Evidence in Tables & Graphs - PSAT Reading & Writing
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What does it mean to cite evidence from a table or graph in a PSAT response?
What does it mean to cite evidence from a table or graph in a PSAT response?
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Use specific values, comparisons, or trends shown in the visual. Reference exact numbers or patterns from the visual data.
Use specific values, comparisons, or trends shown in the visual. Reference exact numbers or patterns from the visual data.
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Identify the best evidence: A line graph rises from $20$ to $35$ between $2010$ and $2015$. Which statement is best?
Identify the best evidence: A line graph rises from $20$ to $35$ between $2010$ and $2015$. Which statement is best?
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The value increased by $15$ from $2010$ to $2015$. Direct statement of the $35-20=15$ increase shown.
The value increased by $15$ from $2010$ to $2015$. Direct statement of the $35-20=15$ increase shown.
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Compute the percent increase: a value in a table changes from $40$ to $50$. What is the percent change?
Compute the percent increase: a value in a table changes from $40$ to $50$. What is the percent change?
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$25%$. $\frac{50-40}{40}\times 100% = \frac{10}{40}\times 100% = 25%$
$25%$. $\frac{50-40}{40}\times 100% = \frac{10}{40}\times 100% = 25%$
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What does an outlier in a data set shown on a graph most directly indicate?
What does an outlier in a data set shown on a graph most directly indicate?
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A value far from the overall pattern or trend. Outliers deviate significantly from the main trend.
A value far from the overall pattern or trend. Outliers deviate significantly from the main trend.
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What should you check first to avoid misreading units in a table or graph?
What should you check first to avoid misreading units in a table or graph?
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Axis labels, table headers, and unit notes (for example, thousands, percent). Units can be scaled (thousands) or percentages.
Axis labels, table headers, and unit notes (for example, thousands, percent). Units can be scaled (thousands) or percentages.
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What is the difference between a trend and a single data point in a graph?
What is the difference between a trend and a single data point in a graph?
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A trend is an overall pattern; a data point is one measured value. Trends show direction over time; points are individual measurements.
A trend is an overall pattern; a data point is one measured value. Trends show direction over time; points are individual measurements.
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What is the range of a data set?
What is the range of a data set?
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Maximum minus minimum. Measures the spread by finding the difference between extremes.
Maximum minus minimum. Measures the spread by finding the difference between extremes.
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A table shows Group A: $12$ and Group B: $18$. What is the difference $\text{B}-\text{A}$?
A table shows Group A: $12$ and Group B: $18$. What is the difference $\text{B}-\text{A}$?
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$6$. Simple subtraction: $18-12=6$
$6$. Simple subtraction: $18-12=6$
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A table shows $A=50$ in 2020 and $A=65$ in 2021. What is the percent increase?
A table shows $A=50$ in 2020 and $A=65$ in 2021. What is the percent increase?
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$30%$. $\frac{65-50}{50}\times 100% = \frac{15}{50}\times 100% = 30%$.
$30%$. $\frac{65-50}{50}\times 100% = \frac{15}{50}\times 100% = 30%$.
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What is the key difference between “percentage points” and “percent” when comparing rates?
What is the key difference between “percentage points” and “percent” when comparing rates?
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Percentage points use subtraction; percent uses relative change. Points: $25%-20%=5$ points; Percent: $\frac{25-20}{20}\times 100%=25%$.
Percentage points use subtraction; percent uses relative change. Points: $25%-20%=5$ points; Percent: $\frac{25-20}{20}\times 100%=25%$.
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A graph shows a value of $50$ at $x=2$ and $45$ at $x=3$. Which statement matches the change?
A graph shows a value of $50$ at $x=2$ and $45$ at $x=3$. Which statement matches the change?
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It decreased by $5$ from $x=2$ to $x=3$. $45 - 50 = -5$, showing a decrease of $5$ units.
It decreased by $5$ from $x=2$ to $x=3$. $45 - 50 = -5$, showing a decrease of $5$ units.
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What does the y-axis label in a graph tell you to read from the plotted values?
What does the y-axis label in a graph tell you to read from the plotted values?
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The dependent variable and its units. The y-axis shows what's being measured (dependent) and how it's measured.
The dependent variable and its units. The y-axis shows what's being measured (dependent) and how it's measured.
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What does the x-axis label in a graph tell you to read from the horizontal position?
What does the x-axis label in a graph tell you to read from the horizontal position?
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The independent variable and its units. The x-axis shows what's being varied (independent) and its measurement scale.
The independent variable and its units. The x-axis shows what's being varied (independent) and its measurement scale.
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What is the first step when a question asks you to support a claim using a table or graph?
What is the first step when a question asks you to support a claim using a table or graph?
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Identify the relevant variables, units, and time or categories. Start by understanding what data the visual presents before evaluating claims.
Identify the relevant variables, units, and time or categories. Start by understanding what data the visual presents before evaluating claims.
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What is the correct way to report a value read from a graph when the axis shows units?
What is the correct way to report a value read from a graph when the axis shows units?
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State the number with its unit (and context, such as year or category). Include units and context to make data values meaningful and complete.
State the number with its unit (and context, such as year or category). Include units and context to make data values meaningful and complete.
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Identify the correct percent change formula from an old value to a new value.
Identify the correct percent change formula from an old value to a new value.
