Interpreting Data, Tables and Graphs

A significant proportion of your Edexcel GCSE Chemistry exam will present you with data — in tables, graphs, bar charts, or diagrams — and ask you to interpret it. These are primarily AO2 (application) and AO3 (analysis and evaluation) questions, meaning they carry some of the highest-value marks on the paper.

This lesson teaches you the specific techniques for reading, describing, and analysing data in a Chemistry context.

---

Reading Values from Graphs Accurately

This sounds simple, but many students lose marks by reading graphs carelessly.

Technique

1. Read the question — identify exactly which value you need to find
2. Use a ruler — place it horizontally or vertically across the graph to read the value accurately
3. Read both axes — make sure you know the scale and units on each axis
4. Interpolate carefully — if the value falls between gridlines, estimate as precisely as possible