Recording data using tally marks (groups of 5), converting tallies to frequencies.
Where your child meets this in real life: Collecting survey data, counting observations, or recording scores
Each SEAG paper has 28 maths questions. Questions 29 to 50 are multiple choice with five possible answers, and questions 51 to 56 need a short written answer. With 56 questions in 60 minutes across English and maths, that is about a minute per question.
SEAGReady breaks use tally charts into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Convert tally marks to numbers by counting groups of 5 and single strokes
Record numbers as tally marks using correct grouping of 5 with diagonal fifth stroke
Try three free questions from our use tally charts course. They start easy and get harder, so you can see where your child's confidence runs out. If they manage the last one without a hint, this topic is probably secure. If not, the steps above show where to start.
Charlotte surveyed her classmates about their favourite fruit. How many people chose strawberries?
A ranger is completing this visitor-centre tally chart. Which tally representation is correct?
Grace surveyed children about their favourite ice-cream flavours. How many children took part altogether?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Isla did a survey asking her classmates about their favourite crisp flavour. The tally chart shows the results for cheese and onion.
How many people chose cheese and onion?
Each crossed group represents 5 marks
Step 1 of 3
Isla did a survey asking her classmates about their favourite crisp flavour. The tally chart shows the results for cheese and onion.
How many people chose cheese and onion?
17 people chose cheese and onion.
The key insight: The diagonal stroke turns 4 marks into a group of 5 - count by 5s to be fast and accurate!
Common mix-up: Counting each mark one by one and getting 16. Counting individually is slow and error-prone. Always count groups of 5 first, then add singles.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in use tally charts, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Sitting the SEAG test this November? Read our last-month revision plan, Paper 1 vs Paper 2 and test day guide.
SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.
Free to start · no card needed