PAss Functional Skills

Charts and diagrams

Charts and diagrams for A Level Maths Edexcel Higher: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • A Level
  • Edexcel
  • Maths
  • Higher
  • Spec N5
  • 9 min read
  • 10 revision boxes

Introduction

2 boxes
3 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.
This idea appears again in the higher-mark questions, so it is worth over-learning.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
3 rows

The charts and diagrams reference table

The examiner marks the working, so a correct answer with no method still drops marks.
Term
Meaning
Example
Common slip
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
Row 1 column 4
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Row 2 column 4
Row 3 column 1
Row 3 column 2
≈160\approx 160
Row 3 column 4

Learning

6 boxes
5 steps

How to work with charts and diagrams

Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.
Worth knowing: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
  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: ≈160\approx 160
3 rules

Key facts: Charts and diagrams

Sketch the shape even when the question does not ask for one — it makes the next step obvious.

  • Rule 1

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2

  • 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}
5 steps

How to work with charts and diagrams

This idea appears again in the higher-mark questions, so it is worth over-learning.
Worth knowing: ≈160\approx 160.
  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: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
Answer: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
2 rules

Key facts: Charts and diagrams

The examiner marks the working, so a correct answer with no method still drops marks.
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: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.

  • Rule 1

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

  • Rule 2

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 2nd of the cases the specification names.
    ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left

  • Rule 3

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

How to work with charts and diagrams

Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.
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: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.
Answer: x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0
3 rules

Key facts: Charts and diagrams

Sketch the shape even when the question does not ask for one — it makes the next step obvious.

  • Rule 1

    How charts and diagrams behaves in the 1st of the cases the specification names.
    x2+5x+6=0x^2 + 5x + 6 = 0

  • 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
3 marks · worked

Worked example: 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.
2 marks · worked

Practice question 10: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left

Practise the routine version until it is automatic, then move to the multi-step questions.
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: ×10\times 10 moves every digit one column left.

Practice bank

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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 Maths Edexcel Higher paper?
Yes — it sits in the Systems and hardware strand.