Lesson Six
Six-figure Grid References

 How can we pinpoint places on an
Ordnance Survey map?
 How could you describe to a friend where to find the school on an
Ordnance Survey map?

Watch the RGS-IBG subject knowledge animation to learn more about grid references
Start at 5:10.

 Read the Easting ( 94 )
 Imagine the square is divided into ten, count how many tenths up from the
Easting ( 3 ).
 Now read the Northing ( 36 ).
 Count how many tenths up from the
Northing ( 8 ).
 This will give you six digits.

How do you read sixfigure grid references?
37
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
36
1
94
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
95
What is the six-figure grid reference for the red square and the blue square?

How do you read sixfigure grid references?
37
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
36
1
94
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
95
943368
946365

Six-figure grid reference on in Greater London
An example of a six-figure grid reference. The letters refer to the National
Grid. This pinpoints an exact location in Great Britain to within 100m.

 If the map scale is 1:25,000, this means that every 1 cm on the map represents 25,000 cm or 0.25km on land.
 In other words, 4cm = 1km on a map with a scale of 1:25,000.


If the distance is straight or ‘as the crow flies’ we can use a ruler to calculate the map distance in cm.
 We can use a piece of string to measure the distances when they are not straight, such as along a road or river.
 We then convert from cm to km by dividing by four for a 1:25,000 map
 E.g. a distance of 8cm on the map would be 2km on land.

 Use your knowledge of six-figure grid references and scale to solve the clues.
 The first team to find the treasure are the winners!

 How did you find the treasure hunt?
Did you all get the same answers?
 Now do the end of unit assessment to test out your map skills!