GCSEMathsEdexcelFoundationRevision NotesStatisticsStatistical DiagramsTally Charts & Frequency Tables

Tally Charts & Frequency Tables (Edexcel GCSE Maths)

Revision Note

Mark Curtis

Written by: Mark Curtis

Reviewed by: Dan Finlay

Tally Charts & Frequency Tables

What is a tally chart?

Tally charts are a quick way to count data
Each time you count an item, draw a vertical line
- Do this the first four times
- The fifth time, draw a diagonal line through the four vertical lines $| | | |$
- Continue counting in sets of five
For example
- Counting different coloured flowers in the garden

Colour	Tally
Blue	$\| \| \| \|$
Red	$\| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \|$
Yellow	$\| \| \|$

What is a frequency table?

A frequency table counts how many times an item appears
Tally charts can be converted into frequency tables
- Find the totals
  - Count up in 5's then add any extras
  - $| | | | | | | | | |$ means 5 + 5 + 2 = 12
The tally chart above gives the following frequency table:

Colour	Frequency
Blue	5
Red	12
Yellow	3

Worked Example

Susie asks pupils in her class to select their favourite type of pet.

Write the results in a frequency table.

Dog	Cat	Dog	Dog	Dog
Rabbit	Dog	Rabbit	Cat	Cat
Cat	Dog	Dog	Rabbit	Dog
Cat	Cat	Dog	Dog	Dog

It helps to use a tally chart initially

Type of pet	Tally
Dog	$\| \| \| \| \| \| \| \| \|$
Cat	$\| \| \| \| \|$
Rabbit	$\| \| \|$

Then write the tally chart as a frequency table

Type of pet	Frequency
Dog	11
Cat	6
Rabbit	3

Last updated: 15 May 2024

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Mark Curtis

Author: Mark Curtis

Expertise: Maths

Mark graduated twice from the University of Oxford: once in 2009 with a First in Mathematics, then again in 2013 with a PhD (DPhil) in Mathematics. He has had nine successful years as a secondary school teacher, specialising in A-Level Further Maths and running extension classes for Oxbridge Maths applicants. Alongside his teaching, he has written five internal textbooks, introduced new spiralling school curriculums and trained other Maths teachers through outreach programmes.

Dan Finlay

Author: Dan Finlay

Expertise: Maths Lead

Dan graduated from the University of Oxford with a First class degree in mathematics. As well as teaching maths for over 8 years, Dan has marked a range of exams for Edexcel, tutored students and taught A Level Accounting. Dan has a keen interest in statistics and probability and their real-life applications.