Books Read: Reading a Bar Graph
23 October 2026
Bar graphs are a simple way to show information, like how many books children have read. They help your child see and compare numbers quickly, making maths questions feel less tricky.
Key insight: Learning to read a bar graph is a useful skill for the 11+ and helps children spot patterns in data. This example uses a clear bar graph to answer a question step by step.
Worked example
The bar graph shows how many books four children read last month: Alex, Ben, Chloe and Daisy.
Question: How many books did Chloe read?
Step 1: Find Chloe's name on the bar graph.
Step 2: Look at the top of Chloe's bar and follow it across to the scale (the numbers on the side).
Step 3: See which number the top of the bar reaches. Suppose it reaches 8.
Chloe read 8 books last month.
The correct answer is 8.
Now your child can look at a bar graph and find the answer by matching the bar to the right number. This builds confidence in reading data and prepares them for similar questions in 11+ maths practice.
There are plenty more bar graph examples ready for your child to try, so they can keep building this important skill.
