Direction Sense Test

Direction is a measurement of position of one thing with respect to another

thing and displacement is the measurementof distance between the starting
point and final point.
In this chapter, we deal with the questions in whicha successive follow-up of
directions is formulated and the candidate is required to ascertain the final
direction or the distance between two points. This test is designed to judge the
candidate's ability to trace and follow the logical path correctly and sense the
direction correctly.
Main Directions
There are four main directions viz. East, West, North and South as shown in the
figure given below
LeftNorthRight
Right Left
WeS- East
Sunset Left Right Sunrise
Right-SouthLeft
Main directions
Abbreviations for these directions are E (East), w (West), N (North) and
s (South).
Cardinal Directions
A direction between two main directions is called cardinal direction or
subdirection,
i.e. NE (North-East), NW (North-West), SE (South-East) and SW(South-West)
Students are advised to use diagram as given Angle of Movementbased on angle of
below for the purpose of sensing directions. For solving questions
to know the
movenent, it is necessary
N below
NE rotations which a r e given
NW Movement towards the
is right called
45 (i)
clockwise (CW) movement.
the
W 901E
360
Sw SE 315 45

formed between two main directions 270 90 Clockwise

Angle South-East or
(i.e. North-East; North-West;
formed between a
South-West) is 90° and angle
225 180 135
direction is 45°. 180
cardinal direction and main

Movement towards the called left is

Shortest Distance (ii) anti-clockwise (ACW) movement.
distance between two
For finding shortest
to know Pythagoras 360
points, it is necessary 0
theorem. 45 315
Here, in AABC,
Anti-clockwise 90 270

135 225
180°

C
AB = Perpendicular Shadow at the Time of Sunrise
BC Base and AC = Hypotenuse In the morning, sunrises in the East, the
shadow of any person or object falls in the
Hence, for shortest distance between A and C
West.
i.e. AC AB +BC?
Sunrise
ilustration 1. Ravi walks 8 km North-East and
Person
then 6 km South-East. Find the total distance
West
as well as shortest distance between starting W E
East
and end points. Shadow
(a) 14 km, 12 km (b) 14 km, 10 km
(c) 10 km, 8 km (d) 8 km, 6 km Shadow at the Time of Sunset
Solution (b) According to the question, In the evening, when the sunset in the
B West, the shadow of a person or an objece
8 km 9006 km N
NW NE falls in the East.
Starting point A End point W E N
Person
SW SE
S
Here, total distance AB BC
=
+ =
8+ 6 14 km Sunset East
and shortest distance AC =
JAB + BC2 West Shadow
=
8+6= 64 +36 100 =10 km
Types of Questions
There are four types of
questions, which are
generally asked in various competitive examination.
Type o Based on Final Direction
In this tyYpe, questions are
thebased
point. It requires the knowledge ofonmain final direction of
object with respect to its starting
an
as well as
Hlustration 2.
After starting from
subdirections and the angle between them.
man walks 4 km towards
a
point, a
Illustratlon
llustratlon 4. If South-West becomes
turning to his West, then then what will North,
right he moves 4 km.
After North-East be?
this, he again turns right and moves (a) North
Which choice 4 km.
given below indicates the (b) South-East
correct direction in (c) South
which he is from his (d) East
starting point? WBSSC (CGL) 2014
(a) North (b) East Solution (c) The
(c) South (d) West direction is
diagrammatic representation of
as shown below
Solution (a) The direction diagram of a man is
below as given (N) (N)
4 km D (NW) NE NE
Ending point 135
W
W +E 135
B
Starting point SW
(SE) (SW)
4 km A S
Let A be the starting and D be the ending point of Clearly, directions
man. It is
are moving 135 clockwise.
clear from the diagram that, he in North
is Hence, North-East will become South moving 135
direction from his starting point. clockwise.
Ilustration 3. Five villages P, Q, R, S and T Illustration 5. A person walks towards his
situated close to each other. P is to the West house at 8:00 am and observes his
of Q R is to the South of P, T is to the shadow to his right. In which direction he
North
of Q and Sis to the East of T. is walking? (SSC (CPO) 2014]
Then, in which
direction R is with respect to S? (a) North
(b) South
(a) North-West (b) South-East (c) East
(c) South-West (d) Data inadequate (d) West
Solution (c) According to the given information, locations Solution (b) At 8:00 am the Sun is in the East
of the five
villages can be represented as shown direction.
below
N
N Right
NW NE Left
Person's Person W E
P W E Shadow
Sun
sw SE (House
S
Clearly, R lies to the South-West of S. Clearly, the person is facing the South direction
Type Based on Displacement
distance between
the starting
dia ue

