3. Reading Data: Tables, Bar Graphs & Line Graphs

Most GED® Science questions hand you a table or graph and ask what it shows. Before any calculation, read the labels: the title, the axis names, and the units.

Bar graphs compare separate categories — taller bar, bigger value.

Line graphs show how something changes — usually over time. Follow the line to read the trend.

Tables give exact numbers in rows and columns; find the row and column the question asks about and read across.

A reliable routine for any figure:

• Read the title — what is this about?
• Read each axis label and its units — what is being measured?
• Find the specific value or trend the question asks for.

⚠️ Common misconception: don't ignore the scale. If each gridline is 50 units, a bar two lines tall is 100, not 2. A graph can also look dramatic only because its scale starts at 90 instead of 0.

💡 Tip: the answer to most data questions is on the figure. Resist using outside knowledge — point to the exact bar, row, or part of the line.