1. Drawing Bar charts correctly
In order to accurately draw a bar chart we
need to follow the following steps:
Draw, mark and label axes
Draw bars & colour if necessary
Title your chart
Draw a key if necessary

2. Drawing Bar charts correctly
Draw, mark and label axes
Use a ruler to
draw both axes
Make sure they
are long enough!

3. Drawing Bar charts correctly
Draw, mark and label axes
Mark both
axes with
equal spacing.
Make sure there
are enough marks

4. Drawing Bar charts correctly
Draw, mark and label axes
number the
vertical axis
and label it
“Frequency” 5
BE CAREFUL
The numbers DO NOT go between the spaces 4 3
Frequency 2 1

5. Drawing Bar charts correctly
1. Draw, mark and label axes
The horizontal
axis shows
what you are
measuring. 5
BE CAREFUL
The categories you have
for this axis DO go between the marks on the axis! 4 3
Frequency 2 1
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Other
Favourite colours

6. Drawing Bar charts correctly
2. Draw bars & colour if necessary
REMEMBER
If a bar has
a frequency of
0, don’t draw
a bar! 5 4 3
Frequency 2 1
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Other
Favourite colours

7. Drawing Bar charts correctly
3. Title your chart.
All titles are
“Bar chart
to show…”
followed by
what you’re
trying to show.
Bar chart to show class 8’s favourite colours 5 4 3
Frequency 2 1
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Other
Favourite colours

8. Drawing Bar charts correctly
4. Draw a key if
necessary
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 5 4 3
Frequency 2 1
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Other
Favourite colours

9. Drawing Bar charts correctly
4. Draw a key if
necessary
Bar chart to show class 8’s favourite colours 5 4
Key 3
Boys
Girls
Frequency 2 1
Red
Blue
Green
Yellow
Other
Favourite colours

10. Drawing Bar charts correctly
REMEMBER
Draw, mark and label axes
Draw bars & colour if necessary
Title your chart
Draw a key if necessary