ACCESS

INFORMATION

POINT

• TO BE ABLE TO INTEPRET OS MAPS AT 1:25 000 & 1:50 000

• TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND 3 & 4 FIGURE GRID REFERENCES

• TO BE ABLE TO CALCULATE DISTANCES FROM SCALE

• TO BE ABLE TO DESCRIBE ALL THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LAND USE ON A MAP

• TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND PATTERNS AND DISTRIBUTIONS ON MAPS(CHOROPLETH, DOT MAPS)

• TO BE ABLE TO INTERPRET PHOTOGRAPHS & SKETCHES(INCLUDING SATELLITE & AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHS)

Don’t forget you must answer all questions in section A. There is normally 3 parts to section A

IT WILL BE A LOCATION IN THE UK

Section A is worth 25 marks and tests your OS map skills and other skills. There are also some other skills marks in the other

questions on both exam papers.

QUESTION 1

Study Figure 1, the Ordnance Survey map extract for Reading in southern England.

Points to remember about OS maps• You will always have a either a 1:25 000 or a 1:50 000 scale map.

• The one in front of you is 1:50 000 scale

• 1:25 000 means that 1cm on the map is equal to 25 000 cm in real life. This means 1cm is equal to 250m on the ground or 4cm is equal to 1km

• 1:50 000 means 1cm is equal to 500m on the ground or 2cm is equal to 1km

• The top of an OS map is always North

• You will always be given an OS key for that map it includes the scale as a bar to help you work out distances

Ordnance survey maps use a series of symbols to indicate features of the landscape.

In the examination you will be given a key to the symbols. This is exactly the same as the one you now have in front of you.

Study this lots at home. You are not expected to know it off be heart but a good general understanding of some of the key features will help you save time in the exam.

Take care with the following symbols that are often confused.

AQUEDUCTS & BRIDGES

POST OFFICE & PARKING

ROADS

BEACONS & LIGHTHOUSES

Lighthouse

Beacon

Parking

Post Office

WINDMILL & WINDPUMP

CONIFEROUS WOOD& NON CONIFEROUS

Use the following web site to help you

http://www.geograph.org.uk/article/Ordnance-Survey-Map-Symbols

This presentation and links to other sites can be found at

www.gorgeousgeography.co.uk (look under GCSE Revision)

4-figure grid references

NOW YOUR TURN Q1Study Figure 1, the Ordnance Survey map extract for Reading in southern England.

(a) Give the Six figure grid reference for the principle railway station in Reading.

(2 marks)

714/715 = 1 737/738 = 1 2 marks

You are allowed a tolerance level in this case because it covers two points

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW

Study Figure 1, the Ordnance Survey map extract for Reading in southern England.

(b) Measure the distance along the M4 between the motorway service area in grid square 6769 and the western edge of the map.

(1 marks)

The minimum you should know is the eight point compass although it would be better to know the 16 point compass shown here.

You can do this using two different methods.

1. Use your ruler to pivot and add up the centimetres as you travel along the line then calculate using the scale line.

2. Use a piece of paper to make marks on it as you twist it.

REMEMBER WHICH EVER WAY YOU USE YOU MUST USE THE SCALE TO WORK OUT THE DISTANCE IN KILOMETRES (FOR A 1:50,000 MEASURE IN CM AND THEN DIVIDE BY 2 AS 1 KM IS EQUAL TO 2CM)

On the paper's edge• Another method of measuring

distance is to take a sheet of paper and place the corner of a straight edge on your starting point. Now pivot the paper until the edge follows the route that you want to take.

• Step 1• Every time the route

disappears or moves away from the straight edge of your paper, make a small mark on the edge and pivot the paper so the edge is back on course.

Step 2Repeat this process until you reach your destination

Step 3You should be left with a series of marks along the edge of your paper. You can now place the sheet against the scale bar on your map. The last mark you made will tell you the real distance you need to travel

QUESTION 1b

Study Figure 1, the Ordnance Survey map extract for Reading in southern England.

(b) Measure the distance along the M4 between the motorway service area in grid square 6769 and the western edge of the map.

(1 marks)

6 kilometres 1 mark

QUESTION 1C

Study Figure 1, the Ordnance Survey map extract for Reading in southern England.

(c) Compare the relief and land uses in grid squares 7877 and 6677.

