Map Skills: 4-Digit and 6-Digit Grid References

Applying to Sentosa Island

December 2020

In this lesson, you will learn

  • What grid references are
  • How to find 4-digit and 6-digit grid references

Learning Grid References through Sentosa Island

Click on the interactive map below and start exploring the wonders of Sentosa Island! Try finding your favourite places of attraction in Sentosa!

Use the "+" and "-" buttons to zoom in and out and click and drag your cursor to move around on the map!

Sentosa Island

Let's Think!

Imagine you wanted to tell your friend where your favourite place of attraction is located. How would you specify its location without having to physically point on the map?

To specify a certain feature's location on a map, we can use a grid reference!

A grid reference shows a particular location on a map using 4 digits or 6 digits. The grid reference depends on eastings and northings.

Eastings are eastward measured distances. They are similar to the x-axis on a graph. On a map, eastings appear as vertical lines.

Northings are northward measured distances. They are similar to the y-axis on a graph. On a map, northings appear as horizontal lines.

When writing grid references, eastings are written before northings. For example, we read them as 3550, 3651, 3752 and so on.

Eastings before Northings because the alphabet E comes before the alphabet N.

4-Digit Grid References

We use the 4-digit grid reference to locate the specific grid within which a feature is found.

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Steps to Finding a 4-Digit Grid Reference

Click the right arrow to learn how to find the 4-digit grid refernce of the lake.

Step 1: Identify the grid that contains the feature

We can draw a box around the grid lines around the lake.

Step 2: Mark an "X" on the bottom left corner of the grid

Step 3: Read the Easting

Here, the easting is "11"

Step 4: Read the Northing

Here, the northing is "01"

Step 5: Easting before Northing

The 4-digit grid reference of the lake is 1101.

Remember, 1101 is correct but 0111 is wrong.

Scroll Down to Continue Learning!

Now that we have learnt the steps to finding 4-digit grid references, what is the 4-digit grid reference of Sentosa Island's Ifly Singapore?

Answer: 3753

Limitations to Using the 4-digit Grid Reference

If two similar features are located in the same grid, would the 4-digit grid reference still be sufficient in helping us identify their specific locations?

The 4-digit grid reference provides us with the general area a feature is found on a map. Yet, in such a case as stated above, the 4-digit grid reference is not specific enough in telling us the exact location of features on a map. Instead, we should use the 6-digit grid reference!

6-Digit Grid References

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Steps to Finding a 6-Digit Grid Reference

Click the right arrow to learn more

Step 1: Identify the grid that contains the feature

Here, the feature is the church.

Step 2: Identify the 4-digit grid reference

The 4-figure grid reference for the feature is 1101.

To write a 6-digit grid reference, leave a space after the second and last number. You should write it as 11_01_.

Step 3: Divide each side of the grid into 10 equal parts

Remember to use a ruler!

Step 4: Read the corresponding easting and northing

Remember to count from the bottom left corner of the box.

Easting reading of the feature - 8

Northing reading of the feature - 2

Step 5: Easting before Northing

Place the easting values before the northing values to obtain the 6-digit grid reference of the feature - 118012

Scroll down to Continue Learning!

Now that we have learnt the steps to finding 6-digit grid references, what is the 6-digit grid reference of Skyline Luge Sentosa as marked by the sharp end at the bottom of the blue drop pin?

Answer: 484715

Let's Practice More!

  1. Find the 4-digit grid reference of Sentosa Island's Imbiah Station.
  2. Find the 6-digit grid reference of Sentosa Island's Beach Station.

Answer:

  1. 8524
  2. 844226

Congratulations! You have learnt how to find 4-digit and 6-digit grid references on a map!