Plans and elevations are views from different directions
What you will learn
Know the rule, then use it
These are the short notes. Read each one, then check you can use it in the worked example below.
Method
Plan: the view from directly above
Describe the plan (view from above)
The plan shows the base rectangle 6 × 4 with a 2 × 2 square drawn at one corner (the top of the small cuboid is visible from above)
Describe the front elevation (view from front, long side)
A rectangle 6 × 3 with a 2 × 2 square added at one top corner, giving an L-shaped profile
Describe the side elevation (view from the side, short side)
A rectangle 4 × 3 with a 2 × 2 square at one top corner
Watch out
Students draw the plan showing the hidden cuboid top with solid lines instead of dashed lines
A plan is the view from above.
A front or side elevation is the flat view from that direction.
A solid is made from a cuboid of dimensions 6 × 4 × 3 cm with a small cuboid 2 × 2 × 2 cm placed on top of one corner. Describe the plan, front elevation and side elevation.
Describe the plan (view from above): The plan shows the base rectangle 6 × 4 with a 2 × 2 square drawn at one corner (the top of the small cuboid is visible from above).
Describe the front elevation (view from front, long side): A rectangle 6 × 3 with a 2 × 2 square added at one top corner, giving an L-shaped profile.
Describe the side elevation (view from the side, short side): A rectangle 4 × 3 with a 2 × 2 square at one top corner.
Plan: 6×4 rectangle with 2×2 square in corner. Elevations: L-shaped profiles.
Build up to the hardest questions
Do them in order. If you miss a step, read the solution, then redo the question without looking.
WorkedreasoningA solid is made from a cuboid of dimensions 6 × 4 × 3 cm with a small cuboid 2 × 2 × 2 cm placed on top of one corner. Describe the plan, front elevation and side elevation.
3 marks4 minsplans-and-elevations-workedShow solution
A solid is made from a cuboid of dimensions 6 × 4 × 3 cm with a small cuboid 2 × 2 × 2 cm placed on top of one corner. Describe the plan, front elevation and side elevation.
- 1.Describe the plan (view from above): The plan shows the base rectangle 6 × 4 with a 2 × 2 square drawn at one corner (the top of the small cuboid is visible from above).
- 2.Describe the front elevation (view from front, long side): A rectangle 6 × 3 with a 2 × 2 square added at one top corner, giving an L-shaped profile.
- 3.Describe the side elevation (view from the side, short side): A rectangle 4 × 3 with a 2 × 2 square at one top corner.
Plan: 6×4 rectangle with 2×2 square in corner. Elevations: L-shaped profiles.
- M1: describe the plan (view from above)
- M1: describe the front elevation (view from front, long side)
- M1: describe the side elevation (view from the side, short side)
- A1: Plan: 6×4 rectangle with 2×2 square in corner. Elevations: L-shaped profiles.
Students draw the plan showing the hidden cuboid top with solid lines instead of dashed lines.Any edge that cannot be seen from the viewing direction must be drawn dashed.Missing or incorrect dashes are the most common error.
DiagnosticrecallDescribe the plan of a cylinder.
1 mark2 minsplans-and-elevations-q1Show solution
Describe the plan of a cylinder.
- 1.Spot the skill: Plan: the view from directly above.
- 2.Use the describe the plan (view from above) stage first, then describe the front elevation (view from front, long side).
- 3.Keep the final answer visible: A circle.
A circle
- M1: use the correct plan: the view from directly above. front elevation: the view from the front.side elevation: the view from the side. hidden edges are shown as dashed lines. solid edges are shown as solid lines.
- A1: A circle
Students draw the plan showing the hidden cuboid top with solid lines instead of dashed lines.Any edge that cannot be seen from the viewing direction must be drawn dashed.Missing or incorrect dashes are the most common error.
EasyprocedureDescribe the front elevation of a cone.
2 marks3 minsplans-and-elevations-q2Show solution
Describe the front elevation of a cone.
- 1.Spot the skill: Plan: the view from directly above.
- 2.Use the describe the front elevation (view from front, long side) stage first, then describe the side elevation (view from the side, short side).
- 3.Keep the final answer visible: A triangle.
A triangle
- M1: use the correct plan: the view from directly above. front elevation: the view from the front.side elevation: the view from the side. hidden edges are shown as dashed lines. solid edges are shown as solid lines.
