Map Skills for the Exam

Map skills questions appear in every Edexcel B Geography exam paper. They test your ability to read, interpret and use Ordnance Survey (OS) maps — skills that are fundamental to geography and that offer reliable marks because they have definite correct answers. This lesson revises all the map skills you need, with exam-focused practice techniques.

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Grid References Revision

4-Figure Grid References

A 4-figure grid reference identifies a 1 km² grid square. Remember: along the corridor, up the stairs (eastings first, northings second).

Steps:

1. Find the left-hand vertical grid line of the square → this gives the first two digits (easting)
2. Find the bottom horizontal grid line of the square → this gives the last two digits (northing)

Example: A church is in the grid square with easting 34 on its left edge and northing 56 on its bottom edge → grid reference 3456

6-Figure Grid References

A 6-figure grid reference pinpoints a location within a grid square to the nearest 100 m.

Steps:

1. Read the 4-figure reference (e.g. 34, 56)
2. Estimate tenths across the square → 3rd digit (e.g. 347)
3. Estimate tenths up the square → 6th digit (e.g. 563)
4. Full reference: 347563

Common Error	How to Avoid
Giving northing before easting	Remember: alphabet — E before N
Estimating tenths inaccurately	Use a ruler or the edge of paper divided into 10
Confusing 4-figure and 6-figure	Check how many digits the question asks for
Reading from the wrong edge of the square	Eastings: LEFT edge. Northings: BOTTOM edge

Exam Tip: Practise grid references regularly using real OS maps or online map tools. The more you practise, the faster and more accurate you will become. In the exam, double-check your reference by reversing the process — find the location from your reference and confirm it matches.

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Measuring Distance

Straight-Line Distance

1. Place a ruler between the two points on the map
2. Measure the distance in centimetres
3. Convert using the map scale:

Map Scale	1 cm =	4 cm =	6.5 cm =
1:25,000	250 m	1,000 m (1 km)	1,625 m (1.625 km)
1:50,000	500 m	2,000 m (2 km)	3,250 m (3.25 km)

Winding Distance (Roads, Rivers)

For curved routes, you cannot use a ruler directly:

Method 1 — String:

1. Lay a piece of string along the route, following every curve
2. Straighten the string and measure against the scale bar

Method 2 — Paper edge:

1. Place the edge of a piece of paper along the first straight section of the route
2. Mark the start and end of that section
3. Pivot the paper at the mark and continue along the next section
4. Repeat until you reach the end
5. Measure the total distance along the paper edge using the scale bar

Exam Tip: The exam will always tell you the map scale (1:25,000 or 1:50,000) and may provide a scale bar. Always state the scale in your answer and show your calculation. Giving an answer of "4 cm" when the question asks for real-world distance will score zero.

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Contour Interpretation

Identifying Landforms from Contours

Landform	Contour Pattern	Description
Steep slope	Lines very close together	Height changes rapidly over short distance
Gentle slope	Lines widely spaced	Height changes gradually
Valley	V-shaped contours pointing uphill (towards higher ground)	A depression between hills; rivers flow through valleys
Spur	V-shaped contours pointing downhill (towards lower ground)	A ridge of high ground projecting from a hill
Hilltop / Summit	Concentric circles, highest value in centre	The peak of a hill or mountain
Plateau	Widely spaced contours at high elevation	A flat area of high ground
Escarpment	Close contours on one side, widely spaced on the other	A steep slope on one side with a gentle dip slope on the other
Col / Saddle	A dip between two hilltops	A low point between two areas of higher ground
Depression	Concentric circles with tick marks (hachures) pointing inward	A hollow or basin
Flat land / Floodplain	Absent or very widely spaced contours near a river	Low-lying flat ground, often beside rivers

Drawing Cross-Sections

Cross-sections are a common exam question. To draw one:

1. Place paper along the line between the two points
2. Mark where each contour crosses the paper edge
3. Note the height value at each mark
4. Transfer to graph paper: x-axis = distance, y-axis = height
5. Plot each height at the correct distance
6. Join points with a smooth line
7. Label features (rivers, roads, settlements)

Vertical exaggeration: If your y-axis scale is much larger than your x-axis scale, the cross-section will look steeper than reality. This is called vertical exaggeration and should be noted.

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Calculating Gradient

Gradient = height difference / horizontal distance

Example: Point A is at 150m, Point B is at 250m, and they are 2 km apart horizontally.

Gradient = (250 - 150) / 2000 = 100 / 2000 = 1 in 20 (or 1:20)

As a percentage: (100 / 2000) × 100 = 5%

Gradient	Description
1:3 or steeper	Very steep — cliff-like
1:5 to 1:10	Steep hillside
1:10 to 1:20	Moderate slope
1:20 to 1:50	Gentle slope
1:50 or gentler	Almost flat

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Describing Patterns from Maps

When describing spatial patterns on a map, use this framework:

The DESC Framework

Letter	Stands For	What to Do
D	Distribution	Where is the feature located? Use compass directions and place names
E	Exceptions	Are there any areas that do not fit the pattern?
S	Specific	Quote specific data, grid references or place names
C	Comparison	Compare different areas or features

Example: "Describe the pattern of settlement shown on the map." (4 marks)

"Settlements are concentrated in the lowland areas in the south and east of the map, particularly in the valley floor below 100m (around grid squares 3456 and 3556). There are no settlements on the high ground above 300m in the north-west. The largest settlement is located at the confluence of two rivers at 3357, where several roads meet. An exception is the isolated farm at 3060, which is located at approximately 250m on the western hillside, possibly due to pastoral farming."

flowchart LR
    A["DESCRIBE a map pattern"] --> B["D: Distribution<br/>Where is it?"]
    B --> C["E: Exceptions<br/>What doesn’t fit?"]
    C --> D["S: Specific<br/>Grid refs, data, names"]
    D --> E["C: Comparison<br/>Compare areas"]

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Map Symbols Revision

You should be able to identify these key symbols without referring to a key:

Physical Features

Symbol/Feature	What It Shows
Blue line	River or stream
Blue shading	Lake, reservoir or sea
Green shading	Woodland (deciduous or coniferous)
Brown lines	Contour lines showing height
Cliff symbol	Vertical or near-vertical rock face
Marsh symbol	Wetland or boggy ground

Human Features

Symbol/Feature	What It Shows
Pink/orange shading	Built-up area
Red line	A-road (main road)
Orange/yellow line	B-road
White road	Minor road
Black dashed line	Footpath or bridleway
Railway line	Railway with station markers
+ symbol	Church with tower
Triangle with number	Spot height or triangulation point

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Describing Routes

Route description questions ask you to describe a journey between two points on the map.

What to Include

Element	Example
Starting point	"Starting from the church at 345567..."
Direction	"...head south-east..."
Distance	"...for approximately 800 metres..."
Relief	"...ascending from 50m to 120m..."
Features	"...crossing a minor road and passing through woodland..."
Changes in direction	"...then turn south..."
End point	"...arriving at the farm at 348554"