Geographical Skills: Maps, Graphs, Photographs and Statistics
What this domain tests
This domain tests map, graph, photograph and statistical skills: reading scale and grid references, interpreting contours, choosing suitable graphs and describing patterns accurately.
Core rules and concepts
- Scale converts map distance to ground distance; a 1:50,000 map means 1 cm represents 0.5 km.
- Four-figure grid references locate a square; six-figure references locate a point within it. Read eastings before northings.
- Contours join points of equal height; close contours mean steep slopes. Gradient = vertical interval ÷ horizontal distance.
- Bar, line, pie and scatter graphs suit different data; choose according to the data type and the comparison.
- Photographs can show land use and processes, but interpretation must be supported by visible evidence.
Worked example
On a 1:50,000 map, two points are 4 cm apart and their heights differ by 100 m. Reasoning: ground distance = 4 × 0.5 km = 2 km = 2,000 m. Gradient = 100 ÷ 2,000 = 0.05, or 1 in 20. State the units and simplify; do not write 1:20 as a map scale, because it is a slope ratio.
Traps
Do not read northings before eastings. Do not measure along a curved road with a straight line if the question asks for route distance. Do not describe a graph as going up without quoting values. Do not infer too much from a photograph without evidence.