1. 4-figure grid references
Chapter 19: Map Skills
4-figure grid references
These types of grid references are used to locate an entire square on the OS map:
Give the sub-zone letter. B
Give the two-digit number of the Easting line to the left of the square.
B 53
Give the two-digit number of the Northing line at the bottom of the square.
B 53 03

2. 6-figure grid references
Chapter 19: Map Skills
6-figure grid references
These types of grid references are used to locate a specific point within a grid square on the OS map:
You can use a ruler to divide the square up into 10 equal parts along the Easting and the Northing lines, 2 mm each.
Give the sub-zone letter. B
Give the two-digit number of the Easting line to the left of the square.
B 55_

3. 6-figure grid references (continued)
Chapter 19: Map Skills
6-figure grid references (continued)
Give the two-digit number of the Northing line at the bottom of the square.
B 55_ 05_
Now go back and add the third and sixth figures. Divide the Easting and the Northing lines into 10 equal parts each. Firstly count how far out from the Easting line the object is.
B _
Then count how far up from the Northing line the object is. B

4. Curved-line distance Chapter 19: Map Skills
This question normally asks you to measure the length of a road or a river.
Put the straight edge of a piece of paper at the starting point. Mark it on the page and on the map.
Now mark where the road makes its first turn. Mark the map and the page. Turn the page until it lines up with the road again mark it.
Keep marking and turning the page until you reach the end point.
Remove the sheet and place against the scale bar at the bottom of the legend that is supplied with the map extract. (Hint: Make sure you place it at the 0, not at the beginning of the line.)
Now read off the length of the road from the first mark to the last in miles or kilometres.

5. Chapter 19: Map Skills
Sketch maps
Always draw sketch maps in pencil, never trace them. Marks will be lost if there are signs of tracing.
Write the title at the top of the page, ‘Sketch map of 2010 map’.
Measure the size of the original map extract and draw the sketch map half the size. Make sure that they are the same shape.
Divide the sketch map and the map extract up into 9 even squares.
Draw in the north arrow.
Draw in the coastline, using the 9 squares to guide you.
Draw in only the features asked in the question. Only place a symbol on the map. Explain it in a legend/key at the bottom of the map.
Only roads can be named on the sketch map. They should be drawn in a pencil line.