Lesson Y8-U02-L06

Map Skills: Reading the Coast with 6-Figure Grid References Quiz: KS3 Geography, Unit 8

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson Y8-U02-L06, Map Skills: Reading the Coast with 6-Figure Grid References: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Geography (National Curriculum), Unit 8: Year 8: Coasts: A Changing Landscape, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which grid lines do you read along the bottom of an OS map?

    • Contour lines
    • Compass bearings
    • Northings
    • Eastings

  2. How many digits does a four-figure grid reference contain?

    • Two
    • Eight
    • Four
    • Six

  3. What precision does a six-figure grid reference give on the ground?

    • About 10 metres
    • About 100 metres
    • About 1 km
    • About 10 km

  4. What area is named by a standard four-figure grid reference on an OS map?

    • One kilometre square
    • One hundred metres
    • Ten metre square
    • Ten kilometre square

  5. What does a single grid square subdivision represent in a six-figure reference?

    • One-hundredth
    • One-half
    • One-tenth
    • One-quarter

  6. Into how many tenths is each grid square split, across and up?

    • Five
    • Ten
    • Twelve
    • Four

  7. Which coordinate set must always be read and written first in a grid reference?

    • Scale
    • Eastings
    • Northings
    • Contours

  8. Which grid lines run horizontally and are read up the side of an OS map?

    • Equators
    • Northings
    • Eastings
    • Contours

  9. A stack lies just right of easting 25 and just above northing 70. What is its four-figure square?

    • 7025
    • 2507
    • 2570
    • 2700

  10. A beach is in square 18, 4 tenths across and 2 tenths up square 04. What is its six-figure reference?

    • 184042
    • 401842
    • 182404
    • 184024

  11. A feature is 3 tenths across and 8 tenths up its square. Which digits are added to the easting and northing?

    • 8 and 3
    • 8 and 8
    • 3 and 3
    • 3 and 8

  12. Marker A is in square 2570, 7 tenths across and 5 tenths up. What is its six-figure reference?

    • 257750
    • 257705
    • 250770
    • 705257

  13. What error occurs if grid coordinates are written as northing-first instead of easting-first?

    • Shifted datum
    • Reversed tenths
    • Inverted scale
    • Swapped order

  14. Which grid reference type should a coastguard use to pinpoint a walker?

    • Compass bearing
    • Eight-figure reference
    • Six-figure reference
    • Four-figure reference

  15. Marker C is at 316138 and marker A is at 257705. Where is C compared with A?

    • North-west of A
    • South-east of A
    • Directly north of A
    • Directly west of A

  16. How many total digits are contained within a standard four-figure grid reference?

    • Four digits
    • Eight digits
    • Two digits
    • Six digits

  17. Why is a six-figure grid reference inadequate for pinpointing a single tiny rock pool?

    • Outdated data
    • Wrong scale
    • Too imprecise
    • Too detailed

  18. Which geographical source provides a more realistic visual depiction of a spit's actual shape and colour?

    • Scale bar
    • Aerial photograph
    • Grid reference
    • Contour map

  19. Why is a grid square divided into tenths for a six-figure reference?

    • To change scale
    • To increase precision
    • To measure area
    • To find height

  20. Why must eastings always be read before northings on an OS map?

    • To find grid scale
    • To calculate contour height
    • To measure true north
    • To avoid wrong locations

All KS3 Geography quizzes