Pictograms
A pictogram is a chart that uses repeated pictures or symbols, each representing a fixed number of items, to show the frequency of different categories, with a key explaining what one full symbol is worth. It is one of the simplest ways to display data in GCSE Statistics and often uses part-symbols to show frequencies that are not exact multiples of the key value.
Before you start
Make sure you're comfortable with these topics first:
Method
- Read the key carefully to find out how many items one full symbol represents.
- For each category, count the number of full symbols shown.
- Multiply the number of full symbols by the key value to get most of the total.
- For any partial symbol, estimate the fraction shown and multiply that fraction by the key value.
- Add the full-symbol total and the partial-symbol amount together to find the frequency for that category.
- When drawing your own pictogram, choose a key that avoids awkward fractions and always include the key.
Worked example
A pictogram shows the number of bicycles sold by a shop over four days. The key is: one bicycle symbol represents 8 bicycles. Monday shows 3 symbols, Tuesday shows 2 and a half symbols, Wednesday shows 4 symbols, and Thursday shows 1 symbol and a quarter symbol. Work out the total number of bicycles sold over the four days.
- Key: 1 symbol = 8 bicycles.
- Monday = 3 x 8 = 24 bicycles.
- Tuesday = 2.5 x 8 = 20 bicycles.
- Wednesday = 4 x 8 = 32 bicycles.
- Thursday = 1.25 x 8 = 10 bicycles.
- Total = 24 + 20 + 32 + 10 = 86 bicycles.
Practice questions
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Q1A pictogram key shows 1 symbol = 10 pupils. A row has 3 full symbols. How many pupils does the row represent?Show answer
Answer: 30 pupils (3 x 10)
Q2A pictogram key shows 1 symbol = 4 books. A row has 2 and a half symbols. How many books does the row represent?Show answer
Answer: 10 books (2.5 x 4)
Q3A pictogram key shows 1 symbol = 6 cakes. A row has 1 symbol and a third of a symbol. How many cakes does the row represent?Show answer
Answer: 8 cakes (1 1/3 x 6)
Q4A pictogram shows 5 full symbols for apples sold, with a key of 1 symbol = 12 apples. How many apples were sold?Show answer
Answer: 60 apples (5 x 12)
Q5Two rows of a pictogram show 4.5 symbols and 3.5 symbols, with a key of 1 symbol = 20 pounds. Work out the combined total for both rows.Show answer
Answer: 160 pounds (8 x 20)
Q6A pictogram has a key of 1 symbol = 4 people. A town has 22 people who play chess. How many symbols, including any part-symbol, should be drawn?Show answer
Answer: 5 symbols and a half symbol (22 / 4 = 5.5)
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a GCSE Statistics exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A pictogram shows that Ellie read 15 books last year, drawn as 3 full symbols. Work out how many books one symbol represents.
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In a pictogram, the key is 1 symbol = 6 pens. The row for Class A shows 3 and a half symbols. The row for Class B represents 24 pens. Work out how many more symbols would need to be drawn for Class B than are currently drawn for Class A.
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A pictogram shows the number of trees planted in a park over four months, using a key of 1 symbol = 20 trees. March shows 2.5 symbols, April shows 4 symbols, and June shows 1.5 symbols. The total number of trees planted over the four months is 220. Work out the number of symbols that should be drawn for May.
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See real GCSE Statistics past-paper questions, with official mark schemes →
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the pictograms worksheet pack - 19 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.
This topic is chapter 15 of GCSE Statistics Foundation Workbook 1 and chapter 19 of GCSE Statistics Higher Workbook 1, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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