- A1: A triangle
Students draw the plan showing the hidden cuboid top with solid lines instead of dashed lines.Any edge that cannot be seen from the viewing direction must be drawn dashed.Missing or incorrect dashes are the most common error.
MediumreasoningA triangular prism lies with its rectangular face flat. Describe the plan.
3 marks4 minsplans-and-elevations-q3Show solution
A triangular prism lies with its rectangular face flat. Describe the plan.
- 1.Spot the skill: Plan: the view from directly above.
- 2.Use the describe the side elevation (view from the side, short side) stage first, then describe the plan (view from above).
- 3.Keep the final answer visible: Rectangle.
Rectangle
- M1: use the correct plan: the view from directly above. front elevation: the view from the front.side elevation: the view from the side. hidden edges are shown as dashed lines. solid edges are shown as solid lines.
- A1: Rectangle
Students draw the plan showing the hidden cuboid top with solid lines instead of dashed lines.Any edge that cannot be seen from the viewing direction must be drawn dashed.Missing or incorrect dashes are the most common error.
Hardproblem solvingWhat solid has a circular plan and a rectangular front elevation?
3 marks5 minsplans-and-elevations-q4Show solution
What solid has a circular plan and a rectangular front elevation?
- 1.Spot the skill: Plan: the view from directly above.
- 2.Use the describe the plan (view from above) stage first, then describe the front elevation (view from front, long side).
- 3.Keep the final answer visible: Cylinder.
Cylinder
- M1: use the correct plan: the view from directly above. front elevation: the view from the front.side elevation: the view from the side. hidden edges are shown as dashed lines. solid edges are shown as solid lines.
- A1: Cylinder
Students draw the plan showing the hidden cuboid top with solid lines instead of dashed lines.Any edge that cannot be seen from the viewing direction must be drawn dashed.Missing or incorrect dashes are the most common error.
Exam-stylemulti-stepDescribe all three views of a sphere.
4 marks6 minsplans-and-elevations-q5Show solution
Describe all three views of a sphere.
- 1.Spot the skill: Plan: the view from directly above.
- 2.Use the describe the front elevation (view from front, long side) stage first, then describe the side elevation (view from the side, short side).
- 3.Keep the final answer visible: All three views are circles of the same radius.
All three views are circles of the same radius
- M1: use the correct plan: the view from directly above. front elevation: the view from the front.side elevation: the view from the side. hidden edges are shown as dashed lines. solid edges are shown as solid lines.
- A1: All three views are circles of the same radius
Students draw the plan showing the hidden cuboid top with solid lines instead of dashed lines.Any edge that cannot be seen from the viewing direction must be drawn dashed.Missing or incorrect dashes are the most common error.
Grade 9 stretchproblem solvingA cuboid is 8 cm long, 5 cm wide and 3 cm tall. State the dimensions of its plan and its front elevation when viewed from the 8 cm edge.
4 marks7 minselevation-g9Show solution
A cuboid is 8 cm long, 5 cm wide and 3 cm tall. State the dimensions of its plan and its front elevation when viewed from the 8 cm edge.
- 1.A plan is viewed from above.
- 2.A front elevation keeps width and height.
Plan: 8 cm by 5 cm. Front elevation: 8 cm by 3 cm.
- B1: plan dimensions
- B1: front elevation dimensions
Do not rush straight into arithmetic. Select the relevant method and show a complete chain of working.
Switch between skills
Set a timer and attempt all four questions before opening any answers. This is closer to the way skills appear in a real paper.
1Plans and elevations - 2 marksDescribe the plan of a cylinder.Mark answer
A circle
2Angles, lines and polygons - 2 marksThe exterior angle of a regular polygon is 24°. How many sides?Mark answer
15
3Properties of shapes - 2 marksName all 2D shapes with equal diagonals that bisect each other.Mark answer
Rectangle, square
4Perimeter, area and volume - 3 marksFind the perimeter of a rectangle with length 13 cm and width 8 cm.Mark answer
42 cm
- I can explain the method for plans and elevations.
- I can show clear working without skipping key steps.
- I can avoid this mistake: Students draw the plan showing the hidden cuboid top with solid lines instead of dashed lines.Any edge that cannot be seen from the viewing direction must be drawn dashed.Missing or incorrect dashes are the most common error.
This guide follows the OCR GCSE Mathematics J560 specification. Practice questions are original Learnova questions shaped around official content and exam skills.