What is a tally chart?

A tally chart is a simple way to count and record data as it happens. Each item is one mark, and the fifth mark is drawn across the previous four to make a gate of five. Counting the gates of five makes the totals quick to add up.

Examples

• Four marks with a line across them shows 5.
• Seven is one gate of five and two more marks.
• Adding a mark each time a car passes builds a tally.

Quick facts

• Grouping in fives makes a large count easy to total.
• Tally charts are often turned into a bar graph or pictograph.