GCSE GEOGRAPHY / MAP SKILLS / INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT
A FOCUSED CARTOGRAPHIC SUPPLEMENT
Find the square.
Locate the point.
Read the evidence.
GCSE geography: grid references and map measurements
20 original tasks, three worked examples and two original grid maps. Practise the link between a reference,
a feature and the quantity the question actually asks for.
LOCATE MEASURE INTERPRET
Read eastings before northings. Use Keep map and ground units separate. Read spot heights only after locating
the southwest corner, then the Distinguish a straight line from a route. the correct points. Explain what the
within-square offsets. map cannot show.
Try this before you start
A six-figure reference has two groups of three digits. It is not a four-figure reference followed by two extra
digits. If your reference ends up outside the displayed map, check the axis order before doing any
calculation.
Your route
Page 2: a complete worked coordinate example.
Page 3: scale and height/gradient examples.
Page 4: the original practice map.
Pages 5-8:20 tasks; use separate paper for working.
Pages 9-12: explained solutions and plotted answers.
Page 13: repair checklist, scope and sources.
How to use the maps
The grids are invented learning diagrams, not OS map extracts or real locations. Major squares are 1 km
wide; fine divisions are 100 m. Numerical references are local to these diagrams. Real National Grid
references also need the correct 100 km-square letters when the map context is not already specified.
Use the grid or supplied lengths for distances. Do not use a physical ruler on a resized screen or printout. Heights are metres
above an invented datum. The map has no contours and gives no information about terrain between its spot heights.
AI-assisted original material with code checks and page-by-page visual review; no independent expert review, grade or
attendance claimed. Independent of AQA and Ordnance Survey. Not an official exam, complete course guide or navigation aid.
Version 1.0 | September 2026 | Original method summary and practice 1
, GCSE GEOGRAPHY / MAP SKILLS / INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT
WORKED EXAMPLE A
Build each axis
as one group.
Marker T is 0.6 km east of easting 41 and 0.4 km north of northing 72. The enlarged square below shows
the location; each small interval is 0.1 km.
Northings (km)
73
N
T
72
41 42
Eastings increase east (km)
1 / Identify the containing kilometre square
The left boundary is 41 and the bottom boundary is 72. Its southwest corner gives the four-figure reference
4172. This identifies a square, not the marker by itself.
2 / Add one digit to each axis
Easting: 41 plus 6 tenths gives 416.
Northing: 72 plus 4 tenths gives 724.
Write the six-figure reference 416 724.
3 / Decode to check
Read 416 as 41.6 km and 724 as 72.4 km on this local grid. Both values fall in square 4172 and match the
marker. A six-figure reference describes location at 100 m resolution; it is not an infinitely precise point.
Repair the trap
4172 64 mixes the two axes before adding the offsets. Keep the entire easting together and the entire northing together. On a
boundary, an offset of zero is a real digit: 41.0 becomes 410.
Version 1.0 | September 2026 | Original method summary and practice 2
A FOCUSED CARTOGRAPHIC SUPPLEMENT
Find the square.
Locate the point.
Read the evidence.
GCSE geography: grid references and map measurements
20 original tasks, three worked examples and two original grid maps. Practise the link between a reference,
a feature and the quantity the question actually asks for.
LOCATE MEASURE INTERPRET
Read eastings before northings. Use Keep map and ground units separate. Read spot heights only after locating
the southwest corner, then the Distinguish a straight line from a route. the correct points. Explain what the
within-square offsets. map cannot show.
Try this before you start
A six-figure reference has two groups of three digits. It is not a four-figure reference followed by two extra
digits. If your reference ends up outside the displayed map, check the axis order before doing any
calculation.
Your route
Page 2: a complete worked coordinate example.
Page 3: scale and height/gradient examples.
Page 4: the original practice map.
Pages 5-8:20 tasks; use separate paper for working.
Pages 9-12: explained solutions and plotted answers.
Page 13: repair checklist, scope and sources.
How to use the maps
The grids are invented learning diagrams, not OS map extracts or real locations. Major squares are 1 km
wide; fine divisions are 100 m. Numerical references are local to these diagrams. Real National Grid
references also need the correct 100 km-square letters when the map context is not already specified.
Use the grid or supplied lengths for distances. Do not use a physical ruler on a resized screen or printout. Heights are metres
above an invented datum. The map has no contours and gives no information about terrain between its spot heights.
AI-assisted original material with code checks and page-by-page visual review; no independent expert review, grade or
attendance claimed. Independent of AQA and Ordnance Survey. Not an official exam, complete course guide or navigation aid.
Version 1.0 | September 2026 | Original method summary and practice 1
, GCSE GEOGRAPHY / MAP SKILLS / INDEPENDENT SUPPLEMENT
WORKED EXAMPLE A
Build each axis
as one group.
Marker T is 0.6 km east of easting 41 and 0.4 km north of northing 72. The enlarged square below shows
the location; each small interval is 0.1 km.
Northings (km)
73
N
T
72
41 42
Eastings increase east (km)
1 / Identify the containing kilometre square
The left boundary is 41 and the bottom boundary is 72. Its southwest corner gives the four-figure reference
4172. This identifies a square, not the marker by itself.
2 / Add one digit to each axis
Easting: 41 plus 6 tenths gives 416.
Northing: 72 plus 4 tenths gives 724.
Write the six-figure reference 416 724.
3 / Decode to check
Read 416 as 41.6 km and 724 as 72.4 km on this local grid. Both values fall in square 4172 and match the
marker. A six-figure reference describes location at 100 m resolution; it is not an infinitely precise point.
Repair the trap
4172 64 mixes the two axes before adding the offsets. Keep the entire easting together and the entire northing together. On a
boundary, an offset of zero is a real digit: 41.0 becomes 410.
Version 1.0 | September 2026 | Original method summary and practice 2
