中文（繁體）
中文（简体）
English
Primary General Studies, Maps and Directions, Paper 1: scale, bearings and distance
Primary General Studies, Maps and Directions, Paper 1: scale, bearings and distance
Ten items on map scale conversion, map distance and real distance, the eight compass bearings and their degrees, reading direction from a compass rose, contour spacing, right-angle routes and finding map length from a real distance.
Focus A scale of 1:10,000 means 1 cm on the map is 10,000 cm or 100 m on the ground; real distance is map distance times the scale; the eight compass directions are 45 degrees apart and south-east is 135 degrees; direction is read from the compass rose; closer contour lines mean a steeper slope; right-angle routes are solved with Pythagoras.
01 Paper details (check answers afterwards)
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Questions | 10 |
| Suggested time | 25 |
| Difficulty mix | Foundation 4 · Intermediate 3 · Challenge 2 · Error redo 1 |
| Chapter | Chapter: Primary General Studies: Maps and Directions |
| Level | P4 to P6 |
02 Questions (10 items)
- FoundationA map has a scale of 1:10,000. One centimetre on the map represents how many metres on the ground?
- FoundationOn the same 1:10,000 map two points are 4 cm apart. What is the real distance?
- FoundationWhat bearing marks the south-east direction, measured clockwise from north?
- FoundationA map has no direction printed on it. How do you find north?
- IntermediateOn a 1:50,000 map two points are 3 cm apart. What is the real distance in kilometres?
- IntermediateFrom point A you walk 300 m east, then 400 m north to point B. What is the straight-line distance between A and B?
- IntermediateWhat does it mean when contour lines on a map are close together?
- ChallengeOn a 1:25,000 map, how long on paper is a real distance of 2 km?
- ChallengeEight compass directions share 360 degrees equally. How many degrees apart are neighbouring directions?
- Error redoA classmate says that every map has north at the top. Is that correct?
03 Answers and one-line notes
| # | Answer | One-line note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10,000 cm = 100 m. | One hundred centimetres make a metre, so 10,000 cm is 100 m. |
| 2 | 4 × 100 = 400 m. | One centimetre stands for 100 m, so four centimetres are 400 m. |
| 3 | 135 degrees. | East is 90 degrees, and south-east lies between east and south at 135 degrees. |
| 4 | Look for the compass rose or north arrow on the map. | Maps are not all drawn the same way, so check the compass rose. |
| 5 | 3 × 50,000 = 150,000 cm = 1,500 m = 1.5 km. | Convert centimetres to metres, then divide by 1,000 for kilometres. |
| 6 | √(300² + 400²) = 500 m. | The two legs form a right angle, so use Pythagoras for the hypotenuse. |
| 7 | The slope is steep. | The same height gain over a shorter distance makes a steeper slope. |
| 8 | 200,000 cm ÷ 25,000 = 8 cm. | Convert 2 km to 200,000 cm, then divide by the scale. |
| 9 | 360 ÷ 8 = 45 degrees. | North, north-east, east and the rest divide the circle evenly. |
| 10 | No. Some maps are rotated to fit the page, so check the compass rose. | Direction should be read from the compass rose on the map. |
04 What to do after marking
- After marking, redo only the wrong items and write down which step went wrong (formula, unit, or misread number).
- Repeat the same item two days later; move to the next paper only when both attempts are correct.
- Parents only need the answer and note columns; there is no need to explain every item.
Book a Primary General Studies tutor
Questions and answers are written originally by the TutorZone team and are not taken from any school, publisher or examination authority paper. Every value is checked by computer.
