Example 1 · level 1 — a gentle start
How many for Train?
- 20
- 10
- 1
- 5
Answer: 5 — Read the value off the axis for each bar before comparing.
11+ bar charts questions
Bar charts comes up in the maths paper of every major 11+ format. Here is what the questions look like, the method that works under time pressure, and five worked examples with the full reasoning, from a gentle start to a hard paper.
Maths · examined by GL and CEM · 5 worked examples
What your child needs to know
- Check the scale FIRST. One gridline is often 2, 5 or 10 — not 1.
- Find the bar, follow its top across to the axis, and read the number.
Where marks get lost: For a difference question, read both bars first and then subtract. Most errors are scale errors.
Worked examples
Every question below is generated by the same engine your child practises on, and every answer is derived by our checker rather than written by hand — which is why we can put them on a public page at all.
Example 2 · level 2 — typical of early practice
Which has the most?
- Tue
- Wed
- Sat
- Fri
Answer: Fri — Read the value off the axis for each bar before comparing.
Example 3 · level 3 — standard paper difficulty
How many for Fish?
- 21
- 16
- 5
- 12
Answer: 16 — Read the value off the axis for each bar before comparing.
Example 4 · level 4 — a harder paper
Which has the most?
- Cats
- Ponies
- Birds
- Rabbits
Answer: Ponies — Read the value off the axis for each bar before comparing.
Example 5 · level 5 — the level that separates candidates
What is the total?
- 6
- 61
- 7
- 13
Answer: 61 — Read the value off the axis for each bar before comparing.
How to practise this at home
- Work in short, frequent sessions. Ten minutes daily beats an hour at the weekend, because the recall gap is what builds memory.
- Insist on written working, even for questions your child can do in their head — under exam pressure the method is what survives.
- When an answer is wrong, ask them to explain their reasoning before you correct it. The error is almost always in one step, not the whole approach.
Practise bar charts with a tutor that explains
One4Learning serves questions at your child’s level, marks them instantly and — when one goes wrong — teaches the step they missed rather than showing the answer. Start with ten free questions, no account needed.
Take the free 10-question diagnostic →