MAPWORK SKILLS IN GEOGRAPHY
MAPWORK SKILLS IN GEOGRAPHY
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Regardless of the level you are studying in Geography being able to identify key features and areas on the map is a vital skill. For National 4 level or giving the location of large features you need to be able to use 4-figure grid references, for National 5 and Higher you need to be able to use 6-figure grid references to identify smaller features on the map.
4-figure grid references:
STEP 1: Imagine there is an ‘L’ in the corner of the box you wish to give the 4-figure grid reference for.
STEP 2: Imagine writing the letter ‘L’, follow the first part of the line down to the bottom of the page (or up to the top if this is closer) and read the number. In the example shown, this is 92.
STEP 3: Now imagine you are completing the ‘L’ by adding the bottom line. Follow this part along to the left-hand side (or right-hand side if closer) and read the number. In the example shown, this is 96.
STEP 4: Add these numbers together to make your 4-figure grid reference e.g. 9296. You don't need a comma between the numbers.
6-figure grid references:
An easy way to start with six-figure grid a reference is to work out the four-figure reference first, which from above we know is 0412.
Once you have done this you need to divide the square up into tenths in your head (from 0-9) from left to right and then again from the bottom to the top as shown in the diagrams to the right. This will give you the figures to add to the four-figure grid reference to make it six-figure and therefore more accurate.
For this example, the church is found four-figure grid reference 0412, Or six-figure grid reference 045128.
N5 Geo Skills OS Mapwork 2026.pdfPage updated
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