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map reading 格網方格

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Map reading in HKDSE
1) Map reading is a compulsory part in HKDSE, it appears in MCQ every year and
occasionally in DBQ.
2) There are two kinds of map used in the exam, they are: a) 1: 5000 black and
white map (mostly shows urban area), b) 1:20 000 colour map (mostly shows
suburb area), the signs used in these maps are slightly different, but the skills are
the same.
3) This note includes all map reading questions in HKDSE in recent years. These
questions can be divided into 7 types and solutions are given accordingly. This
note can help you a lot in preparing for the examination.
4) The Curriculum Documents of HKDSE (P.64-65) map reading related parts are
attached as follows.

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 Skill 1 -------- grid reference and features identification
a) Conventional Sign identification
Example DSE 14

solution:
1) Read the grid square
Tips for reading the grid square: Read the door plate then go up 先
睇門牌後上樓 (read the horizontal grid line “easting” first, then the vertical grid
line “Northing”)
Take 9185 as an example
a) Top-right square (右上): always read the top-right square of the crossline:
b) Horizontal then vertical (先橫後直): take the 1st value(91) on the horizontal
line, followed by the 2nd value(85) on the vertical line

The shaded area is 9185

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2) feature identification read attachment 1,2
Feature identification
Example DSE 13

Solution:
1) Read the grid reference (advance)
Tips for Reading the grid reference: read the “big” door plate, followed by the “small”
door plate, then the “big” floor, followed by the “small” floor
先睇大門牌(大格)，再睇小門牌(小格); 先上大樓，再上小樓

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Take 159647 as an example
door plate floor always “Read the door plate then go
門牌 上樓 up” 先睇門牌後上樓
15 9 64 7 Big square first (showed on the
Big Small Big Small map) , followed by the small square
square square square square (not showed on the map, need to be
小格 小格 drew by yourself)
大格 大格

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2) features identification see attachment 1,2,3
Extra example on feature identification (DSE 12)

b) Easting and northing

Example DSE 13

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Solution:
1) The vertical line from left to right is called Easting; The horizontal line from top to
down is called Northing

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Skill 2 -------- Calculation of Area
Example DSE 12

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Solution:
1) Divide the irregular polygon into polygons that are easy to be calculated (triangle
or rectangle)
2) The irregular polygon is better to be slightly smaller (solution 1) or larger
(solution 2) than the actual size.
3) Calculate the actual size according to the scale, if the scale of the map is 1:5000,
then

the scale of the map 1:5000 1:20000

1cm on the map 5000cm/50m 20000cm/50m

equals to real world

1cm ² (1X1cm) on the 5000cm X5000cm 20000cm X 20000cm

map equals to real =25,000,000 cm ²/ =400,000,000cm ²/
world
50m X 50m 200m X 200m
=2,500m ² =40,000m ²
1km ² =1000m*1000m
=1,000,000m ²
=10,000,000,000cm ²

1) Hence, we can calculate the area in the real world from the area on the map
Solution 1 Solution 2
(smaller than the actual (larger than the actual area)
area)
Area on map 7.5cm2 9.8cm2

Area in the real 7.5cm X 2500 9.8cm X 2500

world =18,750 m2/0.01875 km2 =24,500 m2/0.0245 km2

2) Hence, we know that the actual area is larger than 18,750m ² (Solution 1) /
smaller than 24,500m ² (Solution 2). Find the nearest answer.
a)15,750m ² b) 18,000m ² c) 20,500m ² d)25,000m ²

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Skill 3 -------- Gradient
Example DSE 12

Gradient represents the steepness of a slope, it is presented in

1: X / 1 in X
For example, 1 : 5/ 1 in 5 means we are 1m higher for every 5m
we go

Solution:
a) Find the horizontal distance
1) Use a small paper slip, calculate the distance of the path on
the map
2) Actual distance = distance on map X scale. For example,
distance on map is 7cm and the scale is 1:5000, the actual
distance is 7cm X 5000 = 35,000cm =350m

b) Find the vertical range (difference in altitude)

1) The vertical range of each contour line is 20m, find the vertical range of the slope

c) Calculate the slope

1) Draw a triangle on the scrap paper, mark the height of the triangle as the vertical
range and the horizontal distance as the base. Slope = vertical range/ horizontal
distance (直除橫)

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Skill 4 -------- Direction/ Bearing
a) Bearing
Example DSE 12

Two ways to tell direction/ bearing

whole The compass is divided into 360˚

circle counting clockwise from the
bearing north
- The east is 090˚
- The south is 180˚
- The west is 270˚
- The north is 000˚ or 360˚

reduced It is read from the north or the

bearing south towards the east or the
west

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 Reduced bearing

Compass Whole circle

points bearing

b) Identification of the direction (DSE 15)

Solution:
1) Mark the location (019667)
2) Use the major geographical features to locate, e.g. a) water b) ridge line (山脊線)
c) settlement

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Skill 5 ------- transect and major land use
Example DSE 13

Solution:
1) Tear a paper slip from the scrap or question paper to link the two points
(135650、141650)
2) Mark and identify the major land use

major land use

Institutional land use Government building (fire/police
station), social service, education,
culture, medical, community service/
NGO, military, grave
Industrial land use Industrial building
Recreational land use Park, playground, theatre
Transport land use Road, bridge, railway, airport
Residential land use /
Commercial land use Shops, restaurant, office
Mixed land use (mostly Mostly found in the old town (Sheung
commercial+residential) wan to causeway bay, Yau Tsim Mong)
The ground floor Is mostly commercial
land use while the upper floor is
residential land use

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Skill 6 -------- cross-section
a) Cross-section and land use
Example DSE 12

Solution:
1) Mark the base of the cross-section. Be careful and see if it is a straight line (like
this example) or a curve path or road
2) Tear a small paper slip, place it according to the path and mark the altitude of the
contour line accordingly
3) Link up the mark to draw the cross-section

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b) Vertical Exaggeration
Example CE 09

Solution:
1) Vertical exaggeration means that the vertical scale is larger than the
horizontal scale. This could exaggerate the shape of the ridgeline.

2) If the horizontal scale of the map is 1:5000 (1cm on map = 5000cm in the
reality), vertical scale of the map is 1: 10000 (1cm on map = 10000cm in the
reality). The vertical Exaggeration is 2

1: 5000(𝐻𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑧𝑜𝑛𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒)
2(𝑉. 𝐸. ) =
1: 10000(𝑉𝑒𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑐𝑎𝑙 𝑆𝑐𝑎𝑙𝑒)
Note: 1:5000=1/5000=1÷5000

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c) Intervisible
Example DSE 14

Solution:
1) Find and mark the two points
2) Draw the cross-section and link them in straight line
3) If the line doesn’t go through the cross-section, then it is intervisible, if not, it is
not intervisible

All points are intervisible except AD

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Skill 7 -------- common sense
a) Locational advantage
Example DSE 13

Example DSE 16

b) Settlement and living condition

Example DSE 13

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Example DSE 14

Solution:
1) Use your common sense
2) Explanation of some keywords
Hilly relief The relief is not flat, with hill
accessibility being able to be reached or entered (how convenient is the
transport network)
noise Affected by transport/ commercial activities
Water supply Near ***freshwater***, e.g. lake or river, ocean and sea
cannot supply water

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 Appendix 1

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 Appendix 2

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 Appendix 3 Feature

Gentle Slope Steep Slope

Escarpment

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Cliff Shoulder

Concave Slope Convex Slope

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Spur and Valley Ridge

Saddle Basin

Reference:
Aristo interactive Geog
3D Model

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 Extended part:
Map Reading Skills in the field

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