INTERPRETATION OF TOPOGRAPHIC SURVEY SHEETS

GUIDELINES FOR STUDENTS

While interpreting toposheets remember–

Familiarize yourself with the conventional signs and symbols. Use appropriate colours for both toposheet and map pointing.
Go through the marginal information.
Use well sharpened pencils while reading the six figure grid reference, to ensure accuracy.
Use the linear scale while measuring the distances to save time.
While calculating area – it has to be reflected as a statement i.e. Area = Length × Breadth.
Identification of landforms marked by Contours has to be named eg. Conical hill or a Ridge.
Contours drawn far apart reflect gentle slope and close together indicate steep slope.
One should always draw the diagram using the direction, to avoid any confusion, for eg.

All the answers must be evidence based and not vague.
eg. Irrigation is indicated by presence of perennial lined wells shown in blue; Seasonal rainfall is indicated if streams and tanks are dry.
Hence the answers should be based only on the conclusion drawn through the observations from the toposheet.
While inferring occupations, appropriate terms have to be used eg. Forestry is acceptable if area is shown green with forests, but not lumbering as that is an industry.
Technical terms only are accepted, for eg.
‘Representative fraction’ for RF : 1:50000 and NOT ‘reserved forest’ or ‘representative refraction’.
For mode of transport or communication, ‘Metalled road’, ‘pack track’ or ‘cart track’ and NOT roadways’.
No other substitute will be accepted.
Toposheet answers should be accurate and to the point while using the correct terms, typically used in survey sheet <iframe src="http://geography.testlabz.com/student/Xanswerkey.pdf" height="200" width="300" title="Iframe Example"></iframe>terminology. For eg. ‘Perennial lined wells’ and NOT ‘wells’ and ‘permanent huts’ and NOT ‘houses’ are right answers!
Answers should always be given in complete sentences and NOT monosyllables.
Finally, Self study is necessary. You must read the question very carefully to avoid any loss of marks.

MAP POINTING SKILLS AT ICSE LEVEL-GUIDELINES

(Please note that the labeling should be done in CAPITAL letters preferably using the Arrow)

Mountains and Plateau :
1. To be marked in Brown colour with a single line.
2. Direction of the mountain should be kept in mind.
3. No mountains to be marked intersecting a river, eg., Eastern Ghats should not be marked between rivers Krishna and Godavari.
4. Western Ghats must not touch the coastline; the same applies to the Eastern Ghats.
Plains :
1. To be marked in yellow colour.
2. The extent of the plains should not exceed the 'limit'.
3. The coastal plains should not be marked inside the Coast but bracketed and labeled within the limits.
Rivers :
1. To be marked in Blue colour labeled 'on' the Curve of the river and not 'under'.
Water bodies :
1. To be coloured within the 'limit' and the arrow should be marked accordingly.
Passes :
1. To be marked using the symbol in red colour.
Latitudes and Longitudes :
1. To be marked in broken lines using red colour.
2. Should be labeled in degrees (°), 23½ °N for Latitude (Tropic of Cancer) and 82½ °E for Longitude (Standard meridian).
Direction of Monsoon winds :
1. To be marked in blue colour arrows.
2. South West Monsoon from South West to North East (June - September)
3. Retreating Monsoon from North East to South West (October - November)
4. North East Monsoon from North East to South West (December - February)
Distribution of Minerals :
1. Only 3 minerals have to be marked for Board exams, i.e. iron ore, coal and oil field.
2. Mumbai High (Offshore oilfield in Arabian sea should not touch the coast). Digboi is onshore oil field.
3. Iron ore in Singhbum and Coal in Jharia.
Soil Distribution :
1. Soils should be marked in a small area as per following colours-
  1. Alluvial Soil : Brown
  2. Laterite Soil : Reddish brown
  3. Black Soil : Black
  4. Red Soil : Red
2. They should be shaded only in a small area, as per the question asked.
3. One must learn one area above the Tropic of Cancer (North) and one area South of the Tropic of Cancer, for all the soils.
Towns :
1. Only 10 towns to be marked, as given in the syllabus.
2. They must be marked with a red dot on the Coast and not in the Ocean (for ports).
Population :
1. The distribution of population as per density to be marked as one point in North India and one point in South India.

Please note :

The map pointing should be strictly as per the question asked in the Board exam. No additional information need to be done for map pointing.
Appropriate pencil colours must be used. No Crayon or Sketch pens should be used.
Use of Arrows give most specific and exact location in map pointing.
While labeling and marking, one must keep in mind, whether the 'Area' or the 'State' is asked in the question.
If only marking is given and not labeled, no marks are given.
All marking in the map should be done with reference to the Rivers.

Map pointing skills for ICSE examinations

– Significance of colors: The following colours must be used while filling the map. These colours are universally accepted.

	Yellow	– Plains and diesels
	Brown	– Mountain ranges
	Blue	– Water bodies es rivers.
	Red	– Cities and towns
	Green	– Low land areas and islands
	Orange	– Plateaus
	Black	– Arrows