Describe PSLE Science Tables and Graphs
Part 3 of 3 of the PSLE Science OEQ Guide: build a full experiment answer, using everything from Parts 1 and 2.
"Describe the relationship between X and Y." "Study the graph. State the trend shown."
Start by naming both variables and saying how they change together. Does one increase while the other decreases? Does the result stay the same after a certain point?
If the question asks for data or the size of a change, add relevant readings and units. A question asking only for a relationship may need a clear trend without quoted numbers. Read the instruction before deciding what to include.
Turning a table into a sentence
A student wants to find out what changes the height of a shadow. She stands a torch in front of a small box, with a screen behind it, and measures the shadow. Then she moves the torch back and measures again.
| Distance of torch from box | Height of shadow |
|---|---|
| 10 cm | 24 cm |
| 20 cm | 18 cm |
| 30 cm | 14 cm |
| 40 cm | 12 cm |
Then the question asks her to describe the relationship between the two.
Before you read on, try saying what happened in one sentence — any wording you like. One thing not to do: copy out all four rows of readings. That answers a different question, "what were the readings". Here's a sentence that answers the question asked.
"As the distance of the torch from the box increases, the height of the shadow decreases."
That names both variables and describes their relationship. If asked to support it with data, add: "When the distance increases from 10 cm to 40 cm, the shadow height decreases from 24 cm to 12 cm."
Sometimes there are no exact numbers to quote — say a graph line with no values marked, climbing steeply and then flattening. Describe that shape instead. The shape counts as evidence too, and Mistake 6 covers that case in full.
| Number of cloth layers | Time taken to melt (min) |
|---|---|
| 0 | 8 |
| 2 | 15 |
| 4 | 23 |
| 6 | 30 |
What a strong answer does
- Names a direction. Increases or decreases, never just "affects".
- Adds evidence when needed. If asked for data, choose readings that support the trend and include their units. You do not need to copy every row.
- Matches all of the data. Sometimes the trend flattens partway, or changes direction. If it does, describe the real shape — a sentence that fits three rows out of four isn't describing this experiment. Then check that the number you quoted comes from the right column. Copying from the wrong column is an easy mistake to make, and just as easy to catch with one more look.
For more tips on improving your answers—from avoiding common mistakes to using precise science language—explore the complete PSLE Science OEQ Guide.