1 · Tally marks
A tally mark is one line for one thing. We asked 10 kids about their favorite pet and made a mark for each answer.
Every fifth mark goes across the other four, so you can count by 5s. Cat has 3 marks, Dog has 5, Fish has 2.
2 · Pictographs: one picture each
A pictograph uses pictures. The key at the bottom says what one picture means. Here ★ = 1 kid.
Dog has 5 stars, so 5 kids chose Dog. Just count the stars.
3 · When one picture means two
Sometimes the key says ★ = 2. Then you count by 2s. Mia has 3 stars: 2, 4, 6 books.
Always read the key first!
4 · Bar graphs
A bar graph uses bars. Taller bar means more. Read a bar by looking at the top of it and sliding left to the number.
Yellow: 7. Blue: 4. Red: 4.
5 · Most and fewest
The most is the tallest bar. The fewest is the shortest.
Fish got the most votes (11). Birds got the fewest (6). When the side counts by 2s, a bar can stop between two numbers: Fish stops halfway between 10 and 12, that is 11.
6 · How many in all?
Add every bar. Yellow 7 + Blue 4 + Red 4 = 15 blocks in all.
7 · How many more?
"How many more" means subtract the smaller from the bigger. Dog 5 and Cat 3: 5 − 3 = 2 more kids chose Dog.
Or count the steps from the top of the short bar up to the top of the tall one.
8 · Number patterns that add
A pattern follows a rule. 2, 12, 22, 32... each number is 10 more. Next: 42.
To find the rule, ask "what do I add to get from one number to the next?"
9 · Patterns that count back
20, 18, 16, 14... each number is 2 less. Next: 12.
If the numbers get smaller, the rule takes away.
10 · Shape patterns
Shapes can make a pattern too. Circle, square, circle, square... The part that repeats is the core: circle, square.
After a square comes a circle. Say the pattern out loud to hear the rhythm.
11 · Missing numbers in the middle
5, 10, __, 20, 25. The rule is add 5, so the missing number is 15.
Look at the numbers on both sides of the blank. The blank must fit between them.
12 · Reading a chart in words
Sometimes a test gives the numbers in words instead of a picture: "A chart shows blocks: yellow 7, blue 4, red 4."
Treat it like a graph. Most? Yellow. In all? 15. How many more yellow than blue? 3. You are ready for the test! 🎉
Ready to check what stuck?
Take the free 24-question test. It starts easy and builds to harder, ISEE-style reasoning. It's auto-scored, and you can review every answer afterward.