LO:
To use information learnt during the rivers topic e.g.
how a river changes from source to mouth to answer
skills based questions for paper 1.
To develop geographical skills such as use of grid
references, contours, cross sections, analysing
patterns of data, using graphs annotating
maps/photos.
Either for paper 1 or Rivers section of
paper 2.
General rivers skills
Techniques – interpreting aerial photographs
Name the river landform shown in this aerial photograph.
What else can you identify?
How can you tell that this is not the upper course of a river?
What kind of graph is this?
What does it show?
Rivers fieldwork questions
Describe the pattern
of results shown in
the graph (3)
OS Map skills for rivers
 https://www.o2learn.co.uk/o2_video.php?vid=1536
The Bradshaw model
River Browney
Geographical investigation skills
exam questions
What geographical
hypothesis could you
investigated linked to
this river? (2)
1 a. Explain why this
hypothesis would be
suitable (3)
2. Explain the primary and
secondary data that
could be collected to
investigate this (6)
1.
How is relief shown on a map?
Relief is shown on maps in three main ways:
contour lines
spot heights
19
32
40
30
20
10
37
21
31
46
12
colour shading.
10-20 m
21-30 m
31-40 m
41-50 m
14
Contours
Relief is often shown on OS maps by light brown/orange lines known as contour
lines.
Contours are lines that join points
of equal height.
Contour lines usually have a
number attached to them. This
number indicates the height of the
land above sea-level.
Shape of
slope/ slope
patterns
Relief on maps
On this OS Map the contour
lines are far apart. This
means that the gradient is
less steep. The numbers
on the contour lines
represent the height at
which is at in metres. If
there are no lines or if they
are far apart from each
other we can conclude that
the land is flat.
First of all are
you
comfortable
with 4 fig and 6
fig grid
references?
Higher level question
Compare the relief on the west and east of
the River Otter (4)
Foundation question
Answer
2. OS Maps
Identify v-shaped valleys and spurs of land.
Skills practice
Answers
Mapwork
A common question in the final exam is being asked to describe a river and its
valley between two set points. You must remember to mention all of the following
to gain maximum marks.
First of all describe the river:
> The direction of flow (remember a river normally gets wider as it flows downstream, so
this can give you a clue here)
> The width of the river and any changes that occur (use the scale on the map to help you
here)
> The speed of the river (this can be worked out by looking at the gradient over which it
flows)
> Sinuosity (how much the river meanders, with grid references)
> Identify specific features (eg waterfalls, ox bow lakes – these may used later in the same
question for feature formation)
Mapwork
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
Now describe the valley:
> Width of the valley (again use the scale to help here – look at the the distance between
the first contours on each side of the river itself to get the valley’s width)
> The shape of the valley (eg v shape with tight contours and steep slopes or a flatter valley
with few contours)
> The stage that the river is in (this is done by taking all of the information into account)
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
Question: Describe the river and its valley
between GR 185 686 and GR 109 747.
Point 1 : 185 686
Point 2 : 109 747
The question will give you the two points on the
map between which you have to describe the
river and its valley. Be careful to plot these
accurately.
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
The direction of flow
The River Nevis here flows in two clearly
different directions. Firstly it flows westerly,
then north-westerly…
from GR 140 687.
Use the grid references to
show at which point the
direction changes ie 140
687.
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
The width of the river and any changes
that occur
The width of the river stays virtually the same
all along its course on the map and is
50m.
Use the scale to help you to work out how wide
the river is. Remember on this scale of map
there is 1km segment which is divided into ten
equal parts – each of these then is 100m (the
length of a football pitch).
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
The speed of flow
The speed of the river likely to be fast flowing.
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
Sinuosity
with meanders (when
the river “wanders” over
flat land.
The river flows between interlocking spurs in is
first westerly flowing section from 185686 to
140 687. In second north-westerly flowing
section from 140 687 to 109 747 there are a few
meanders as the land is flatter eg at GR 133708.
Remember not to mix up
interlocking spurs (higher bits of
land getting in the way of the river)
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
Identify specific features
There are several tributaries joining the main
river channel eg from GR 1469.
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
Identify specific features
There is an island in the middle of the river at
GR 140 687.
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
Identify specific features
There are numerous waterfalls eg GR 183 683.
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
Identify specific features
At the end if it course the river becomes tidal .
The colour at the side of the river is normally
dark blue, but where it changes to black this
shows that the river is tidal ie the water level
goes up and down with the tides.
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
The width of the valley
Measure the width of the valley by looking at
the distance between the first contours on each
side of the river itself. Again use the scale to
help here.
If the contour pattern shows
some “white” ie flat land then
there is flat land beside the
river ie a floodplain.
If the contour pattern goes
right to the edge of the river it
will be a v-shape valley.
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
The width of the valley
The valley width changes slightly from being
close to the river ~ a v-shape valley generally the
same width as the river: 50-100m wide. But in
is north-westerly flowing section it widens and
there is some flat land beside the river: 200300m wide in places.
To get full marks you must mention the valley too!
The shape of the valley
The valley is a steep sided v-shape valley in it
westerly flowing section. In its north-westerly
flowing section it still has steeps sides but has a
slightly wider and flatter valley floor.
Describe the course of the river
from 090900 to 090930
Describe the course of the river
from 090900 to 090930
Road
crosses
the river
Meanders- could
use grid references
to refer to point of
the river where they
are located
Settlement on
banks
Wide flood plain
– use scale to give
size
Mark scheme
Mark per point. Answers should include information on the river and the
valley. Accept both human and physical features.
 There is a wide floodplain to the West of the river (1)
 The east of the rivers slopes are slightly steeper with a spot height of




44m at 092912 (1)
There are a number of (meander) bends (1)
In grid square 0891 the river has its largest meander. (1)
At 090917 a road crosses the river (1)
The village of Tipton St John is to the East of the river in grid square
0991 (1)
 Max 2 without map evidence.
 2 marks available for map evidence.
How to draw a cross
section
What your cross section should
look like
Examination question
Study the map of a river valley below:
Height
(m)
X
Y
X
Y
Sketch a cross-section of the river valley from X to Y.
Label two features of this river valley.
State at what stage of a river’s course you would expect to find this type of
valley. Give reasons for your answer.
In the box below draw a sketch section across the River
Otter valley from 080890 to 100890. (Do not worry
about getting this exactly right, but try to show the
differences in relief.)
Annotate your sketch section to show:
 (a) The position of the river
 (b) A concave slope
 (c) A hill-top
 (d) The two minor roads.
River Browney
The Bradshaw model
Geographical investigation skills
exam questions
What geographical
hypothesis could you
investigated linked to
this river? (2)
1 a. Explain why this
hypothesis would be
suitable (3)
2. Explain the primary and
secondary data that
could be collected to
investigate this (6)
1.