Real Business Data Questions
Real business data questions present tables, charts and graphs that mimic actual company reports—revenue by region, sales by product, headcount by department. They test your ability to extract and calculate under time pressure. Here's how to approach them.
What to Expect
- Multi-row/column tables – Revenue, costs, units sold, market share, etc.
- Charts – Bar charts, line graphs, pie charts, often with multiple series.
- Units – Values in thousands (000), millions (m), or percentages. Check headers and footnotes.
- Time periods – Quarters, years. Ensure you use the right period for the question.
Strategy
Read the question first – Know what you need before scanning the data. "What was total revenue in Q3?" tells you to sum the Q3 column and check the unit.
Identify the relevant data – Don't get distracted by extra rows or columns. Focus on what the question asks for.
Check units – If the table says "Revenue (£000)" and the question asks for "revenue in £", multiply by 1000. Or keep units consistent if the options match.
Estimate when possible – For "approximately" or "closest to" questions, round and calculate quickly. Use elimination if options are far apart.
Common Scenarios
- Revenue by product/region – Sum, compare, calculate percentage of total.
- Year-over-year change – ((This year − Last year) ÷ Last year) × 100.
- Market share – Company sales ÷ Total market × 100. Or back-calculate market size from one company's sales and share.
- Profit margin – Profit ÷ Revenue × 100.
- Growth rates – Percent change between periods. Watch for compound growth over multiple years.
Pitfalls
- Wrong row/column – Double-check you're using the right data. Easy to grab Q2 when the question asks for Q3.
- Wrong base for percentages – "What % of total revenue did Product A contribute?" → A ÷ Total × 100. The base is total revenue.
- Mixing units – Don't add £m to £000 without converting.
Practice with numerical reasoning questions and the numerical reasoning test.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I handle tables with many rows and columns?
Use the question to narrow down. If the question asks about "North region" and "Product B", find that cell. Don't read the whole table—scan for labels.
What if the data is in a chart and I need exact values?
Charts often have gridlines. Estimate as closely as you can. If the question asks for "approximately", your estimate is fine. For exact values, the test may provide a data table alongside the chart.
How much time should I spend on each question?
Varies by test, but typically 1–2 minutes per question. If stuck, eliminate wrong answers, guess, and move on. Don't get stuck on one question.