(2 marks)

My goodness, I am quite RELIEVED I got to the

top

Relief means the height and shape of the land. I like to remember it by thinking about how relieved I am when I get to the top. – This associates it with land height and shape. Take care with the spelling though.

This is the surface water features such as:-

Rivers – drawn as blue line but not to be confused with motorways!!!

Lakes – Looks like a large blue puddle

Marsh-

This includes the obvious green wooded areas but look out for

which means rough grassland.

On the OS 1:25 000 map vegetation is shown in more detail – check the symbols key carefully

Rough Grassland

Coniferous Trees

Non Coniferous Trees

Vegetation

Rough Grassland

Coniferous Woodland

Non Coniferous

When asked what the land use is you must explain what the land is USED for.

In this case depending on which grid square you can see a variety of land uses e.g. a golf course, residential areas, lakes used for recreation, Roads, Allotments and many more.

This includes:-

Its location – Where is it?

Its shape – (linear, star shaped, nucleated)

Its pattern – (nucleated, dispersed or evenly spread)

This includes:-

Canals

Railways

Roads

don’t forget to know the difference between A roads, Motorways, B Roads, Rough Tracks. Look at your OS key carefully

River

Motorway

Four Figure

Grid Reference

7877

Four Figure

Grid Reference

6677

RELIEF RELIEF

LAND USESLAND USES

Four Figure Grid Reference 7877 Four Figure Grid Reference 6677

COMPAREThe word COMPARE in an exam means you must do the following

1. Don’t list the features of each grid square

1. You must compare so use words like the ones belowHIGHER STEEPER DENSER SPARSER

Use connectives such as WHERE AS – as this will force you to compare

3. Use figures to COMPARE e.g. site one is 3m higher than site 2 for example.

RELIEF RELIEF

LAND USESLAND USES

ANSWERLEVEL 1:May be listed, and separate accounts, and imbalanced, i.e. land use or relief only, e.g. in 7877 school, telephone, railway, houses main road, low land, two contours 40 and 50 metres, etc. In 6677 river, transmission line, road, woodland, sloping land, 40 – 90 metres. May be only 2 simple points.IF YOU WANT TO GET MORE THAN 2 POINTS YOU MUST COMPARE

LEVEL 2: (3 – 4 marks)Clear contrasts made; reference to land use and relief, e.g. 6677 has much steeper land, heights vary from below 40 metres to over 90 metres, max height of 110 metres, whereas in 7877 the relief is lower, from below 40 metres to over 50 metres. In 6677 there is only a minor road whereas in 7877 there is a main road. Max 3 if only Relief described. 4 marks

QUESTION 2

Study Figure 1, the ordnance survey map extract and Figure 2, on the next page, an aerial photograph of reading

(a) Name the land uses shown at X, Y and Z on the aerial photograph

(3 marks)

As well as Ordnance Survey maps you will also be given a photograph of part of the area shown on an OS map. The first thing to do is make sure you orientate your photograph correctly so you know exactly which part of the map is shown.

Lets do this now for Reading

What are the key points to look at?

Y

XZ

Look for key features on the map to find out where it is on the OS map then use the OS map to identify the features. For this example the stadium is easy to see as is the roads and shape of the fields

ANSWERS

Study Figure 1, the ordnance survey map extract and Figure 2, on the next page, an aerial photograph of reading

(a) Name the land uses shown at X, Y and Z on the aerial photograph

(3 marks)X = Train track, Track, Railway Y = Gravel Pit, Lake, Water ReservoirZ = Trees, Wood, Woodland, Forest, Non-coniferous wood, deciduous woodland. 3 marks

IN THE EXAM IT WILL BE IN COLOUR AND EASIER TO SEE

Question 2B

(b) Describe and explain the shape of the built –up area of Reading. Use evidence from the photograph and the Ordnance Survey map in your answer.

