Read the table before the question

Identify what each row and column represents, the unit and whether entries are counts, money, rates or percentages. A table may show years across columns and organisations down rows; swapping them produces a plausible but wrong number. If a total row appears, check whether it includes every category or only a subgroup. One cell can be read directly; a comparison, sum or ratio needs calculation.

Three common operations

For a row with 120, 150 and 180 units across three years, the total is 450 and the average is 150. The rise from 120 to 180 is 60 units, or 50% of the starting 120. The share of the final year in the three-year total is 180/450=40%. These are three different bases. To compare two groups, write their values side by side and label the operation before calculating. For a ratio, reduce both numbers by their greatest common divisor only after ensuring they have the same unit.

Missing cells and checking

If a row total is 600 and known entries sum to 440, the missing cell is 160. A grand total may give the same answer through a column check. Use that second path where available. A close option often corresponds to a wrong row, a skipped year or a percent calculated against the final value instead of the original value. In practice, place a finger or highlight on the exact row and column, then write the two numbers that matter. Do not copy the whole table into your working.

Read coordinates, not just numbers

Imagine a table with Unit A at 80 in Period 1 and 100 in Period 2; Unit B at 70 and 95. The Period 2 total is 100+95=195. Unit A's increase is 100−80=20, while Unit B's increase is 95−70=25. The total increase is 45. Reading the correct number from the wrong period could still produce a plausible option, so say the row and column aloud: “Unit B, Period 2, 95.” A table cell is an intersection, not a free-standing quantity.

For the same table, Unit A's percentage increase is 20/80=25%; Unit B's is 25/70≈35.7%. Unit B's new value is lower than Unit A's, yet its percentage growth is higher. This is why a ranking by final value may differ from a ranking by growth. If a question asks which group improved most, check whether it means absolute improvement or percentage improvement. Without that distinction, a calculation may be correct but answer the wrong question.

Row totals and column totals

If a table includes a total row and total column, compute a missing cell through the shortest route. A row total of 340 with entries 120, 90 and a blank gives 130. If the corresponding column total also leads to 130, the two independent sums reinforce the reading. However, do not double-count totals: a grand total already includes the component rows. When calculating an average, divide by the number of component entries, not by the number of rows including the total row.

A compact working layout

Write “requested cells → operation → unit” on scratch paper. For example: “A/P2 100; B/P2 95 → 100+95=195 units.” For a share, add the denominator: “A/P2 100; P2 total 195 → 100/195.” Round only after forming the correct fraction. This short route is faster than copying the entire table and easier to audit when an option seems wrong. The chart questions in this chapter use deliberately synthetic values; focus on the reading procedure, not on memorising any displayed number.

Practice — 50 questions

Attempt every item before reading the answers. Use the chart or caselet printed with the question.

1. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 190 B. 195 C. 185 D. 180

2. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 15 B. 25 C. 20 D. 10

3. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 455 B. 450 C. 445 D. 440

4. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 135 B. 130 C. 140 D. 125

5. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 250 B. 245 C. 255 D. 240

6. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 115 B. 130 C. 120 D. 125

7. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 15 B. 5 C. 20 D. 10

8. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 515 B. 525 C. 520 D. 530

9. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 110 B. 115 C. 105 D. 120

10. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 145 B. 160 C. 150 D. 155

11. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 165 B. 150 C. 160 D. 155

12. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 20 B. 35 C. 30 D. 25

13. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 490 B. 500 C. 505 D. 495

14. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 130 B. 135 C. 125 D. 140

15. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 235 B. 245 C. 250 D. 240

16. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 155 B. 150 C. 165 D. 160

17. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 30 B. 20 C. 35 D. 25

18. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 410 B. 395 C. 405 D. 400

19. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 115 B. 125 C. 120 D. 110

20. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 190 B. 180 C. 185 D. 195

21. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 210 B. 205 C. 195 D. 200

22. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 30 B. 20 C. 15 D. 25

23. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 420 B. 415 C. 410 D. 425

24. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 95 B. 90 C. 85 D. 80

25. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 195 B. 185 C. 180 D. 190

26. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 170 B. 160 C. 165 D. 155

27. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 20 B. 30 C. 15 D. 25

28. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 580 B. 585 C. 575 D. 590

29. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 100 B. 115 C. 105 D. 110

30. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 135 B. 150 C. 145 D. 140

31. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 200 B. 185 C. 190 D. 195

32. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 15 B. 25 C. 20 D. 10

33. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 510 B. 515 C. 505 D. 520

34. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 125 B. 135 C. 130 D. 140

35. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 185 B. 200 C. 190 D. 195

36. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 185 B. 175 C. 190 D. 180

37. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 20 B. 25 C. 15 D. 30

38. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 550 B. 555 C. 545 D. 560

39. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 130 B. 135 C. 125 D. 120

40. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 175 B. 170 C. 165 D. 160

41. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 210 B. 225 C. 220 D. 215

42. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 15 B. 20 C. 10 D. 5

43. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 515 B. 510 C. 500 D. 505

44. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 110 B. 100 C. 115 D. 105

45. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 220 B. 205 C. 210 D. 215

46. What is the combined Period 1 value for Unit A and Unit B?

A. 175 B. 165 C. 170 D. 160

47. By how many units did Unit A change from Period 1 to Period 2?

A. 5 B. 10 C. 15 D. 20

48. What is the Period 1 total across all five units?

A. 445 B. 460 C. 455 D. 450

49. What is the highest Period 1 value shown?

A. 130 B. 125 C. 135 D. 120

50. Add Unit A Period 2 and Unit B Period 1. What is the result?

A. 230 B. 220 C. 225 D. 235

Answers and explanations

Check the value and the unit before comparing your working with the calculation.

