GMAT Integrated Reasoning & Essay by Manhattan Prep

Author:Manhattan Prep
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Manhattan Prep Publishing

Column and Bar Charts

A column chart shows amounts as heights, so you would scan for changes in the heights as you move from left to right. For example:

Column chart: Scan left to right.

Similarly, bar charts show amounts as lengths, so you would scan for differences in those lengths as you move from top to bottom. For example:

Bar chart: Scan top to bottom.

Column charts are often used to show trends over time, while bar charts are more frequently used for non-time comparisons (e.g., carrots vs. apples).

It can be difficult to read a value from a column or bar that ends between grid lines. The grid lines are those lighter grey lines that divide the graph into sections—for example, in the column chart, the grid lines show up at $1,000, $2,000, and so on up to $6,000.

If the column or bar does not end exactly on a grid line, you’re going to have to estimate a little. Hold your finger, your pen, or even the edge of your scratch paper up to the screen to make a straight line, and take your best guess. (This will be close enough—don’t worry!)

A question might ask you to calculate the percent increase or decrease from one time period to the next. Consider the Monthly Sales column graph given earlier, and answer the following:

What was the approximate percent increase in sales from April to May?

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