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GCSE Maths / Edexcel

Bar charts and pie charts

Read, draw and interpret bar charts and pie charts, choosing the correct scale and showing enough working for angle calculations.

Probability and StatisticsFoundation and HigherGrades 2 to 5Focused skill

Curriculum path: GCSE Maths > Edexcel > Probability and Statistics > Bar charts and pie charts

Pearson Edexcel GCSE Maths Statistics S2: interpret and construct tables, charts and diagrams, including bar charts and pie charts.

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Revision notes

Theory, examples, and quick checks.

Keep the method short, then practise straight away. This note is written for GCSE Maths Edexcel students who need clear working and reliable method marks.

Theory

A bar chart is used for categories or discrete values. The bars should have equal width and gaps between them.

Always check the vertical scale before reading a bar chart. The scale may count in 2s, 5s, 10s or another interval.

A pie chart shows how a whole is split into parts. The full circle is 360 degrees.

To draw a pie chart, find the angle for each category: angle = frequency / total frequency x 360 degrees.

To read a pie chart, reverse the process: frequency = angle / 360 degrees x total frequency.

Do not use a pie chart when the categories do not make one whole group. Edexcel questions often test whether the chart type makes sense.

Key rulePie chart angle = frequency / total x 360 degrees.

Diagram guide

ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.

Worked examples

Read a bar chart

A bar chart shows 8 students chose football, 5 chose tennis and 7 chose cricket. How many students chose football or cricket?

ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
Sports chartRead the height of each bar carefully before adding.
  1. Football frequency = 8.
  2. Cricket frequency = 7.
  3. Football or cricket means add the two categories.
  4. 8 + 7 = 15.

Answer: 15 students

Draw a pie chart angle

In a survey of 60 students, 15 chose bus. Find the angle for bus in a pie chart.

ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.
  1. Use angle = frequency / total x 360 degrees.
  2. Angle = 15 / 60 x 360 degrees.
  3. 15 / 60 = 1/4.
  4. 1/4 of 360 degrees is 90 degrees.

Answer: 90 degrees

Read a pie chart frequency

A pie chart represents 80 students. The angle for walking is 72 degrees. How many students walked?

ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.
  1. Use frequency = angle / 360 degrees x total.
  2. Frequency = 72 / 360 x 80.
  3. 72 / 360 = 1/5.
  4. 1/5 of 80 is 16.

Answer: 16 students

Common mistakes

  • Reading the wrong scale on a bar chart.
  • Drawing bars with unequal widths or no gaps for category data.
  • Forgetting that a pie chart must total 360 degrees.
  • Using frequency / 360 instead of frequency / total x 360.
  • Rounding pie chart angles too early and ending with a total that is not 360 degrees.

Quick exercise

Try these before moving to the exam-style questions.

  1. A pie chart represents 40 students. 10 chose Art. Find the sector angle.
    ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
    Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.
  2. A pie chart represents 120 students. A sector is 60 degrees. Find the frequency.
    ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
    Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.
  3. In a bar chart, heights are 6, 9 and 5. Find the total frequency.
    ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
    Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.
  4. Should category bars usually touch?
    ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
    Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.
  5. What should all pie chart angles add to?
    ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
    Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.
Exam-style questions

Practise the same skill at three levels.

These are original GCSE-style questions with mark schemes, common wrong answers, and AI marking guidance so feedback stays close to exam expectations.

Basic GCSE styleFoundationNon-calculator3 marks

In a survey of 50 students, 20 chose Maths as their favourite subject. Work out the angle for Maths on a pie chart.

ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.
pie chartssector anglefoundation statistics
Standard exam styleFoundation and HigherCalculator4 marks

A pie chart represents 90 people. The sector for people who chose cycling is 48 degrees. Estimate how many people chose cycling.

ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
Question chartConvert the sector angle into a fraction of the full circle.
pie chartsfrequency from angleproportion
ChallengeFoundation and HigherEither4 marks

A bar chart shows favourite subjects. The vertical scale goes up in 2s. Maths has frequency 18, English has frequency 12 and Science has frequency 16. How many more students chose Maths than English, and how many students were surveyed altogether?

ABCbar chartpie chartfull circle = 360
Bar chart and pie chartBar charts compare category frequencies; pie charts compare parts of one whole group.
bar chart scalecompare frequenciestotal frequency