1. C. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 100+85=185 units.

APDI26-04-01 | table-charts | Easy

2. A. Unit A changes from 55 to 70. Subtract: 70−55=15 units.

APDI26-04-02 | table-charts | Easy

3. C. Add the five Period 1 entries [115, 80, 55, 130, 65]: total 445 units.

APDI26-04-03 | table-charts | Easy

4. B. The Period 1 entries are [60, 130, 100, 70, 80]; the maximum is 130 units.

APDI26-04-04 | table-charts | Easy

5. B. The requested cells contain 130 and 115; their sum is 245 units.

APDI26-04-05 | table-charts | Easy

6. C. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 55+65=120 units.

APDI26-04-06 | table-charts | Easy

7. D. Unit A changes from 60 to 70. Subtract: 70−60=10 units.

APDI26-04-07 | table-charts | Easy

8. C. Add the five Period 1 entries [80, 130, 110, 105, 95]: total 520 units.

APDI26-04-08 | table-charts | Easy

9. A. The Period 1 entries are [75, 85, 105, 95, 110]; the maximum is 110 units.

APDI26-04-09 | table-charts | Easy

10. C. The requested cells contain 110 and 40; their sum is 150 units.

APDI26-04-10 | table-charts | Easy

11. D. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 65+90=155 units.

APDI26-04-11 | table-charts | Easy

12. D. Unit A changes from 65 to 90. Subtract: 90−65=25 units.

APDI26-04-12 | table-charts | Easy

13. D. Add the five Period 1 entries [115, 120, 120, 45, 95]: total 495 units.

APDI26-04-13 | table-charts | Easy

14. A. The Period 1 entries are [85, 45, 110, 130, 110]; the maximum is 130 units.

APDI26-04-14 | table-charts | Easy

15. D. The requested cells contain 130 and 110; their sum is 240 units.

APDI26-04-15 | table-charts | Easy

16. A. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 100+55=155 units.

APDI26-04-16 | table-charts | Medium

17. D. Unit A changes from 65 to 90. Subtract: 90−65=25 units.

APDI26-04-17 | table-charts | Medium

18. D. Add the five Period 1 entries [55, 70, 115, 55, 105]: total 400 units.

APDI26-04-18 | table-charts | Medium

19. A. The Period 1 entries are [115, 45, 45, 90, 85]; the maximum is 115 units.

APDI26-04-19 | table-charts | Medium

20. C. The requested cells contain 140 and 45; their sum is 185 units.

APDI26-04-20 | table-charts | Medium

21. D. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 80+120=200 units.

APDI26-04-21 | table-charts | Medium

22. B. Unit A changes from 45 to 65. Subtract: 65−45=20 units.

APDI26-04-22 | table-charts | Medium

23. B. Add the five Period 1 entries [70, 105, 65, 105, 70]: total 415 units.

APDI26-04-23 | table-charts | Medium

24. C. The Period 1 entries are [65, 85, 65, 70, 50]; the maximum is 85 units.

APDI26-04-24 | table-charts | Medium

25. B. The requested cells contain 85 and 100; their sum is 185 units.

APDI26-04-25 | table-charts | Medium

26. B. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 95+65=160 units.

APDI26-04-26 | table-charts | Medium

27. A. Unit A changes from 110 to 130. Subtract: 130−110=20 units.

APDI26-04-27 | table-charts | Medium

28. A. Add the five Period 1 entries [120, 95, 115, 130, 120]: total 580 units.

APDI26-04-28 | table-charts | Medium

29. C. The Period 1 entries are [65, 105, 105, 75, 55]; the maximum is 105 units.

APDI26-04-29 | table-charts | Medium

30. D. The requested cells contain 75 and 65; their sum is 140 units.

APDI26-04-30 | table-charts | Medium

31. C. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 95+95=190 units.

APDI26-04-31 | table-charts | Medium

32. A. Unit A changes from 105 to 120. Subtract: 120−105=15 units.

APDI26-04-32 | table-charts | Medium

33. A. Add the five Period 1 entries [125, 95, 80, 110, 100]: total 510 units.

APDI26-04-33 | table-charts | Medium

34. C. The Period 1 entries are [40, 40, 50, 130, 110]; the maximum is 130 units.

APDI26-04-34 | table-charts | Medium

35. C. The requested cells contain 135 and 55; their sum is 190 units.

APDI26-04-35 | table-charts | Medium

36. D. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 110+70=180 units.

APDI26-04-36 | table-charts | Medium

37. A. Unit A changes from 120 to 140. Subtract: 140−120=20 units.

APDI26-04-37 | table-charts | Medium

38. A. Add the five Period 1 entries [120, 70, 125, 125, 110]: total 550 units.

APDI26-04-38 | table-charts | Medium

39. C. The Period 1 entries are [125, 85, 110, 110, 90]; the maximum is 125 units.

APDI26-04-39 | table-charts | Medium

40. C. The requested cells contain 90 and 75; their sum is 165 units.

APDI26-04-40 | table-charts | Medium

41. D. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 85+130=215 units.

APDI26-04-41 | table-charts | Difficult

42. C. Unit A changes from 110 to 120. Subtract: 120−110=10 units.

APDI26-04-42 | table-charts | Difficult

43. D. Add the five Period 1 entries [120, 50, 120, 95, 120]: total 505 units.

APDI26-04-43 | table-charts | Difficult

44. D. The Period 1 entries are [105, 50, 40, 80, 90]; the maximum is 105 units.

APDI26-04-44 | table-charts | Difficult

45. C. The requested cells contain 95 and 115; their sum is 210 units.

APDI26-04-45 | table-charts | Difficult

46. B. Read Period 1 in the Unit A and B rows: 85+80=165 units.

APDI26-04-46 | table-charts | Difficult

47. B. Unit A changes from 55 to 65. Subtract: 65−55=10 units.

APDI26-04-47 | table-charts | Difficult

48. D. Add the five Period 1 entries [105, 55, 95, 75, 120]: total 450 units.

APDI26-04-48 | table-charts | Difficult

49. B. The Period 1 entries are [125, 95, 50, 115, 65]; the maximum is 125 units.

APDI26-04-49 | table-charts | Difficult

50. C. The requested cells contain 100 and 125; their sum is 225 units.

APDI26-04-50 | table-charts | Difficult