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Cartographic skills

Use and interpret maps, photographs and associated cartographic evidence across GCSE Geography.

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90 min

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AqaGcseGeographyGeographical skills

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18 objective pages available

Cartographic skills18 objectives

Use and understand latitude and longitude coordinates.
Recognise and describe distributions and patterns of human and physical features on maps.
Identify and describe significant physical and human landscape features on maps at global and other scales.
Analyse interrelationships between physical and human factors on maps.
Establish associations between observed patterns on thematic maps.
Use and interpret OS maps at 1:50,000, 1:25,000 and other topic-appropriate scales.
Use and understand four-figure and six-figure grid references.
Use scale, distance and direction, including straight and curved line distances.
Use and understand gradient, contour and spot height.
Identify basic landscape features and describe characteristics from map evidence.
Identify major relief features and relate cross-sectional drawings to relief features.
Infer physical and human landscape patterns from map evidence, including relief, drainage, settlement, communication and land use.
Interpret cross sections and transects of physical and human landscapes.
Describe physical features shown on large-scale maps for two of coastal, fluvial and glacial landscapes.
Infer human activity from map evidence, including tourism.
Compare maps and interpret maps with ground, aerial and satellite photographs.
Draw, label, understand and interpret sketch maps and sketches from photographs.
Label and annotate diagrams, maps, graphs, sketches and photographs.

latitudelongitudedistributionspatternssignificant landscape featuresmap scaleinterrelationshipmap analysisthematic mapassociationOS mapscale

Master Latitude and Longitude: Compare places, patterns, or impacts with clear evidence instead of making a general statement about longitude.
Map Pattern Recognition: Practice identifying and describing patterns of human and physical features on various maps.

Confusing Latitude and Longitude: Remember that latitude lines run horizontally and measure north or south of the equator, while longitude lines run vertically and measure east or west of the Prime Meridian.
Misinterpreting Map Patterns: To fix this, practice identifying specific features and their distributions on various maps, focusing on the differences between human-made and natural features.

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