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Charts and diagrams

Charts and diagrams for Access to HE Law: what it means, how to set the working out, and the questions it is asked in.
  • Access to HE
  • Law
  • Spec N9 · N4
  • 9 min read
  • 6 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.
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.
6 rows

The charts and diagrams reference table

This idea appears again in the higher-mark questions, so it is worth over-learning.
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.
Term
Meaning
Example
Row 1 column 1
Row 1 column 2
a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Row 2 column 1
Row 2 column 2
a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Row 3 column 1
Row 3 column 2
a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
Row 4 column 1
Row 4 column 2
a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2

Learning

2 boxes
5 steps

How to work with charts and diagrams

Sketch the shape even when the question does not ask for one — it makes the next step obvious.
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.
Start from the definition and substitute the numbers the question gives you.
Simplify one line at a time: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2.
Answer: a2+b2=c2a^2 + b^2 = c^2
3 rules

Key facts: Charts and diagrams

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

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Examples

2 boxes
1 marks · worked

Worked example: charts and diagrams

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
Worth knowing: 34×25\frac{3}{4} \times \frac{2}{5}.
2 marks · worked

Practice question 6: 49=7\sqrt{49} = 7

Work through the method one line at a time and write down what changes at each step.
Worth knowing: ≈160\approx 160.

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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 Access to HE Law paper?
Yes — it sits in the Systems and hardware strand.