Interpretation of maps and photos
Some examination questions include a map, and have these grids and you must find other ways of
students must use their geographical skills to
interpret the map.
This section explains the techniques required
to produce a good answer. Options A–D and G
include topics that might lend themselves to
topographical mapwork involving the analysis of
landscape features. This section also includes a
non-topographical map for Option F.
Geographers should be able to describe and explain
the features of a landscape, and to measure its
characteristics and represent them accurately
through sketch maps and profiles.
Scale is also a useful concept which enables
geographers to visualize the real world close up or
at a distance. The concept is connected to others
such as distance and gradient.
Photo interpretation is another important
technique. Stimulus material such as this may
appear in all sections of the syllabus. You must
learn how to convey the location of specific
features without the help of grid references.
Distance may be distorted and direction skewed.
Terms such as “foreground”, “background”,
“right” and “left” may be used to describe location
relative to other features. Photos may also provide
opportunities for you to make other observations
about season and time of day. From the perspective
of human geography, photographs are a valuable
source of information.
Learning the tricks of
topographical maps
Scale
Many maps will be of the scale 1:50,000. This is
called a representative fraction and in this example
it means that one unit of measurement on the map
represents a distance of 50,000 times that in reality.
Another way of saying the same thing is that 1 cm
represents 50,000 cm or 0.5 km.
Grid references
In order to locate a feature on a map, it is helpful
to use grid references. But some maps do not
3_Mapwork_final.indd 1
conveying the location of a particular feature to the
reader/examiner.
The eastings are the vertical gridlines with
reference numbers increasing towards the east
and the northings are the horizontal gridlines with
reference numbers increasing towards the north.
If you are locating a large feature, for example, it
may be appropriate to write: “The upland west of
easting 05”, but if it is a small feature, you need
to locate it more accurately using a six-figure
reference.
Direction and bearings
This is another very useful way of locating a
feature. For example: “The stadium 3 km north-
west of the town centre.”
Alternatively, bearings might be used, in which
case you would write: “The stadium is at a bearing
of 270° and it is 3 km from the town centre.”
Distance and area
Measuring the distance on a map requires an
understanding of scale and converting centimetres
on the map to kilometres on the ground. Metric
measurements are used.
The three essential locational descriptors are
dimensions, direction and distance.
Descriptors
3Ds:
Dimensions Direction Distance
Interpreting contours
The contours representing slope A–B in the
diagram are far apart and this indicates a relatively
gentle slope.
The scale of this map is 1:50,000 or 2 cm = 1 km.
To calculate the gradient of slope A–B we need the
horizontal distance (actually the ground distance)
and the height difference.
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Rise: 150 m Sample questions and answers

Run: 1,500 m This section includes a series of topographical
Gradient = 1:10, or 10%. maps, one thematic map and some photos.

The contours indicate a valley leading northwards
from the top of the upland.
Each map/photo has one or more related options.
The short questions here emphasize practical skills
and mapping techniques. Teachers are encouraged
to develop other questions relating to their
associated option.

OPTIONS A (Freshwater – drainage

basins), D (Geophysical hazards) and
222
E (Leisure, tourism and sport)
A B QUESTIONS ON MAP 1

200 (a) With the aid of a sketch map, describe the relief
150 and drainage pattern between the summit of
100 Montagne Pelée and the coast to the south-
50 west. (5)
(b) Calculate the approximate gradient of this slope
from the summit via Coulée Rivière Blanche to
0 2 the coast. Show the calculations. (5)
Km ANSWERS
(a) The relief is steep with concave slopes leading
Grid references down from the summit of Montagne Pelée
The diagram shows one grid square. The sides of the – a volcano. The river valleys leading south-
square are divided into 10. This allows us to give a westwards from the summit are deeply eroded
more accurate six-figure reference. Note that three with steep sides. The drainage pattern is radial
eastings are stated before the three northings. and has caused this deeply incised landscape.
For [5 marks] both relief and drainage should
Examples:
be described using geographical terms.
Point C – 002 112 (b) The difference in height from the coast to the
Point D – 005 115 summit is 1,380 m (the rise).

Point E – 009 119 The horizontal distance (the run) is 6,000 m.

1,380/6,000 × 100 = 1:2.3 or 23%.
12 The answer is approximate [2], and the method
E is more important [3].