to find out the final

ot questions, we have
t i s tyYpe distance between two
points/persons/things.
final points or five times
turns left and travels
12 km Southward,
He again A and B
ustratlon 6. Vijay travelled he covered between
the distance
10 km, The shortest
then turned right and travelled and reaches his destination D.
and
between the starting point
12 km.
then turned right and travelled distance
How far was Vijay from the starting point? the destination is
ISSC (CGL) 2014] ()16 km (d) 18 km
(b) 15 km
(b) 44 kmm
(a) 12 km
(a) 22 km movements of the person are as
(d) 10 km Solution (b) The below
(c) 12 kmn
shown in the figure given
follows
Solution (a) Direction diagram of Vijay is as
15 km O C N
* A
D
10 km N
9 km W
12 km 12 km
W
S
A 3 km B
B
10 km s According to the question,
BC = (3 x 3) = 9 km
Point A is the starting point and D is the final point of
travelling of Vijay. CD (3 x 5) = 15 km
Now, Vijay's distance from starting point 12 km
OD (15-3)
AD =BC =10 km Now, required distance,
lustration 7. A person starts from a point A AD = VOD + OA2
and travels 3 km Eastwards to B and then 122 +9= 144+ 81
turns left and travels thrice that distance to
= V225 15 km
reach C.

Type Based on Direction and Displacement

In this type of questions, we have to determine both the distance and direction.

Illustration 8. Shyam goes to 5 km in the Solution (c) The movements of Shyam are as follow
North from his school. Now, turning to the
10 km
left, he goes to 10 km and again turns to N
left and goes to 5 km. How far he is from km 5 km W E
his school and in which direction?
SSC (CGL) 2014] D
(a) 10 km, South from school School
(b) 10 km, North from school Let point A be the starting point, i.e. school
(c) 10 km, West from school Shyam and point D be the final point.
(d) 10 km, East from school From figure, n
AB= CD 5km and AD BC=10
= =

So, Shyam is 10 km far away from his school andin

West direction from school.
 Chapter 13. Direction Sense Test 145

Type d Based on Clock

tn this type, questions deal
itioning of clock with the relative Solution (c) The hour hand of the clock is in North
hands at a
ne.It requires particular direction and ninute harnd is in South direction
knowledge
t e or hour hand at a
of
direction of
given point of time. At 12 30 At 12 455
tation 9. In a clock at 12 North North
s in North direction 30, hour needle 1112 11 12
while minute needle 10 10
is in South direction. In West 9
/Hour
hand East West 9
Hn
ard 3 East
which direction
would be minute
needle at 12: 45?
Mirute
hend 4
Minute
hand

5
ICGPSC 20141
(al
North-West (b) South-East (c)
West
South South
(e) None of these (d) East As,it is clear frorm the above
hand is in West direction. diagram that mninute

