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GCSE Maths Statistics Frequency Tables Modal Class

Modal Class

Here we will learn about modal class, including what it is and how to find the modal class from a grouped frequency table.

There are also modal class worksheets based on Edexcel, AQA and OCR exam questions, along with further guidance on where to go
next if you’re still stuck.

What is modal class?

The modal class is the class interval within a set of data that contains the most number of data points, which we can view as the
highest frequency.

For example,
Below we have a set of data showing the marks achieved by 65 students in a test. The class interval with the most number of data
points is ‘21 to 30’ as this class interval has the highest frequency of 16 (the class interval contains 16 items of data). We would
therefore state,

The modal class is 21 to 30.

What is modal class?

Modal class from a graph / chart

Sometimes you may be given a bar chart, a pie chart, a frequency polygon, a cumulative frequency curve, or even a histogram, and be
asked to state the modal class from this graph. You, therefore, need to be able to interpret the data from each graph.

Below is a table summarising how to state the modal class from common types of graph/chart.
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How to find the modal class

In order to find the modal class:

1 Look for the class interval with the highest frequency.

2 Write down the modal class.

How to find the modal class

Averages from frequency table worksheet (includes modal class)

Get your free modal class worksheet of 20+ averages from frequency table questions and answers. Includes reasoning and applied questions.

DOWNLOAD FREE

Related lessons on frequency tables

Modal class is part of our series of lessons to support revision on frequency tables. You may find it helpful to start with the main
frequency table lesson for a summary of what to expect, or use the step by step guides below for further detail on individual topics.
Other lessons in this series include:

Frequency table 

Mean from a frequency table 

Grouped frequency table 

Median from a frequency table 

Averages from frequency tables 

Mode from
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 Modal class examples

Example 1: modal class from a frequency table

The grouped frequency table shows the number of people in 80 shops in a town. State the modal class from the following table.

1 Look for the class interval with the highest frequency.

The highest frequency is 26

2 Write down the modal class.

The class with the highest frequency is ‘18 to 21’.

The modal class is ‘18 to 21’.

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 Example 2: modal class from a frequency table

The grouped frequency table shows the number of pupils in 90 primary schools in an area. State the modal class from the following set
 of data.

1 Look for the class interval with the highest frequency.

Show step

2 Write down the modal class.

Show step

Example 3: modal class from a frequency table

The grouped frequency table shows the number of marks achieved by 100 students in their science test. State the modal class from the
results table below.

1 Look for the class interval with the highest frequency.

Show step

2 Write down the modal class.

Show step

How to find the modal class from a graph / chart

In order to find the modal class from a graph / chart:

1 Look for the specific feature for the mode on the graph/chart.

2 Write down the modal class.

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Modal class from a graph or chart examples

Example 4: modal class from a bar chart

The bar chart below shows the frequencies of pet ownership from a group of people. Each person owns one pet. State the modal class
from the bar chart below.

1 Look for the specific feature for the mode on the graph/chart.

Show step

2 Write down the modal class.

Show step

Example 5: modal class from a cumulative frequency diagram

30 students ran 75m. Their time was recorded in a cumulative frequency diagram. Using the information below, determine the modal
class for the set of data.

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1 Look for the class interval with the highest frequency.

Show step

2 Write down the modal class.

Show step

Example 6: modal class from a histogram

The histogram below represents the distance a ball was thrown by 40 people. State the frequency of the modal class.

1 Look for the class interval with the highest frequency.

Show step

2 Write down the modal class.

Show step
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 Common misconceptions
Check which average you are being asked for

 Check if you have been asked for the median, mode (modal class) or mean average.

Multiple modes

A data set can have 1 mode or 2 modes (bimodal). It is possible that a data set has no modal group at all.

Item from the data set

The mode will be the item – NOT the frequency.

Class intervals notation

The class intervals used in grouped frequency tables can be written in different ways. Take care when writing them, or finding the
midpoints.

For example,

0 to 5

0−5

0≤x<5

Highest frequency

A number may appear more than once in a frequency column. This does NOT affect the modal class. The modal class is always indicated
by the largest frequency, not the frequency that occurs the most often.

For example,

The modal class is ‘20 to 29’ as this interval has the highest frequency. (We do not need to consider the fact that the frequency ‘5’
appears twice in the frequency column.)

Practice modal class questions

1. The table shows the grouped data about the scores in 35 netball matches. State the modal class interval.

13

12
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 20 to 29

 10 to 19

2. The table shows the grouped data about the number of eggs laid by 50 chickens in two weeks. State the modal class interval.

18

12 − 14

6−8

9 − 11

3. The table shows the grouped data about the height of 100 trees in a forest.
State the modal class interval.

15 < h ≤ 20

31

20 < h ≤ 25

24

4. The pie chart below shows the number of different types of sweets in a jar. State the modal class for the pie chart.

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

Chocolate Discs

Fizzy Sours

Lollipops and Marshmallows

Lollipops

5. Data was recorded for the speed of a number of 100 vehicles. Each class interval is the same size. Use the frequency polygon below to
determine the modal class for the set of data.

15 ≤ x < 35

10 ≤ x < 20

20 ≤ x < 30

35 ≤ x < 45

6. The histogram below represents the data collected for a recent score on a road safety test.

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

Determine the modal class of the data.

10 ≤ x < 20

25 ≤ x < 30

30 ≤ x < 40

20 ≤ x < 25

Modal class GCSE questions

1. The table shows the speed, x of 140 vehicles on a motorway. Show answer

State the modal class interval.

(1 mark)

2. The table shows the time 1427 people spend in a gym during one day. Show answer

State the modal class interval.

(1 mark)

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3. The table shows the number of goals scored in 22 matches. Show answer
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

Justin says “the modal class is 4 because it occurs the most often”. Is Justin correct? Explain your
answer.

(2 marks)

Learning checklist
You have now learned how to:

Interpret data sets from univariate empirical distributions through appropriate measures of central tendency (including modal class)

The next lessons are

Cumulative frequency 

Histogram 

Types of sampling methods 

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 Negative numbers

Decimals

Fractions
 Mean, median, mode

Grouped frequency tables

Rounding numbers

This topic is relevant for:

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