C
11
00 01

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06

05

04

03

02

N
01

Scale 1:25,000

00 01 02 03 04
Map 1 Fort-de-France, Martinique
Source: Adapted from Carte de Randonnée, IGN 4501MT – Fort-de-France, Montagne Pelée. 2006

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OPTIONS B (Oceans and coastal

margins), D (Geophysical hazards) and
E (Leisure, tourism and sport)

Map 2 St Levan, Cornwall, UK

Scale 1:25,000 Source: Ordnance Survey Explorer Map
01 02 03 Sheet 102 (Lands End)

Map 3 Southwold, Suffolk, UK

Source: Ordnance Survey Explorer Map, Sheet 231 (Southwold and Bungay)

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QUESTIONS ON MAPS 2 and 3 conditions. Flat and low-lying hinterland and

the existence of the R. Blyth increase the risk of
(a) Using only map evidence, describe three
flooding. For [5 marks] the answer should refer
contrasting physical features and of these two
to more than one coastal hazard.
coastal areas. (5)
(b) Using map evidence, explain why coastal QUESTIONS ON PHOTO 1
hazards pose a threat to the population living in
This photo shows a stretch of coastline in South
the Southwold area (Map 3). (5)
Wales. In the foreground is a platform composed of
ANSWERS relatively hard liassic limestone. At the foot of the
cliff are some large rounded cobbles.
(a) Contrasting physical features for St Levan
(map 2) and Southwold (map 3): (a) Draw an annotated sketch showing the main
Map 2 – High cliffs likely to consist of resistant physical features of this stretch of coastline. (5)
rock. Map 3 – Low cliffs likely to consist of soft (b) Explain how erosive processes have influenced
rock. coastal morphology. (5)
Map 2 – Indented coastline (headlands and ANSWERS
bays). Map 3 – Exposed drift-aligned coastline
of sandy beach. (a) The sketch should be approximately the same
size as the photo. The annotations should be
Map 2 – Relatively high elevation of coastal
around the sketch and linked to particular
hinterland. Map 3 – Flat and low-lying land
features by an arrow or a line [5].
with marshland south of Southwold.
(b) The wave-cut platform is similar to a limestone
For [5 marks] answers must provide all three
pavement, and its blocked structure with clints
types of contrasting features. These features
and grykes results from erosion. This process
should be named and located as evidence.
involves the rounded cobbles being washed
(b) Answers should identify the likely hazards as
along the grykes by advancing and retreating
coastal erosion and marine flooding on Map 3.
tides (hence their rounded shape). Softer rock
Exposure to these hazards is due to the low
exists between the layers and is more easily
elevation of cliffs, which are also likely to be
eroded. The origin of the cobbles at the foot
soft. No local knowledge of actual geology
of the cliff is the result of undercutting of the
is expected, but a general understanding
cliff face by marine forces. The hardness of the
of principles should be shown. Lack of
limestone geology is likely to slow down the
indentations reduces protection in stormy
rate of erosion in this area [5].

Photo 1 Llantwit Major, South Glamorgan,

Wales, UK

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OPTION C (Extreme environments)

17

16

15

14

13

12 N

11
Scale 1:50,000

00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08
Map 4 Aoraki – Mount Cook, New Zealand
Source: Terralink Aoraki/Mt Cook Alpine Area. Edition 3, 2005

QUESTIONS ON MAP 4 (b) The Hooker river flows out of the lake having
received its water supply from the surrounding
(a) Outline the evidence that the land each side
glaciers. It has a broad valley filled with glacial
of the Mueller valley is the result of glacial
outwash, likely to consist of moraine, till and
erosion. (5)
boulder clay. This appears to be a misfit river,
(b) Describe and explain the features of the Hooker
i.e. it is much narrower than its valley and
River and its valley. (5)
flows down the northern side of it. The river
ANSWERS will have a fluctuating regime being at peak
flow during and after the spring snowmelt
(a) Pyramidal peaks, arretes, truncated spurs,
around August [5].
corries, U-shaped valleys. All should be located
and briefly described [5].

