MEASURES AND TIME

Scale Drawings

Learn the reliable method for scale drawings, then apply it to 11+ exam-style questions.

1 · WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

The idea

A scale drawing connects each measured drawing length to a fixed actual length.

Picture itConnect the number to its unit and scale
2 · THE METHOD

Follow these steps

  1. Read the scale and measure the required drawing length.
  2. Multiply by the scale factor.
  3. Convert units and apply area scaling only when the question requires it.
3 · WORKED EXAMPLES

See the method in action

Example 1

A 8 cm drawing represents an actual length of 24 m. What is the scale in the form 1 : n?

Drawing: 8 cmActual: 24 m
  1. 24 m = 2400 cm.
  2. The scale is 8 : 2400, which simplifies to 1 : 300.
Answer: 1 : 300
Example 2

The map is enlarged by factor 2 without changing its printed scale. What distance would the first section now appear to represent?

First: 8 cmSecond: 10 cmScale: 1 cm represents 4 km
  1. The section becomes 16 cm, representing 64 km.
Answer: 64 km
4 · ELEVENSPRINT TIP

A useful shortcut

Convert units and apply area scaling only when the question requires it.

5 · COMMON MISTAKES

Watch out for these

6 · TRY IT YOURSELF

Three fresh questions

Ready to check the method? You will get three fresh, validated questions.