Tally Marks & Pictograph Builder

Record survey data using tally marks, then see the same data displayed as a pictograph. Answer questions about the data to practice reading charts.

CategoryTally MarksPictograph
🐶Dogs5
🐱Cats3
🐟Fish2
🐦Birds4
Total votes: 14Most: 🐶 Dogs (5)

How to read this chart

  • Each tally mark (|) stands for one vote.
  • After four marks, the fifth mark goes diagonally to make a group of 5.
  • In the pictograph, each picture also stands for one vote.
  • The row with the most marks or pictures got the most votes.

Switch to Practice or Challenge mode to answer questions about the data.

Reference Guide

Tally Marks

  • Each tally mark stands for one vote or item.
  • After four marks, the fifth goes diagonally across to make a group of 5.
  • Groups of 5 are easy to count quickly.
  • Example: 7 = a group of 5 and 2 more.

Pictographs

  • A pictograph uses pictures or symbols to show data.
  • Each symbol stands for one item (or more, with a key).
  • Longer rows mean bigger numbers at a glance.
  • Great for comparing categories visually.

Reading a Chart

  • Find the row with the most marks to see what got the most votes.
  • Find the row with the fewest marks to see what got the least.
  • Subtract two rows to find how many more one has than another.
  • Add all rows to find the total number of votes.

Standards Covered

  • 1.MD.4 - Organize, represent, and interpret data with up to three categories.
  • 2.MD.10 - Draw a picture graph and a bar graph to represent a data set.
  • Practice asking and answering questions about the total, comparisons, and differences.