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Map 5 Grand Canyon north and south rims
Source: National Geographic
QUESTIONS ON MAP 5
(a) The scale of this map is 1:25,000. Explain the
meaning of this. (2)
(b) A map with the scale of 1:50,000 would allow
you to see the landscape in more detail. Explain
why this statement is false. (2)
(c) In which direction is the river flowing? Give
reasons for your answer. (1)
(d) Describe the location and features of Newberry
Butte. (Its height is given in feet.) (4)
3_Mapwork_final.indd 7
ANSWERS
(a) 1 cm on the map represents a distance of
25,000 cm or 0.25 km in reality [2].
(b) 1 cm on the map represents the distance of
50,000 cm or 0.5 km in reality. Therefore
1:50,000 shows less detail [2].
(c) The river’s elevation is indicated by the blue
numbers. These reduce from 81 to 80 from
west to east, i.e. the river is flowing towards the
east or east-south-east [1].
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(d) You must attempt to locate the butte without OPTION F (The geography of food and
grid references. Answers need to consider the
contour lines and their height. Newberry Butte health)
has a steeper south-east slope, and the north-
west slope is relatively gentle. Both slopes Key:
1–10 11–50 51–100 101–250 251–500 501+
are gradual but the gradient increases greatly
towards the summit [4]. March 2014 April 2014 N

GUINEA

SIERRA
LEONE

LIBERIA
Gueckedou:
Origin of outbreak

August 2014 September 2014 N

SIERRA
Photo 2 Photographic interpretation. Aletscher Glacier, Switzerland LEONE

Source: Robin Middleton, 2014 Freetown

LIBERIA
Monrovia
QUESTIONS ON PHOTO 2
District data for July 2014 not available
(a) When this photo was taken, the camera was
pointing northwards. Estimate the season and February 2015 March 2015 N

time of day and justify your answers. (4)

(b) Using only an annotated sketch, describe the
location and formation of medial moraine in
the photo. (6)
ANSWERS
(a) The month was August and the time was
midday. Summer or autumn and midday or
early afternoon are acceptable answers [2].
Map 6 The spread of ebola March 2014–March 2015
The justification might refer to the global
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-28755033
hemisphere, direction of the sun’s rays, their
angle of incidence, the vegetation and clothing.
There may be other acceptable answers [2]. QUESTIONS ON MAP 6
(b) Award [3] for a tidy and accurate sketch with (a) Name the process of viral spread depicted on
annotations. These short descriptions should be these six maps. (2)
within the frame of the diagram or connected (b) Describe the spatial changes in the spread of
by an arrow to the feature. The description this disease between March 2014 and March
should locate the moraine, comment on its 2015. (3)
composition and describe its origins [3].
(c) Name and evaluate the cartographic technique
used in these maps. (2)
(d) Suggest an alternative mapping technique to
represent the same data. (3)

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ANSWERS
(a) The process is expansion diffusion [2].
Other acceptable answers are relocation or
contagious diffusion where the disease moves
to new areas and intensifies at the origins.
(b) The origin of the outbreak of disease was
Gueckedou in Guinea close to the border of
Sierra Leone. By March 2015 it has spread
along the coast and in land affecting much of
West Africa [3].
(c) Choropleth. The merit of this technique is that
data for disease incidence are contained within
political boundaries, which would have assisted
those in charge of its control [2].
(d) An alternative technique might be to
represent the incidence of disease by one
proportional circle located in the centre of each
administrative district. Circle size would be
proportional to disease incidence [3].
OPTION G (Urban environments)
QUESTIONS ON PHOTO 3
The photograph shows a residential zone in São
Paulo.
(a) Draw an annotated sketch to show the
principal features of this area. (5)
(b) Divide the area into zones according to the type
of socio-economic activity that exists there. (5)
3_Mapwork_final.indd 9
ANSWERS
(a) The sketch should be approximately the same
area as the photo and drawn as an oblique
view. The annotations should be added around
the perimeter of the sketch or below it. Letters
or numbers may be used to link the annotation
to the sketch. In this case a key should be
provided. Full marks will be awarded for a
neat, accurate and well-labelled sketch.
(b) There are two distinct divisions. To the left of
the road is a lower-class residential area. This is
indicated by the use of scrap building material
such as corrugated iron. Recycling is likely
and is indicated by the scrap metal storage on
the roofs. The presence of people suggests that
active street trading exists and there is evidence
of informal retailing at street level. Open
drainage can be seen.
In contrast, the area on the right of the
central road is entirely given over to luxury
apartments. The provision of leisure facilities
indicates that this affluent group of residents
regards home as a place for leisure and
recreation (tennis and swimming).
For full marks there must be a description of
both social and economic activity.
Photo 3 Favela Parasiapolis,
São Paulo, Brazil
Source: Luiz Arthur Lairao.
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