Statistics: Line Graphs and Timetables
Line graphs and timetables is the Year 5 statistics topic that covers solving comparison, sum and difference problems using information shown in a line graph, and reading, completing and interpreting tables, including timetables.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Before reading any values, look at the graph's title and the labels and units on both axes, so you know exactly what the graph shows.
- Check the scale on the vertical axis carefully: work out what each small gridline is worth (it might go up in 1s, 2s, 5s or 10s) before reading any value.
- To read a value at a specific point, trace up from the horizontal axis, or across from the vertical axis, with your finger or a ruler until you meet the line, then read off the value.
- For a difference question, read both values needed, then subtract the smaller from the larger; for a total question, read every value needed and add them.
- For a timetable, read along the row for the correct service, or down the column for the correct stop or time, carefully - it is easy to read the wrong row by mistake.
- To find a journey time from a timetable, subtract the departure time from the arrival time, remembering there are 60 minutes in an hour, not 100, so crossing the hour needs care.
- For 'how long until' or 'how many minutes between' questions, count on from the earlier time to the later time in stages, to the next whole hour and then the remaining minutes, rather than subtracting the digits directly.
Worked example
A line graph shows the temperature in a garden, recorded every hour. At 8am it was 4 degrees C. At 12 noon it was 15 degrees C. At 4pm it was 11 degrees C. (a) What was the rise in temperature between 8am and 12 noon? (b) What was the fall in temperature between 12 noon and 4pm?
- Read the temperature at 8am, 4 degrees C, and the temperature at 12 noon, 15 degrees C.
- To find the rise, subtract the earlier value from the later value: 15 - 4 = 11 degrees C.
- Read the temperature at 4pm, 11 degrees C.
- To find the fall, subtract the later, smaller value from the earlier, larger value: 15 - 11 = 4 degrees C.
- The temperature rose by 11 degrees C during the morning, then fell by 4 degrees C during the afternoon.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1A train timetable shows a train leaving Ashford at 07:42 and arriving in Bramsley at 08:15. How many minutes does the journey take?Show answer
Answer: 33 minutes
Q2A coach leaves Denby at 13:20. The journey to Overbridge takes 1 hour and 48 minutes. What time does the coach arrive in Overbridge?Show answer
Answer: 15:08
Q3A bus arrives at a stop at 10:52. The next bus after that is at 11:15. How many minutes must a passenger wait?Show answer
Answer: 23 minutes
Q4A line graph shows a baby's weight in kg. It was 3.4 kg at birth and 7.9 kg at 6 months old. How much weight did the baby gain?Show answer
Answer: 4.5 kg
Q5A line graph's vertical axis is labelled from 0 to 50, with gridlines every 5 units. A point lies exactly on the fourth gridline up from zero. What value does the point represent?Show answer
Answer: 20
Q6A line graph shows ice cream sales over a weekend. On Saturday 156 ice creams were sold, and on Sunday 203 were sold. What was the total sold over the weekend?Show answer
Answer: 359
Q7Three trains leave Hollow Green for Kingsmead: at 08:10 (arriving 08:55), 09:30 (arriving 10:12) and 10:45 (arriving 11:20). Priya must arrive in Kingsmead by 10:00 at the latest. Which train should she catch?Show answer
Answer: The 08:10 train - it is the only one that arrives by 10:00, since the 09:30 and 10:45 trains both arrive after 10:00
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a KS2 Maths exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A bus leaves Millfield at 08:24 and arrives at Sandport at 09:07. Neha then waits for a second bus, which leaves Sandport at 09:20 and arrives at the coast at 09:58. How many minutes does Neha spend waiting at Sandport, and what is the total time in minutes from leaving Millfield to arriving at the coast?
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
A line graph shows a car's fuel level on a long journey. At 10am the tank had 48 litres. At 1pm it had 21 litres. Chloe says the car used fuel at a steady rate of 9 litres per hour. Show whether Chloe is correct.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
A cinema shows three screenings of a film: at 13:20, 16:05 and 19:45, each screening lasting 2 hours and 25 minutes including trailers. Reuben watches the 16:05 screening. At what time does it finish, and does he finish in time to catch a bus that leaves at 18:25?
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 3 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the statistics: line graphs and timetables worksheet pack - 6 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
Next topics
Not quite what you needed?
Tell us what is missing on statistics: line graphs and timetables, or which topic to write up next. Every request is read, and we reply to every one.
Build a full practice pack.
This topic is one of hundreds in the library - pick the ones a student needs and generate a printable PDF in minutes.