Ceist Eile

Ceist Eile is in development. Features, questions and prices may change while we refine it.

Subjects · Leaving Cert Geography

Leaving Cert Geography: OS maps

How often OS maps comes up on the Geography papers, every year it was asked, and questions to try.

HL Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

OL Asked on 10 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

June 2028 is the first exam on the new Geography course. These come from the 2016–2026 papers, so read them as a guide.

OS maps, Higher Level(6 marks)

Quick ones on OS maps.

(a)Lines on an OS map that join places of equal height?
  1. Grid lines
  2. Contour lines
  3. Isobars
(b)Size on the ground of one grid square on a 1:50,000 OS map?
  1. 10 km by 10 km
  2. 100 m by 100 m
  3. 1 km by 1 km
(c)Number of figures in a grid reference that locates a point to the nearest 100 m?
  1. Six
  2. Two
  3. Four
Show the answers

(a) Contour lines

(b) 1 km by 1 km

(c) Six

Your turn: Higher Level questions on OS maps.

Higher Level

Asked on 10 of the last 10 Higher Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026SQ1, SQ7, SQ8, Q1A
2025SQ2, SQ7, SQ8, Q1A
2024SQ1, SQ7, SQ9, Q1A
2023SQ1, SQ7, SQ8, Q1A
2022SQ4, SQ6, SQ7, Q1A
2021SQ1, SQ7, SQ8, Q1A
2019SQ6, SQ7, SQ8, Q1A
2018SQ1, SQ3, SQ4, Q2C, Q3A
2017SQ6, SQ7, SQ8, Q1A
2016SQ5, SQ6, SQ7, Q1A

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More OS maps questions

OS maps, 2 marks

Direction found at the top of a Tailte Éireann (OS) map?

  1. East
  2. South
  3. North
Show the answer

North

OS maps are always printed with north at the top, so direction, aspect and the flow of rivers can be worked out without needing a compass.

OS maps, 2 marks

How many centimetres on a 1:50,000 map represent 1 km on the ground?

  1. 1 cm
  2. 2 cm
  3. 5 cm
Show the answer

2 cm

1 cm on the map stands for 50,000 cm, which is 500 m, so it takes 2 cm to cover 1 km.

OS maps, 3 marks

Contours that bend into a V pointing uphill show which feature?

  1. A river valley
  2. A spur of high ground
  3. A col between hills
Show the answer

A river valley

Contours bend upstream where a valley cuts into the slope. A V pointing downhill shows a spur instead.

Ordinary Level

Asked on 10 of the last 10 Ordinary Level papers, most recently in 2026. banker

Every paper, year by year

YearWhere it came up
2026SQ6, SQ7, Q1A
2025SQ5, SQ6, Q1A
2024SQ6, SQ7, Q1A
2023SQ6, SQ7, Q1A
2022SQ2, SQ7, SQ8, Q1A
2021SQ6, SQ7, Q1A
2019SQ5, SQ6, Q1A
2018SQ9, SQ10, Q3A
2017SQ2, SQ5, SQ6, Q1A
2016SQ2, SQ3, Q2A

Links open the State Examinations Commission’s paper for that year.

More OS maps questions

OS maps, 3 marks

Number of figures in a grid reference that locates a place to the nearest 100 metres?

  1. Four
  2. Two
  3. Six
Show the answer

Six

A six-figure reference adds an extra digit to the easting and northing, dividing each grid square into tenths, or 100 metres on the ground.

OS maps, 2 marks

Order in which the two parts of a grid reference are read?

  1. Whichever number is larger first
  2. Eastings first, then northings
  3. Northings first, then eastings
Show the answer

Eastings first, then northings

Read along the bottom of the map first and then up the side. The saying along the corridor and up the stairs is a useful reminder.

OS maps, 2 marks

Distance on the ground shown by one centimetre on a 1:50,000 OS map?

  1. 500 metres
  2. 50 metres
  3. 5 kilometres
Show the answer

500 metres

The map is 50,000 times smaller than reality, so 1 cm stands for 50,000 cm, which is 500 m, and 2 cm on the map equals 1 km.

Other Geography topics

All of Leaving Cert Geography