Reading pictographs and bar graphs: Class 6 practice
A bar graph shows quantities as bar heights against a scale. Read the method, follow the three worked examples, then try the six questions.
What you should know first
- Reading scales
The idea behind reading pictographs and bar graphs
A bar graph shows quantities as bar heights against a scale. Read each bar carefully using the scale, then add, compare or find differences.
Step-by-step method
- Note the scale (1 unit = ?).
- Read each value.
- Answer the question: total, difference or most/least.
Worked example 1 (Basic)
A bar graph uses 1 unit = 20 books. Bars: Mon 3 units, Tue 3 units, Wed 3 units, Thu 5 units, Fri 2 units. How many books in total?
- Values: 60, 60, 60, 100, 40
- Total = 320
- Answer: 320 books
Worked example 2 (Standard)
A bar graph uses 1 unit = 10 books. Bars: Mon 9 units, Tue 8 units, Wed 4 units, Thu 3 units, Fri 9 units. What is the difference between the highest and lowest days?
- Highest 90, lowest 30
- Difference 60
- Answer: 60 books
Worked example 3 (Challenge)
A bar graph uses 1 unit = 20 books. Bars: Mon 5 units, Tue 1 units, Wed 6 units, Thu 5 units, Fri 1 units. What is the difference between the highest and lowest days?
- Highest 120, lowest 20
- Difference 100
- Answer: 100 books
Common mistakes and misconceptions
- Ignoring the scale
- Reading between gridlines incorrectly
Practice questions
- (Basic) A bar graph uses 1 unit = 5 books. Bars: Mon 3 units, Tue 7 units, Wed 2 units, Thu 1 units, Fri 8 units. How many books in total?
- (Basic) A bar graph uses 1 unit = 20 books. Bars: Mon 4 units, Tue 1 units, Wed 5 units, Thu 3 units, Fri 1 units. How many books in total?
- (Standard) A bar graph uses 1 unit = 20 books. Bars: Mon 9 units, Tue 3 units, Wed 1 units, Thu 6 units, Fri 7 units. What is the difference between the highest and lowest days?
- (Standard) A bar graph uses 1 unit = 10 books. Bars: Mon 2 units, Tue 7 units, Wed 6 units, Thu 8 units, Fri 3 units. What is the difference between the highest and lowest days?
- (Challenge) A bar graph uses 1 unit = 10 books. Bars: Mon 2 units, Tue 5 units, Wed 9 units, Thu 8 units, Fri 5 units. What is the difference between the highest and lowest days?
- (Challenge) A bar graph uses 1 unit = 10 books. Bars: Mon 7 units, Tue 7 units, Wed 4 units, Thu 6 units, Fri 3 units. What is the difference between the highest and lowest days?
Answer key with full working
- Q1: Values: 15, 35, 10, 5, 40 → Total = 105 → Answer: 105 books
- Q2: Values: 80, 20, 100, 60, 20 → Total = 280 → Answer: 280 books
- Q3: Highest 180, lowest 20 → Difference 160 → Answer: 160 books
- Q4: Highest 80, lowest 20 → Difference 60 → Answer: 60 books
- Q5: Highest 90, lowest 20 → Difference 70 → Answer: 70 books
- Q6: Highest 70, lowest 30 → Difference 40 → Answer: 40 books
Syllabus note
This skill is listed under "Data Handling" for Class 6 in the NCERT/CBSE books. ICSE, IGCSE, IB and state boards may teach it in a different chapter or year.
Answers on this page are generated and automatically re-checked by a second, independent calculation. They have not been reviewed by a teacher — if you spot a problem, tell us on WhatsApp.
Related practice and notes
Frequently asked questions
Which chapter is reading pictographs and bar graphs in?
"Data Handling", Class 6 Maths (NCERT/CBSE). Other boards may place it differently.
How were the answers checked?
Answers on this page are generated and automatically re-checked by a second, independent calculation. They have not been reviewed by a teacher — if you spot a problem, tell us on WhatsApp.