Leaving Certificate Geography: Drawing Sketch Maps

1. MAP AND PHOTO SKILLS
SKETCH MAPS
LEAVING CERTIFICATE GEOGRAPHY
Miss O’ Connor

2. IMPORTANT
Always, always, always use graph
paper for drawing sketch maps of O.S.
maps or aerial photographs.

3. DRAWING A SKETCH MAP OF AN O.S. MAP
 Drawing a sketch map to half
scale. Use your ruler –
measure the length and
breadth of the map. Divide
these figures by 2 and draw
your sketch map to that size.
• MEASURE FROM
HERE
• Not from here

4. EXAMPLE  24cm ÷ 2 = 12cm
 18cm ÷ 2 = 9cm
 Your sketch map will
measure 12 cm x 9
cm.
 Your sketch map must
be the same shape as
the O.S. map in front of
you. E.g. this map is
portrait so your sketch
map must be portrait.
24 cm
18
cm

5. CHECKLIST FOR DRAWING A SKETCH MPA OF
AN O.S. MAP:
1. Give your sketch map a title.
2. Include a map legend.
3. Include a scale. All O.S. maps for Ireland are
1:50,000. You will almost always be asked to draw
a sketch map to half scale. This means that your
scale will be 1: 100,000.
4. Include a north arrow. North is always pointing
upwards on an O.S. map for Ireland.
5. Only include the features that you have been
asked to include.
6. If there is a coastline, include the coastline.

6. EXAMPLE OF AN O.S.
SKETCH MAP:

7. DRAWING A SKETCH MAP OF AN AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPH: CHECKLIST
1. Give your sketch map a title.
2. No need to include north arrow.
3. Do not include scale (scale is not given for aerial
photographs).
4. Frame of sketch map must be same shape as
photograph (portrait or landscape).
5. Insert coastline, skyline or horizon if they appear
in the photograph.
6. Draw the outline or boundary of each feature
asked for and only include the features you are
asked for.
7. Label each feature or include a map legend.

8. EXAMPLE OF A
SKETCH MAP OF AN
AERIAL
PHOTOGRAPH