Multi-Chart Analysis
Some numerical reasoning questions present two or more charts, tables, or graphs. You must combine data across them to answer. Here's how to tackle these efficiently.
What to Expect
- Chart + table – e.g. a bar chart of sales by region and a table of costs per region. You might need revenue − cost per region.
- Two tables – Different time periods, products, or categories. Match on a common key (region, product ID, year).
- Chart + chart – e.g. revenue trend and market share. Combine to get absolute values or growth rates.
- Multiple pages – In timed tests, data may be on separate screens. Note the link (e.g. "Table 1", "Chart 2") and return as needed.
Strategy
Identify the link – What connects the sources? A common axis (time, product, region)? Use it to match rows or columns.
Read the question first – Know what you need. "Total profit by region" might mean: get revenue from Chart 1, costs from Table 2, then profit = revenue − cost per region.
Work step by step – Don't try to absorb everything. Extract one value at a time. Write down intermediate results if it helps.
Check units – Ensure all sources use the same units before combining. Convert if necessary (e.g. £000 to £m).
Common Operations
- Lookup – Find value X in one source, use it in another. E.g. "Revenue for North" from chart → use in profit formula.
- Sum across sources – Add values from different charts that refer to the same category.
- Ratio or percentage – Value from Chart A ÷ Value from Chart B × 100. Ensure both are for the same scope (same year, same product).
- Growth – (Value from Chart 2 − Value from Chart 1) ÷ Value from Chart 1 × 100. Ensure same metric and scope.
Pitfalls
- Wrong match – Using "North" from one table with "North" from another when they mean different things (e.g. sales vs headcount). Check labels.
- Double counting – Summing overlapping categories. E.g. "Total" row in one table already includes the regions—don't add again.
- Mixing time periods – Chart 1 is 2023, Chart 2 is 2024. Use the period the question asks for.
Practice with numerical reasoning questions and the numerical reasoning test.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know which chart to use first?
Follow the question. If it asks for "profit", you typically need revenue and cost. Find where each comes from, then combine. The question often implies the order of operations.
What if the charts use different scales?
Convert to a common scale before combining. If one chart is in thousands and another in millions, multiply or divide so they match. Note the units in the axis labels.
Can I use a calculator?
It depends on the test. Many numerical reasoning tests allow a calculator. If not, round numbers to simplify (e.g. 47 × 23 ≈ 50 × 20 = 1000) and use elimination for multiple choice.