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$\frac{\text{new}-\text{old}}{\text{old}}\times 100%$. Measures relative change as a percentage of the original value.
$\frac{\text{new}-\text{old}}{\text{old}}\times 100%$. Measures relative change as a percentage of the original value.
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Identify the correct average rate of change formula between two points $(x_1,y_1)$ and $(x_2,y_2)$.
Identify the correct average rate of change formula between two points $(x_1,y_1)$ and $(x_2,y_2)$.
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$\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$. Rise over run formula calculates the slope between two points.
$\frac{y_2-y_1}{x_2-x_1}$. Rise over run formula calculates the slope between two points.
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What does it mean if a graph’s y-axis is truncated and does not start at $0$?
What does it mean if a graph’s y-axis is truncated and does not start at $0$?
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Visual differences may be exaggerated compared with a $0$ baseline. Non-zero baselines can make small differences appear larger than they are.
Visual differences may be exaggerated compared with a $0$ baseline. Non-zero baselines can make small differences appear larger than they are.
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What is an outlier in a scatterplot?
What is an outlier in a scatterplot?
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A point far from the overall pattern or trend of the other points. Outliers deviate significantly from the general data pattern.
A point far from the overall pattern or trend of the other points. Outliers deviate significantly from the general data pattern.
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What does a positive correlation in a scatterplot indicate?
What does a positive correlation in a scatterplot indicate?
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As $x$ increases, $y$ tends to increase. Variables move in the same direction in positive correlation.
As $x$ increases, $y$ tends to increase. Variables move in the same direction in positive correlation.
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What does a negative correlation in a scatterplot indicate?
What does a negative correlation in a scatterplot indicate?
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As $x$ increases, $y$ tends to decrease. Variables move in opposite directions in negative correlation.
As $x$ increases, $y$ tends to decrease. Variables move in opposite directions in negative correlation.
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A table shows total $120$ items and defective $18$ items. What is the defective rate (percent)?
A table shows total $120$ items and defective $18$ items. What is the defective rate (percent)?
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$15%$. $\frac{18}{120} \times 100% = 0.15 \times 100% = 15%$.
$15%$. $\frac{18}{120} \times 100% = 0.15 \times 100% = 15%$.
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A pie chart shows $25%$ of $80$ respondents chose option C. How many respondents chose C?
A pie chart shows $25%$ of $80$ respondents chose option C. How many respondents chose C?
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$20$. $25%$ of $80 = 0.25 \times 80 = 20$ respondents.
$20$. $25%$ of $80 = 0.25 \times 80 = 20$ respondents.
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A line graph rises from $200$ to $260$ over $3$ years. What is the average yearly increase?
A line graph rises from $200$ to $260$ over $3$ years. What is the average yearly increase?
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$20$ per year. $\frac{260-200}{3} = \frac{60}{3} = 20$ per year.
$20$ per year. $\frac{260-200}{3} = \frac{60}{3} = 20$ per year.
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A table lists values $12, 15, 13, 20$. What is the median?
A table lists values $12, 15, 13, 20$. What is the median?
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$14$. Order: $12, 13, 15, 20$; middle two values average to $\frac{13+15}{2}=14$.
$14$. Order: $12, 13, 15, 20$; middle two values average to $\frac{13+15}{2}=14$.
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A bar chart shows Category A = $40$ and Category B = $10$. What is the ratio $A:B$ in simplest form?
A bar chart shows Category A = $40$ and Category B = $10$. What is the ratio $A:B$ in simplest form?
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$4:1$. $40:10$ simplifies to $4:1$ by dividing both by $10$.
$4:1$. $40:10$ simplifies to $4:1$ by dividing both by $10$.
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A graph shows $y=18$ at $x=3$ and $y=30$ at $x=7$. What is the average rate of change?
A graph shows $y=18$ at $x=3$ and $y=30$ at $x=7$. What is the average rate of change?
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$3$ units of $y$ per $1$ unit of $x$. $\frac{30-18}{7-3} = \frac{12}{4} = 3$ units of $y$ per unit of $x$.
$3$ units of $y$ per $1$ unit of $x$. $\frac{30-18}{7-3} = \frac{12}{4} = 3$ units of $y$ per unit of $x$.
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Identify the stronger support: A claim says "most participants preferred option A." Which evidence best supports it?
Identify the stronger support: A claim says "most participants preferred option A." Which evidence best supports it?
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Option A has more than $50%$ (or the largest count) of participants. "Most" means more than half of the total.
Option A has more than $50%$ (or the largest count) of participants. "Most" means more than half of the total.
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Identify the best evidence: A claim says "sales peaked in June." Which table entry supports it if June is the maximum?
Identify the best evidence: A claim says "sales peaked in June." Which table entry supports it if June is the maximum?
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The June value is the largest number in the sales column. Peak means highest value in the data set.
The June value is the largest number in the sales column. Peak means highest value in the data set.
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Choose the correct inference: If two lines cross at $(3,8)$, what is true at $x=3$?
Choose the correct inference: If two lines cross at $(3,8)$, what is true at $x=3$?
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Both series have the same value, $y=8$, at $x=3$. At intersection points, both lines share the same coordinates.
Both series have the same value, $y=8$, at $x=3$. At intersection points, both lines share the same coordinates.
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