Test scores.

What story this chart tells

The story depends on whom the chart is for. For students, the comparison itself can demoralize — show distributions (a histogram) rather than ranked names. For teachers, ranked bars are fine privately and useful for spotting students who need attention. Choose carefully who sees this chart.

Adapting it to your data — checklist

• Anonymize names if the chart will be shared widely. "Student 1, Student 2…" or initials.
• Lock the y-axis to 0–100 (or whatever the test's maximum is) so charts are comparable across tests.
• Sort alphabetically for "look up your name" use; sort descending for ranking discussions.
• Add a horizontal reference line at the class average if your tool supports it; otherwise, mention it in the caption.
• Don't color students individually. One color per chart.
• Switch to a histogram if you care more about the distribution than individuals.