Section B: Ordnance Survey Map Work
The second section of your CE paper involves utilising your map work skills. As well as the usual skills (grid references, spot heights, contour lines, direction etc.) you will also need to identify a number of landscape features on a map e.g. valley – a full list of these features are listed in Appendix II in the ISEB Geography Syllabus. This is freely available online; make sure you look up the new syllabus – first examination Autumn 2015.
Extract from the syllabus:-
Section B: Ordnance Survey map work (10-15 marks) This section will comprise Ordnance Survey mapwork questions. Ordnance Survey maps to the scale of 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 will be used and a key to conventional symbols will be provided.
Ordnance Survey mapwork skills
Candidates should know and understand:
4-figure and 6-figure grid references
Eastings, Northings
spot heights and contours
direction
orientation (8 points of the compass)
distance
area
Candidates should be able to:
follow routes
identify relief and landscape features (slope steepness, plateau, flood plain, valley, headland, bay)
annotate simple sketch sections
use maps in decision-making
understand site, situation and shape of settlements
Revision Task
In the examination, you will be asked questions based on a map extract of somewhere in the British Isles – it could be anywhere! The map extract might be a wholly rural (countryside) area, a wholly urban (town) area or a combination of both. It could be a highland area, lowland area or, again, a combination of both. The extract could be focused on a river environment, a coastal environment or a combination of both.
The map extract used will either be 1:50 000 or 1:25 000 in scale. The 1:25 000 gives you more detail and covers a smaller area compared to the 1:50 000.
One thing is for sure, you will be asked a series of questions designed to test your map interpretation skills i.e. can you ‘read’ a map?
Be aware that you will have only one map extract to answer questions on. The following questions will be based on a number of extracts in order to make you familiar with the different types of environments that could come up in the examination.
Print out the following questions and answer:-
Section B: Ordnance Survey Map Work
Study the 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map extract of Takeley and Hatfield Forest.
- What is the highest point in metres in grid square 5323?
...... (1)
- What would you find at the following grid references?
(a)544 243...... (1)
(b)555 267...... (1)
- Describe the shape of the village settlement of Takeley in grid square 56 26.
...... (1)
- What is the distance (to he nearest kilometre) along the B1256 from the road junction at 548 263 to the eastern edge of the map?
...... (2)
- In which direction is Wall Wood (52 23) from Takeley?
...... (1)
- Using map evidence, describe how Takeley may be accessed by road travellers.
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......
...... (2)
- Looking at the map extract as a whole, what evidence is there that this area is popular with tourists?
Give six figure grid references for tourist attractions.
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......
...... (3)
Further questions on the Takeley map
- Describe the site of Takeley.
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...... (3)
- What are the benefits and disadvantages of living in Takeley? Use map evidence in your answer.
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...... (3)
Study the 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map extract of Hope Valley and Shatton Edge.
- What is the range of height in grid square 19 83?
...... (2)
- What human features can be found at the following grid references:-
(a)194 814...... (1)
(b)188 832...... (1)
- In which direction is the golf course (21 82) from Rebellion Knoll (18 81)?
...... (1)
- Identify two landforms found in grid square 19 82.
Landform 1: ...... (1)
Landform 2: ...... (1)
- What is the straight line distance from the Hope railway station (180 833) to Bamford railway station (208 825)?
...... (1)
- Why are there few settlements south of the A6187?
......
...... (2)
- Describe the situation of Bamford.
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...... (3)
Aditional questions based on the Hope Valley and Shatton Edge map extract:-
- What shape is the settlement of Thornhill (19 83)?
...... (1)
- Why is Thornhill (19 83) sited where it is?
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...... (3)
- What is the highest point in grid square 21 84?
...... (1)
- In which direction is the River Noe flowing in? Give one piece of map evidence with grid references.
Direction: ......
Evidence: ...... (2)
Study the 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map extract of Whitby.
- What is the name of the river running north into the sea?
...... (1)
- What would you find at the following grid references?
(a)887 115 ...... (1)
(b)903 112 ...... (1)
- What direction is the slope in grid square 87 11 facing?
...... (1)
- What is the distance in kilometers along the A174 between the edge of the map at 868 123 and the roundabout at 894 109?
...... (2)
- What evidence is there that Whitby is popular with tourists? Give grid references for tourist functions.
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...... (3)
- Study the site of Whitby.
Give two reasons why a settlement developed here.
1: ...... (1)
2: ...... (1)
- What do you think the current settlement functions of Whitby are?
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...... (3)
- Why will it be difficult for Whitby as a settlement to expand in the future?
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...... (2)
Additional questions on the Whitby map:-
- What direction is Longshore Drift travelling along the coast of Whitby?
...... (1)
- Name two coastal features can be found in grid square 90 11.
Landform 1: ...... (1)
Landform 2: ...... (1)
Study the 1:50 000 Ordnance Survey map extract of Oxford .
- What is the name of the river running through Oxford?
...... (1)
- Give the six figure grid references for the following features.
Parking in the south east of the map extract: ...... (1)
The church with tower to the west of Magdalen College: ...... (1)
- Which direction is St. Catherin’s College (91 23) from the Cathedral (19 22)?
...... (1)
- What evidence is there in the map extract that shows Oxford is popular with tourists? Give grid references of tourist functions.
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...... (3)
- Why do you think the main buildings making up Oxford University are sited in this part of Oxford?
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...... (2)
- This is an area that is prone to flooding. What measures have been taken to curb the impacts of flooding.
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...... (3)
END OF COMMON ENTRANCE MAP WORK PRACTICE 2015-16
REMEMBER TO HAND COMPLETED WORK TO MR GUY FOR MARKING AND FEEDBACK