In accordance with the characteristic of map interpretation written by Meyer (1973), and the curriculum standard rules of senior high school geography textbooks, the following criteria should be included as follows: Ability to know how to calculate time difference by longitude and measure directions, understand what is "whole circle bearing" and "reduced bearing" as spatial orientation ability, convert scales by using a map in measurement ability, recognize different types of maps and different symbols in the maps especially in different types of contour topographic maps. By using the "student-problem (S-P) chart" which is properly used in formative and diagnosis tests, we can see different individual response patterns of the students, as an indicator of the map reading ability of senior high school students. The results show that the senior high school students get better grades in the questions of spatial orientation type, and get worse grades in contour topographic map. Most of the students find it difficult to combine different concepts in the questions of contour topographic map type, while those with good map reading skill find it easy. A major conclusion from these studies is that an understanding of contour topographic map reading ability of students may be able to improve the map education and to make educational innovations more successful.