Using Data in PE — Tables, Graphs and Charts

Data handling is a component of AQA GCSE PE that many students overlook in their revision. Both Paper 1 and Paper 2 can include questions that ask you to interpret data from tables, bar charts, line graphs, and pie charts. You may also be asked to present data by plotting points on a graph or completing a table. This lesson covers all the data skills you need for the exam, with plenty of practice scenarios drawn from PE contexts.

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Why Data Skills Matter in PE

In real-world sport and exercise science, data is everywhere: fitness test results, heart rate data, performance statistics, participation surveys, and nutritional analysis. AQA includes data questions to test whether you can:

• Read data accurately from different types of charts and tables
• Interpret what the data shows (trends, patterns, anomalies)
• Draw conclusions that link the data to your PE knowledge
• Present data clearly using appropriate formats

Data questions typically appear once or twice on each paper and are worth 2–4 marks each. They are often among the most accessible marks on the paper if you know what to look for.

Exam Tip: Data questions are frequently based on fitness test results or participation statistics. Revise the normative data ranges for common fitness tests (e.g. what counts as "excellent" or "below average" for a bleep test or sit-and-reach test) — this helps you draw meaningful conclusions from the data.

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Reading Tables

Tables are the most straightforward data format. They present information in rows and columns.

How to Read a Table Accurately

1. Read the title — what is the table about?
2. Read the column headings — what does each column represent?
3. Read the row labels — what does each row represent?
4. Check the units — are the values in seconds, centimetres, beats per minute, percentages?
5. Find the specific data point the question asks about — follow the correct row across and column down

Example Table: Fitness Test Results

Participant	Bleep Test (Level)	Sit-and-Reach (cm)	Illinois Agility (seconds)	1-Minute Press-Up Test
Alex	10.4	28	16.2	35
Beth	8.7	34	17.8	22
Chris	12.1	22	15.1	42
Dana	7.3	40	19.0	18

Possible exam questions:

• "Which participant achieved the highest bleep test level?" — Chris (12.1). You simply read the highest value in that column.
• "Which participant has the best agility?" — Chris (15.1 seconds). Note that for the Illinois Agility Test, a lower time is better — be careful with units and direction.
• "Which component of fitness does the sit-and-reach test measure?" — Flexibility. This links the data question to your AO1 knowledge.

Exam Tip: Always check whether higher or lower values indicate better performance. For time-based tests (e.g. Illinois Agility, 30m sprint), a lower number is better. For count-based tests (e.g. press-ups, sit-ups) and level-based tests (e.g. bleep test), a higher number is better.

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Reading Bar Charts

Bar charts use rectangular bars to represent data values. The height (or length) of each bar corresponds to the value it represents.

How to Read a Bar Chart

1. Read the title of the chart
2. Read the y-axis label (vertical) — what is being measured?
3. Read the x-axis label (horizontal) — what categories are being compared?
4. Check the scale on the y-axis — what does each grid line represent?
5. Read off values by finding the top of the bar and reading across to the y-axis

Common PE Bar Chart Scenarios

• Comparing fitness test results across different participants
• Showing participation rates in sport by age group, gender, or ethnicity
• Displaying the effects of different training methods on performance

Reading Between Grid Lines

If a bar does not line up exactly with a grid line, you need to estimate. For example, if the grid lines are at 10, 20, 30, and the top of a bar is halfway between 20 and 30, the value is approximately 25.

Exam Tip: When reading values from bar charts in the exam, be as precise as possible. If the value appears to be between two grid lines, give an appropriate estimate (e.g. "approximately 25") rather than rounding to the nearest grid line. The mark scheme usually accepts a small range of values.

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Reading Line Graphs

Line graphs show how a variable changes over time or in relation to another variable. They are particularly common in Paper 1 for topics like heart rate during exercise, oxygen consumption, and the effects of training.

How to Read a Line Graph

1. Read the title
2. Read both axis labels and units
3. Check the scale on both axes
4. Identify the trend — is the line going up, going down, or staying flat?
5. Identify any key points — peaks, troughs, plateaus, sudden changes

Key Vocabulary for Describing Line Graphs

Term	Meaning	Example
Increase	The value goes up	"Heart rate increased from 72 to 165 bpm during exercise"
Decrease	The value goes down	"Heart rate decreased during the recovery period"
Plateau / Level off	The value stays roughly constant	"Heart rate levelled off at approximately 160 bpm during steady-state exercise"
Steep increase/decrease	The value changes rapidly	"There was a steep increase in heart rate in the first two minutes of exercise"
Gradual increase/decrease	The value changes slowly	"Heart rate gradually decreased over the 10-minute recovery period"
Peak	The highest point on the graph	"Heart rate peaked at 185 bpm at the end of the sprint interval"
Fluctuate	The value goes up and down irregularly	"Participation rates fluctuated between 2015 and 2020"

Example: Heart Rate During Exercise

Imagine a line graph showing heart rate (y-axis, bpm) over time (x-axis, minutes). The graph shows:

• Minutes 0–2: Rest (heart rate at approximately 70 bpm)
• Minutes 2–4: Heart rate rises steeply from 70 to 150 bpm as exercise begins
• Minutes 4–10: Heart rate levels off at approximately 155 bpm (steady-state exercise)
• Minutes 10–12: Heart rate rises sharply to 180 bpm during a sprint finish
• Minutes 12–20: Heart rate decreases gradually back towards resting levels