GCSE Maths: Maps, Scale Drawings & Bearings
Use map scales to convert between drawing and real distances, and measure bearings as three figures clockwise from north. Adaptive practice for AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas.
What you need to know
The concepts examiners test on maps, scale drawings & bearings, and what each one is really asking.
Where marks get lost
The exam technique that separates a correct method from a correct answer.
- Writing a bearing as 45° instead of 045°
- Measuring anticlockwise, or from the wrong point
- Forgetting to convert cm to km after scaling up
- Adding 180° to a back bearing that is already over 180°, giving an answer above 360°
Maps, Scale Drawings & Bearings questions students ask
Is Maps, Scale Drawings & Bearings on the Foundation paper?
Yes. Maps, Scale Drawings & Bearings appears at both Foundation and Higher tier, though Higher papers take it further.
What should I know before starting Maps, Scale Drawings & Bearings?
It builds on Angles and Units & Conversions. If those feel shaky, practise them first — Maps, Scale Drawings & Bearings questions assume them.
What is the most common mistake in Maps, Scale Drawings & Bearings?
Writing a bearing as 45° instead of 045°.
Which exam boards cover Maps, Scale Drawings & Bearings?
All four we support — AQA, Edexcel, OCR and Eduqas. GCSE Maths subject content is set by the DfE, so the topic is common to every board; what changes is the paper structure and the grade boundaries.