing value.

Working

\[18 + 22 = 40\]add the known entries
\[60 - 40\]subtract from the total
\[= 20\]state the missing value

Example 2

A table shows \(35\) boys and \(42\) girls. Find the total.

Working

\[35 + 42\]add the two groups
\[= 77\]state the total

Example 3

Why are totals useful when reading a table?

Working

\[\text{They let you check your figures}\]the parts must add to the total
\[\text{And find a missing value}\]subtract the known entries from the total

Common mistakes

  • Reading the wrong cell.

    Trace the row and column carefully rather than reading by eye.

  • Ignoring the headings.

    The headings tell you what the numbers mean and in what units.

  • Not using totals as a check.

    If the parts do not add to the total, something has been misread.

  • Confusing rows with columns.

    Check which heading belongs to which direction.

Exam tips

  • Trace with a ruler across the row and down the column.
  • Read the headings before taking any value.
  • Use totals to check your figures.
  • Note the units the table is using.

Key terms

Frequency
How many times something occurs.
Total
The sum of a row or column.
Heading
The label describing a row or column.
Cell
One box in a table.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA, Edexcel and OCR specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.