Relief Drainage

Contour patterns

Landforms

Steepness of slopes

Heights (general height, maximum, lowers)

Valleys – number, shape, gradient,

Number of rivers

Direction of flow

Width

Straight or winding

Tributaries

Human influence – straightening

Lakes, marshes or floodplains

Vegetation Communications

Woodland – location, amount, plantations or natural woodland

Rough Pasture – location, amount

Types, Direction

Landforms followed or avoided

Influence of settlement

Settlement Land Use

Site – height, slope, landform, water supply, resources

Situation – relate site to relief and drainage and other settlements

Route focus, bridging point

Shape – linear or star shaped, dispersed, nucleated

Includes settlement, vegetation and communications but also industry, recreational areas and agriculture

ANSWERSLevel 1: (1 – 2 marks)only descriptive e.g. follows roads, most to south of Railway.Level 2: (3 – 4 marks)needs both description and explanation for top Level 2, although may lack detail from map/photo, e.g. star shaped along roads for good communications, avoids flood plains of rivers, most south of the railway line and River Thames where more flat land. May only be description or explanation for 3 marks.Level 3: (5 – 6 marks)detail from use of map and photo, e.g. star shaped along main lines of communication, e.g. Purley on Thames (6575) area close to both main road and railway. Town largely built-up between railway to north and the M4 to the south except for Caversham area over the bridge to the north. Reading avoids the floodplains and lakes in the low lying valleys of the rivers, e.g. the Thames, Holy Brook – these areas would be prone to flooding and make them unsuitable for settlement. Can refer to map and/or photograph. Shape words accepted = cross-shaped, clover leaf, butterfly. No credit for site or morphology features. 6 marks

QUESTION 3Figures 3a and 3b show the percentage of people living in

areas of Reading who were born outside the UK

(a) On Figure 3b, complete the key for a choropleth (density shading)

(2 marks)

(a) Using Figure 3a, and your key from Figure 3b, shade the areas to complete the map.

( 3 marks)

Dot Maps

Dot maps show the distribution of actual numbers of items. In geography they are Mainly used to show population distribution. Above one dot equals 1 million people. The map overall gives a good impression of the world population distributions but it is difficult to obtain accurate figures.

Rules of the Choropleth map

1. Only use one colour to show differences in intensity or density

This is a good example however it is very difficult to carry it so one alternative may be hatching

QUESTION 3Figures 3a and 3b show the percentage of people living in

areas of Reading who were born outside the UK

(a) On Figure 3b, complete the key for a choropleth (density shading)

(2 marks)

(a) Using Figure 3a, and your key from Figure 3b, shade the areas to complete the map.

( 3 marks)

Try Cross Hatching

If you don’t have 3 different colour blues varying greatly in shade from dark to light use the cross hatching technique to show density

DON’T FORGET THE KEY IT’S WORTH 2 MARKS!

QUESTION 3C

(c) Using Figure 3b, describe the pattern of people born outside the UK in Reading.

(4 marks)

WHAT SHOULD YOU THINK ABOUT WHEN DESCRIBING PATTERNS?

GROUP PLACES TOGETHER AND GIVE LOCATIONAL EXAMPLES EITHER USING COMPASS DIRECTIONS OR USING LANGUAGE SUCH AS IN THE CBD, OUTSKIRTS OR EDGE. USE THE EVIDENCE (FIGURES) FROM THE MAPS EG. THE AREAS WITH THE HIGH PERCENTAGES ARE…

IF IT ASKS FOR A DESCRIPTION THEN ONLY GIVE A DESCRIPTION DON’T WASTE TIME ON AN EXPLANATION

ANSWERS

Level 1: (1 – 2 marks)Basic – may only cover individual wards e.g. the % are lowest in Whitley or Tilehurst, highest in Park or Redlands.

Level 2: (3 – 4 marks)Clear – reference to pattern by grouping of wards and or clear locational information, e.g. wards with the lowest % - e.g. Whitley and Tilehurst are on the outskirts / to the far west and south. Wards with the high % include Park and Redlands on the edge of Reading/ in the east, etc. Accept description of pattern produced by candidate. 4 marks

EQUIPMENT TO TAKE INTO THE EXAM

• SHARP PENCILS

• RUBBER

• RULER

• PROTRACTOR

• COLOURED PENCILS

• PENCIL SHARPENER

• CAUCULATOR

13 QUESTIONS1. What is a Choropleth map?2. What words can you use to make you compare?3. What does 1:50 000 actually mean?4. What two ways can you measure distance on a map?5. What does relief mean?6. How is relief shown on a map (3 ways)7. What is Land Use?8. Name the points starting at North and working

clockwise on a 16 point compass.9. What 3 ways can settlement be described on a map?10. How are communications shown on a map?11. What is hatching?12. What can you use to describe patterns from maps?13. What does a dot map show?

COMPLETE 2007 PAST EXAM QUESTION

READY FOR PART 2 TOMORROW.