Drawing Bar charts correctly
In order to accurately draw a bar chart we
need to follow the following steps:
1. Draw, mark and label axes
2. Draw bars & colour if necessary
3. Title your chart
4. Draw a key if necessary
Drawing Bar charts correctly
1. Draw, mark and label axes
Use a ruler to
draw both axes
Make sure they
are long enough!
Drawing Bar charts correctly
1. Draw, mark and label axes
Mark both
axes with
equal spacing.
Make sure there
are enough marks
Drawing Bar charts correctly
1. Draw, mark and label axes
5
4
vertical axis
3
and label it
“Frequency”
Frequency
number the
2
1
0
BE CAREFUL
The numbers DO NOT
go between the spaces
Drawing Bar charts correctly
Other
Yellow
Green
Favourite colours
Blue
0
Red
Frequency
1. Draw, mark and label axes
5
BE CAREFUL
The horizontal 4
The categories you have
axis shows
3
for this axis DO go
what you are
between the marks on the
2
axis!
measuring.
1
Drawing Bar charts correctly
2. Draw bars & colour if necessary
5
4
Favourite colours
Other
0
Yellow
a bar!
1
Green
0, don’t draw
2
Blue
a frequency of
3
Red
If a bar has
Frequency
REMEMBER
Drawing Bar charts correctly
3. Title your chart.
5
4
3
2
Other
Yellow
Favourite colours
Green
0
Blue
1
Red
Frequency
All titles are
“Bar chart
to show…”
followed by
what you’re
trying to show.
Bar chart to show class 8’s favourite colours
Drawing Bar charts correctly
4. Draw a key if
necessary
5
4
Frequency
3
2
Other
Yellow
Favourite colours
Green
0
Blue
1
Red
Sometimes a
bar chart has
shows 2 sets
of data and
we need a key
to tell them
apart.
Bar chart to show class 8’s favourite colours
Drawing Bar charts correctly
4. Draw a key if
necessary
5
Bar chart to show class 8’s favourite colours
4
2
Other
Favourite colours
Yellow
0
Green
1
Blue
Girls
3
Red
Boys
Frequency
Key
Drawing Bar charts correctly
REMEMBER
1. Draw, mark and label axes
2. Draw bars & colour if necessary
3. Title your chart
4. Draw a key if necessary