Data interpretation

A monthly sales report shows: January £40,000, February £52,000, March £48,000, April £60,000. What were the total sales for the quarter January to March?

• A£140,000✓
• B£152,000
• C£160,000
• D£148,000

Answer: January to March = £40,000 + £52,000 + £48,000 = £140,000 (April is excluded).

A table of regional staff shows: North 120, South 90, East 60, West 30. What percentage of total staff work in the North region?

• A40%✓
• B48%
• C30%
• D36%

Answer: Total = 300; North = 120; 120 ÷ 300 = 0.40 = 40%.

A chart records daily website visits: Monday 1,200, Tuesday 1,500, Wednesday 900, Thursday 1,800, Friday 1,600. What was the mean number of visits per day?

• A1,360
• B1,400✓
• C1,440
• D1,500

Answer: Total = 7,000 over 5 days; 7,000 ÷ 5 = 1,400.

A company's expenses are split: salaries £180,000, rent £50,000, marketing £30,000, other £20,000. What fraction of total expenses is rent?

• A1/6✓
• B1/8
• C1/5
• D1/4

Answer: Total = £300,000; rent £50,000 ÷ £300,000 = 1/6.

Quarterly profits were: Q1 £25,000, Q2 £30,000, Q3 £20,000, Q4 £45,000. By what percentage did profit increase from Q3 to Q4?

• A100%
• B125%✓
• C112.5%
• D55%

Answer: Increase = £25,000; £25,000 ÷ £20,000 = 1.25 = 125%.

A pie chart of a £2,400 budget shows Housing at 90 degrees of the circle. How much money does Housing represent?

• A£600✓
• B£480
• C£900
• D£720

Answer: 90 degrees is one quarter of 360 degrees; one quarter of £2,400 = £600.

A sales table shows product X sold 240 units at £15 each and product Y sold 180 units at £25 each. What was the combined revenue?

• A£9,000
• B£8,500
• C£7,200
• D£8,100✓

Answer: X: 240 × £15 = £3,600; Y: 180 × £25 = £4,500; total = £8,100.

A report lists energy use (kWh) for four months: 320, 280, 360, 300. The cost is 18p per kWh. What was the total energy cost over the four months?

• A£226.80✓
• B£234.00
• C£230.40
• D£241.20

Answer: Total kWh = 1,260; 1,260 × £0.18 = £226.80.

A bar chart shows membership over five years: 400, 460, 520, 610, 700. What was the average yearly increase in membership over this period?

• A60
• B70
• C75✓
• D80

Answer: Total increase = 700 - 400 = 300 over 4 intervals; 300 ÷ 4 = 75.

A table shows test scores: 45 candidates scored 'Pass', 30 scored 'Merit', 15 scored 'Distinction', and 60 scored 'Fail'. What percentage of candidates achieved at least a Pass?

• A75%
• B50%
• C55%
• D60%✓

Answer: Total = 150; at least a Pass = 45 + 30 + 15 = 90; 90 ÷ 150 = 0.60 = 60%.

A company has offices in three cities with monthly costs: London £48,000, Manchester £30,000, Bristol £22,000. If total annual cost stays constant, what is the average monthly cost per office?

• A£35,000
• B£33,333✓
• C£32,000
• D£28,000

Answer: Monthly total = £100,000 over 3 offices; £100,000 ÷ 3 = £33,333 (to nearest pound).

A dataset of orders shows: online 1,260 orders, phone 540 orders, in-store 900 orders. What is the ratio of online to in-store orders in simplest form?

• A7:5✓
• B3:2
• C14:10
• D9:5

Answer: 1,260:900 divides by 180 to give 7:5.

A table shows export values (£m): 2020: 12, 2021: 15, 2022: 18, 2023: 27. Which year had the largest percentage increase compared with the previous year?

• AAll equal
• B2023✓
• C2021
• D2022

Answer: 2021: +25%, 2022: +20%, 2023: 9÷18 = +50%; 2023 is largest.

A grouped table shows the workforce: under 30 = 25%, 30 to 49 = 45%, 50 and over = 30%. If there are 360 employees aged 30 to 49, what is the total workforce?

• A720
• B780
• C800✓
• D900

Answer: 45% corresponds to 360, so 1% = 8 employees; total = 8 × 100 = 800.

A spreadsheet shows quarterly costs and revenues (£000s): Revenue 120, 140, 160, 180; Costs 90, 100, 110, 120. In which quarter was profit (revenue minus cost) the highest?

• AQ2
• BQ4✓
• CQ3
• DQ1

Answer: Profits are Q1 30, Q2 40, Q3 50, Q4 60; the highest is Q4 at £60,000.

A table shows quarterly headcount: Q1 240, Q2 270, Q3 300, Q4 330. What was the percentage growth in headcount from Q1 to Q4?

• A27.5%
• B37.5%✓
• C40%
• D32.5%

Answer: Increase = 90; 90 ÷ 240 = 0.375 = 37.5%.