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Interpreting time series graphs

I can interpret time series graphs, including commenting on trends.

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Lesson 7 of 8

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Year 10

Interpreting time series graphs

I can interpret time series graphs, including commenting on trends.

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Key learning points

The graph can be used to estimate a frequency at a given time
Time series graphs can help us spot underlying trends or systematic patterns
These trends can be interpreted in context and the context may explain the pattern seen

Keywords

Time series graphs - Time series graphs show data over a time period. The time period is always shown on the x-axis. Data points are joined chronologically by line segments.

Common misconception

Pupils may place too much confidence in the accuracy of predictions based on extrapolating time series graphs into the future.

While extrapolating a time series graph provide an indication of what future results may be, predictions are not guaranteed. Context should also be considered in these cases (e.g. whether there is a natural limit to how high a variable may reach).

This lesson contains time series graphs based on real life data and gives some examples of observations that can be made from them. Pupils could analyse these graphs in more detail, attempt to make other observations and research any events in the news that may be related to their observations.

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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A time series graph is used to show data over a period.

Correct Answer: time

Q2.
Izzy records how many birds appear in her garden over the course of a day. Here is her time-series graph. Izzy should label the vertical axis . (Do not include units in your answer).

Correct Answer: Number of birds, Frequency

Q3.
A point on this axis has been labelled $$p$$. The value of $$p$$ is .

Correct Answer: 36, Thirty six, Thirty-six

Q4.
Jun plots a time series graph using time intervals that are regular and quarterly. The first month on his graph is January, the next quarter starts with the month of .

Correct Answer: April

Q5.
The time-series graph shows information about internet connection in Great Britain in households with 1 adult aged over 65. In 2018, approximately % of households have internet access.

Correct Answer: 60, 59

Q6.
The time series graph to show the temperatures in Sheffield between 2012 and 2019. In how many quarters does the mean maximum temperature reach less than 10°C ? quarters.

Correct Answer: 10, ten

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
A time series graph shows data over a time period. The time period is always shown on the axis.

Correct Answer: horizontal, $$x$$

Q2.
This time series graph is based on data from the ONS about the amount of money spent each week on retail in the UK. Which of these best describes the overall trend?

The retail value is slightly decreasing each year

The retail value is consistent each year.

Correct answer: The retail value is slightly increasing each year.

Q3.
This time series graph is based on data from the ONS about the amount of money spent each week on retail in the UK. Why is there an unusual dip in 2020?

Data will not always follow the same trend.

Correct answer: The pandemic started in 2020.

There was a financial crash in 2020.

Q4.
The time series below shows data from the ONS about the average annual income per person each year. What is the approximate mean income in the year 2000?

£20 000

£25 000

Correct answer: £30 000

£35 000

Q5.
The time series below shows data from the ONS about the average annual income per person each year. What is the approximate greatest difference between the mean and median incomes?

£5000

Correct answer: £10 000

£15 000

£30 000

£40 000

Q6.
The time series graph shows data on average houses prices over a number of years in the UK. In the year the average house prices rose above £200 000

Correct Answer: 2016, 2017

Lesson appears in

UnitMaths / Graphical representations of data: scatter graphs and time series

Maths

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Interpreting time series graphs

Interpreting time series graphs

Lesson slides

Lesson details

Key learning points

Keywords

Common misconception

Licence

Lesson video

Worksheet

Prior knowledge starter quiz

6 Questions

Q1.A time series graph is used to show data over a period.

Q2.Izzy records how many birds appear in her garden over the course of a day. Here is her time-series graph. Izzy should label the vertical axis . (Do not include units in your answer).

Q3.A point on this axis has been labelled $$p$$. The value of $$p$$ is .

Q4.Jun plots a time series graph using time intervals that are regular and quarterly. The first month on his graph is January, the next quarter starts with the month of .

Q5.The time-series graph shows information about internet connection in Great Britain in households with 1 adult aged over 65. In 2018, approximately % of households have internet access.

Q6.The time series graph to show the temperatures in Sheffield between 2012 and 2019. In how many quarters does the mean maximum temperature reach less than 10°C ? quarters.

Assessment exit quiz

6 Questions

Q1.A time series graph shows data over a time period. The time period is always shown on the axis.

Q2.This time series graph is based on data from the ONS about the amount of money spent each week on retail in the UK. Which of these best describes the overall trend?

Q3.This time series graph is based on data from the ONS about the amount of money spent each week on retail in the UK. Why is there an unusual dip in 2020?

Q4.The time series below shows data from the ONS about the average annual income per person each year. What is the approximate mean income in the year 2000?

Q5.The time series below shows data from the ONS about the average annual income per person each year. What is the approximate greatest difference between the mean and median incomes?

Q6.The time series graph shows data on average houses prices over a number of years in the UK. In the year the average house prices rose above £200 000

Lesson appears in

UnitMaths / Graphical representations of data: scatter graphs and time series

Maths

Q1.
A time series graph is used to show data over a period.

Q2.
Izzy records how many birds appear in her garden over the course of a day. Here is her time-series graph. Izzy should label the vertical axis . (Do not include units in your answer).

Q3.
A point on this axis has been labelled $$p$$. The value of $$p$$ is .

Q4.
Jun plots a time series graph using time intervals that are regular and quarterly. The first month on his graph is January, the next quarter starts with the month of .

Q5.
The time-series graph shows information about internet connection in Great Britain in households with 1 adult aged over 65. In 2018, approximately % of households have internet access.

Q6.
The time series graph to show the temperatures in Sheffield between 2012 and 2019. In how many quarters does the mean maximum temperature reach less than 10°C ? quarters.

Q1.
A time series graph shows data over a time period. The time period is always shown on the axis.

Q2.
This time series graph is based on data from the ONS about the amount of money spent each week on retail in the UK. Which of these best describes the overall trend?

Q3.
This time series graph is based on data from the ONS about the amount of money spent each week on retail in the UK. Why is there an unusual dip in 2020?

Q4.
The time series below shows data from the ONS about the average annual income per person each year. What is the approximate mean income in the year 2000?

Q5.
The time series below shows data from the ONS about the average annual income per person each year. What is the approximate greatest difference between the mean and median incomes?

Q6.
The time series graph shows data on average houses prices over a number of years in the UK. In the year the average house prices rose above £200 000