Composite and Multiple Bar Charts
Practise Composite and Multiple Bar Charts for GCSE Statistics with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Foundation and Higher exam-style questions with worked answers for AQA and Edexcel. Composite (stacked) and multiple bar charts compare several groups or components on one chart.
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These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA and Edexcel specifications. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.
Topic overview
Composite and multiple bar charts both show more than one set of data, but they are read differently.
A multiple bar chart, also called a dual bar chart, places the bars for each group side by side. This makes it easy to compare individual categories directly, because the bars sit next to each other.
A composite bar chart, also called a stacked bar chart, stacks the sections on top of each other in a single bar. This makes the total for each category easy to read, but comparing the individual sections is harder because they do not start from the same baseline. Choosing between them depends on whether totals or individual comparisons matter more.
Revision notes
Multiple bar charts
Bars for each group are drawn side by side for each category.
Advantage: individual categories are easy to compare directly, because the bars start from the same baseline. Disadvantage: the total for each category is not shown.
Composite bar charts
Sections are stacked on top of each other within a single bar for each category.
Advantage: the total for each category is immediately visible as the full bar height. Disadvantage: comparing individual sections is harder, because only the bottom section starts at zero.
Choosing between them
Use a multiple bar chart when comparing individual values matters most.
Use a composite bar chart when the totals matter most. Both require a key to identify which section or bar represents which group.
Key points
- A multiple bar chart places bars side by side.
- A composite bar chart stacks sections in one bar.
- Multiple bar charts make individual comparison easy.
- Composite bar charts show totals clearly.
- Stacked sections are harder to compare.
- Both require a key.
Worked examples
Example 1
A composite bar chart has sections of 12, 18 and 7. Work out the total for that bar. [1 mark]
Working
Example 2
Explain one advantage of a composite bar chart over a multiple bar chart. [2 marks]
Working
Example 3
Explain why individual sections are harder to compare on a composite bar chart. [2 marks]
Working
Common mistakes
Confusing composite with multiple.
Composite stacks; multiple places side by side.
Reading a stacked section from the axis.
Its length is the difference between its top and bottom values.
Forgetting the key.
Both chart types need one to identify the groups.
Saying composite charts are always better.
It depends on whether totals or individual comparisons matter more.
Exam tips
- Identify which chart type is shown before reading values.
- Subtract to find the length of a stacked section.
- Link the choice of chart to what the question emphasises.
- Include a key when drawing either type.
Key terms
- Multiple bar chart
- A chart with bars for each group side by side.
- Composite bar chart
- A chart with sections stacked in one bar.
- Stacked
- Placed on top of one another.
- Key
- A guide identifying what each colour or shading represents.
Related topics
Written and reviewed against the current AQA and Edexcel specifications. Spotted an error? Let us know.