Working with Tables

Tables are the most common data presentation format in the UCAT Quantitative Reasoning subtest. Every test will include multiple table-based data sets, each with four questions. This lesson teaches you how to extract data efficiently, perform multi-step calculations, and avoid common table-reading errors.

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Efficient Data Extraction

The most important skill for table questions is locating the correct data quickly and accurately. Every second spent searching for a value is a second you cannot spend calculating.

Step 1: Understand the Structure (5-10 seconds)

Before looking at any question, read:

• The title of the table (what the data represents)
• The column headers (what each column measures)
• The row headers (what each row represents)
• Any units (£, %, thousands, kg)
• Any footnotes or special symbols

Step 2: Read the Question

Identify exactly which values you need. Note:

• Which row(s)
• Which column(s)
• Whether you need a single value, a sum, or a comparison

Step 3: Locate the Data

Use a finger on the screen (or a mental "cross-hair") to trace from the row header across and the column header down to find the correct cell.

The Single Most Common Error: Reading the wrong row or column. If the table has many similarly labelled rows (e.g., monthly data), it is easy to slip by one row. Always double-check.

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Calculating Totals and Averages

Row Totals and Column Totals

Many questions ask for a total across a row or down a column. Sometimes the total is given in the table; sometimes you must calculate it.

Worked Example

Data:

Region	Q1 Sales	Q2 Sales	Q3 Sales	Q4 Sales
North	340	380	410	430
South	520	490	530	560
East	290	310	280	330
West	410	420	450	470

Question: What were the total sales across all regions in Q3?

Solution: 410 + 530 + 280 + 450 = 1,670

Calculating Averages

Mean = Sum / Count

Question: What were the average quarterly sales for the North region?

Solution: (340 + 380 + 410 + 430) / 4 = 1,560 / 4 = 390

Calculating the Range

Range = Maximum - Minimum

Question: What is the range of Q2 sales across all regions?

Solution: Maximum Q2 = 520 (South was 490 — wait, let me recheck. Q2 column: 380, 490, 310, 420. Maximum = 490, Minimum = 310.)

Range = 490 - 310 = 180

Lesson: Always re-read the specific column when answering. Do not rely on memory from reading the whole table.

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Multi-Step Calculations from Tables

Many QR questions require two or more steps. The key is to identify ALL the values you need before starting to calculate.

Worked Example

Data:

Item	Price per Unit (£)	Units Sold (January)	Units Sold (February)
Paracetamol	0.85	1,200	1,450
Ibuprofen	1.20	800	750
Aspirin	0.65	600	680

Question: What was the total revenue from Paracetamol and Ibuprofen combined in February?

Solution:

• Paracetamol revenue (Feb): £0.85 × 1,450 = £1,232.50
• Ibuprofen revenue (Feb): £1.20 × 750 = £900.00
• Total: £1,232.50 + £900.00 = £2,132.50

Worked Example: Percentage of Total

Question: In January, what percentage of total revenue came from Aspirin?

Solution:

• Paracetamol revenue (Jan): £0.85 × 1,200 = £1,020
• Ibuprofen revenue (Jan): £1.20 × 800 = £960
• Aspirin revenue (Jan): £0.65 × 600 = £390
• Total revenue: £1,020 + £960 + £390 = £2,370
• Aspirin percentage: (390 / 2,370) × 100 = 16.5%

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Comparing Across Rows and Columns

Comparison questions ask you to identify which row or column meets a particular criterion.

Worked Example

Data: