What is it
A box plot (or box-and-whisker diagram) visually summarises a data set's minimum, lower quartile, median, upper quartile and maximum in a single, compact diagram, useful for comparing distributions.
Why it matters
Box plots make it easy to compare two data sets at a glance — spread, skew and central tendency are all visible immediately, which is why they're widely used in real reporting, not just exams.
Exam tip
When comparing two box plots, always comment on both the median (average) AND the interquartile range (spread) — a comparison that mentions only one of the two rarely earns full marks.
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