PAss Functional Skills

Charts and diagrams

Charts and diagrams for A Level Design and Technology AQA: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • A Level
  • AQA
  • Design and Technology
  • Spec G5 · G13
  • 12 min read
  • 10 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes
2 min read

What is charts and diagrams?

Listen to this box

Transcript

A short spoken summary of charts and diagrams and where it is used.

A spoken walk-through of charts and diagrams before you read the notes.
The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
4 rows

The charts and diagrams reference table

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
Term
Meaning
Example
Common slip
Marks
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 1 column 4
Row 1 column 5
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
Row 2 column 4
Row 2 column 5
Row 3 column 1
Row 3 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 3 column 4
Row 3 column 5
Row 4 column 1
Row 4 column 2
34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
Row 4 column 4
Row 4 column 5

Learning

6 boxes
5 steps

How to work with charts and diagrams

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing charts and diagrams laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for charts and diagrams in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
  4. Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
Answer: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
2 rules

Key facts: Charts and diagrams

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
Worth knowing: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7.

  • Rule 1

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    ≈160\approx 160

  • Rule 2

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

  • Rule 3

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 3rd of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
5 steps

How to work with charts and diagrams

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for charts and diagrams in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
  4. Check the answer against an estimate before writing it down.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
Answer: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}
3 rules

Key facts: Charts and diagrams

Read the units in the question before you start; a converted unit is the most common slip.
Worth knowing: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7.

  • Rule 1

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    49=7\sqrt{49} = 7

  • Rule 2

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

  • Rule 3

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 3rd of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
3 steps

How to work with charts and diagrams

Check the answer against an estimate before you move on, so a place-value slip is caught here.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing charts and diagrams laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
  1. Read the question and write down what is being asked for.
  2. Set out the working for charts and diagrams in the order the method gives.
  3. Substitute the values and simplify.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0.
Answer: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7
2 rules

Key facts: Charts and diagrams

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
The layout below is the one the mark scheme expects.

Diagram showing charts and diagrams laid out step by step

The same idea drawn out, so the method is visible.
Worth knowing: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7.

  • Rule 1

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

  • Rule 2

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}

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Examples

2 boxes
2 marks · worked

Worked example: charts and diagrams

The specification wording is precise here, and the mark scheme follows that wording exactly.
3 marks · worked

Practice question 10: ≈160\approx 160

Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.

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Common questions

How many marks is charts and diagrams usually worth?
Between one and four, depending on how many steps the question asks for.
Is this on the A Level Design and Technology AQA paper?
Yes — it sits in the Systems and hardware strand.