Let us Practice
Base Level Exercise
1, After starting from a point, A walks 3
towards East, then turning to his left km
he proceeded 4 km to his left to
the point B.
moves 3 km. After this, he From B, he
again another place proceeded
turns left to reach
left and moves 3 km. In which direction C, 4 km away. In which
is A from his starting point? direction, he has to go to reach his
post? police
[SSC (10+2) 20131
(a) North (b) East (c) Wee
(c) West (d) South (a) Northn
(b) South (c) East (d) West
2. A man is 5. A man walks 6 km
facing West. He turns 45° in the South, turns left and
clockwise direction and then walks 4 km, again turns left
and walks
180° in the same direction and another 5 km. Which
direction is he facing now?
in the anti-clockwise
then 270°
direction. Which ISSC (Multitasking) 20141
direction is he facing now? (a) South (b) North (c) East (d) West
[MAT 2013, RRB (TC/CC) 2005] 6. A boy running towards
a) South his right and runs. Then,South, turns too
he turns to his
(6) North-West
(c)West (d) South-West right and finally to his left. Towards
3. A which direction is he
direction pole was situated on the road running now?
Crossing. Due to an accident, the pole [BSSC (CGL) 2015]
turned in such a manner that the (a) East (b) West (c) South (d) North
which was pointer 7. Ram cycled 10 km Southward from his
showingg East, started
showing South. Sita, a traveller went to home, turned right and cycled 6
Une wrong direction km,
turned right cycled 10 km, turned
West. In thinking it to be left and cycled 15 kmn. How
which direction actually she
was travelling?
kilometres will he have to many
a North [SSC (CGL) 2013] cycled
4. A (6) West (c) East (d) South
straight to reach home? SSC (CGL)
2013)
policeman
proceeded 4 km
left his police
post and
(a) 10 km (6) 21 km ()16 km (d) 20 km
8. Sohan drove 15 km to the West from
Sound South on hearing a loud
from point his house, then he turned left and
place he A. On reaching the
heard ano
nother sound and
drove 20 km. Then, he turned East and
drove 25 km and finally turning left
 Reason verba t o w a r d s
East.

Crack
Test of from a jetty
miles,
turns

How to n a u t i c a l
NM.
146
m o v e s

12
for 9
boat
14. A
a n o t h e r

his sailing jetty,

is from to t h e
c o v e r s

After
and
How far he right back
from
S8C (COL) 2016 towards
to go
20 km.
now
wants
distance
covers
(d) 80 krm boot ISSC (CPO) 2014]
(C) 40 km If t h e shortest

is t h e
house?
(b) 10 km then what (d) 15 NM
(a) 5 km North, her present position?
km due 18 NM
travels 4 travels
(C)
9. A
man and
further
(b) 20 NM So, he
due East from the 21 NM p l a n e t a r i u m .

6 km far he is (a) the

travels How 8 S C ( C G L ) 20181 to the East
from
due
North. was to go
4 km Raju right and
towards
15.
starting point? (cd) 10 km walked
1.5 km turned
to
14 knm (c) 8 kmm hand
place and then turned
towards

(a) 6 km (b) minute and

then South
reads 4 30. If the will the walked
2.5 km
a n d
t u r n e d to
watch
1 km t h e place
direction
10. A which walked
East, in
reached
East a n d
points walked 4
km W e s t . What
hour hand point? (b) North-East and towards
2.5 km
point?
(a) South-East (d) North-West
by walking he from the starting [SSC (10+2) 2014]
North d i s t a n c e is
(c) North towards

s t a r t s from
aplace P he (d) 9 km
11. Raju From there, (C) 10 km
reaches place Q. reaches
and (a) 6.5 km
(b) 9.5 km
and North-West
house. He walks
towards turns towards
from his
turns
Rakesh l e a v e s d i r e c t i o n and
then
R. Then, he From 16.
place to a place S. in
North-West
he
South-West
and walks and 10 m d i r e c t i o n . Next,
North-West
South-West
turns
towards
of the 20 m in direction.
there, he Which in
South-East

reaches place T. of moves 20 m house. In

finally movement t o w a r d s his
shows the he turns
following figures Finally,
is Rakesh going?
which direction
Raju? [CGPSC 2014]
(b) North-West
(a) South-East
(d) North-East
(a)
(b) (c) South-West

