Statistics

Statistics is the study of collecting, organising and interpreting information (data). At Key Stage 1, statistics appears in Year 2, where children begin making simple charts and asking questions about data.

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What This Topic Covers

Year 2 (statistics is not in Year 1):

• Interpret and construct pictograms, tally charts, block diagrams and tables
• Ask and answer questions by counting objects in each category
• Sort categories by quantity
• Compare data totals

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What is Data?

Data is information collected about something. In Year 2, children collect data about things they can count and sort:

Examples of data children might collect:

• Favourite colours in the class
• Pets owned by classmates
• How children travel to school
• Favourite fruits or sports

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Tally Charts

A tally chart is a quick way to count and record data. Each mark (tally) represents one item. After four tallies, a fifth mark crosses through them to make a group of 5 — making counting easier.

Tally symbols:

• 1 = |
• 2 = ||
• 3 = |||
• 4 = ||||
• 5 = |||| (four vertical marks with one diagonal cross-mark)