Geography R19
Drainage Basins, Patterns and Density
Learn to recognise dendritic, trellis, radial and rectangular drainage patterns, and read what drainage density tells you about the rock and soil beneath.
12 min · beginner · certificate
Geography Step 2 of 11 beginner Free
Mapwork Essentials and GIS
Build a mapwork checklist covering scale, bearings, coordinates, contours and orthophotos, plus the GIS ideas that go with them.
By the end, you can
identify the main mapwork techniques and explain the core GIS concepts used in map interpretation.
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This is exactly how Mapwork Essentials and GIS starts, in your browser or on WhatsApp. Short messages, real examples, one step at a time.
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Mapwork Essentials and GIS
QUEST GEO-MAP-SKILLS
The predictable part of the paper
Mapwork rewards preparation more than any other section, because the same handful of techniques come up every year in slightly different clothes. 🗺️
Learn the toolkit once and you can walk into the paper knowing what you will be asked to do, even though you have never seen that particular map.
South African topographic maps are usually 1:50 000, and the orthophoto that accompanies them is usually 1:10 000.
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What you'll cover
- 1 The predictable part of the paperfree preview above
- 2 Scale, coordinates and direction
- 3 Contours and cross-sections
- 4 Photographs and what they add
- 5 What GIS actually is
- 6 What GIS is used for
- 7 A mapwork checklist
- 8 The challenge
- 9 What to take with you
Your certificate
Pass the challenge and it arrives straight away as a PDF. Add it to your CV or LinkedIn, and anyone can check it's real.
Certificate of completion
Your name here
has completed the MicroQuest
Mapwork Essentials and GIS
LCA-2026-••••••••
Verify at skillsyms.com/verify
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Mapwork Essentials and GIS: questions
How long does Mapwork Essentials and GIS take?
About 13 minutes: 9 short lessons, 2 quick checks and a 5-question final challenge. Your progress is saved after every step, so you can stop and carry on later.
How much does Mapwork Essentials and GIS cost?
It is free. There is no card to enter, and you still get a certificate when you pass.
What do I need to pass?
4 out of 5 on the final challenge (80%). The quick checks along the way help you learn and do not count towards your mark.
Is the certificate accredited?
No. A MicroQuest is informal learning. Your certificate proves you completed it and has a number and QR code anyone can verify, but it is not an accredited qualification or SETA/QCTO credits, and it says so.
Can I do it on my phone?
Yes. Tap Start to learn in your phone’s browser, or send QUEST GEO-MAP-SKILLS to 076 263 6000 on WhatsApp. It is the same MicroQuest and the same certificate either way.
Mapwork Essentials and GIS
Free · 13 min · certificate