(e) None of these

and walks 7 km
17. Pratap starts from school
a left and
walkks
towards East. He takes
and walks2 km,
S 4 km, then takes a right
Q and walks 3 km.
S again takes a right
(C) (d Which direction is he facing
now?
SSC (CGL) 2014]
P
(d) West
12. One evening before sunset, two
friends (b) North
(a) South (c) East
Raman and Arjun were talking to each went 25 km to
18. From his house, Deepak
other face to face. If Raman's shadow was and
he turned West
which
North. Then,
exactly h i s left side, then covered 15 km. Then, turned South
andd
direction was Arjun facing? East,
covered 10 km. Finally, turning to
[SSC (Steno) 20131 1s
(a) West (b) East (c) North (d) South he covered 15 km. In which direction
[SSC (CPO) 2013]
he from his house?
13. A vilager went to meet his uncle in
(b) South
(a) North (c) West (d) East
another village situated 5 km away in the
North-East direction of his own
19. Anamika who is facing South walks
village. From there, he came to meet his 20 m, then she turns to her right and
father-in-law living in walks 15 m, then she turns to her right
4 km in the South of his uncle's
a village situated turns to her
village. and walks 16 m. Again, she
In what direction is he
from initial right and walks 12 m. How far is shee
position or starting point? ICGPSC 2013]
from her starting point?
(a) North (b) East (a) 4 m (b) 16 m (d) 7 m
(c) West (d) South (o) 12 m

(e) 5 m
 Chapter 13. Direction Sense Test 147

20. If you start running from a point towards 26. A child was looking for his father. He
North and after covering 4 kn
to your left and run 5 you turn went 90 m towards East before turning to
km and then his right. Then, he went 20 m before
again turn to your left and run 5 kmn turning to his right again to look for his
and then turn to left
another 6 km and beforeagain
and run father at his uncle's place 30 m from this
finishing you
take another left turn and run point. His father was not there. Then, he
1 km, then went 100 m to the North before meeting
answer the following
this information. From the
question based on his father in a street. How far from the
finishing
point, if you have to reach the starting point did the son meet his
where point from father? IMAT 2013]
you started, then in which
direction will you have to run? (a) 80 m (b) 100 m (o) 140 m (d) 200 m
27. I am facing South. I turn right and walk
[SSC (CGL) 2015]
(a) East (b)West c) North 20 m. Then, I turn right again and walk
(d) South
21. A clock is 10 m. Then, I turn left and walk 10 m and
showing 2:00 pm. If the hour
then turning right walk 20 m.Then, I turn
hand is in North-East direction. Then,
what will be the direction of hour right again and walk 60 m. In which
hand, direction am I from the starting point?
when the time of clock becomes
9:30 pma? [RRB (GG) 2012]
(a) West (b) South (c) North (d) East (a) South-East (b) North-West
(c) South-West (d) North-East
22. Manoj starts from his house and moves
towards North. After 28. The time in aclock is quarter past
a walking twelve. If the hour hand points to the
distance of 4 km, he turns left. After
walkinga particular distance, he reaches East, then which is the direction opposite
Sunita's house. Sunita's house is at to the minute hand? [UPPSC (Pre) 2013]
distance of 5 km from Manoj's house. (a) South-West (b) South (c) West (d) North
Then, Manoj walked a total distance of 29. Ram and Shyam start walking towards
[EPFO 2011] North and cover 20 m. Ram turns to his left
(a) 1 km (b) 5 km (c) 7 km (d) 3 kmn and Shyam to his right. After sometime,
(e) None of these Ram walks 10 m in the same direction in
23. A girl is facing North. She turns 180° in which he turmed. On the other hand,
the anti-clockwise direction and then Shyam walks only 7 m. Later, Ram turns
225° in the clockwise direction. Which towards his left and Shyam to his right.
direction is she facing now? [cGPSC 2013] Both walk 25 m forward. How far is Ram
(a) West (b) North-East from Shyam now? [SSC (CGL) 2013]
(c) South-West (d) East (a) 10 m (b) 20 m (c) 17 m (d) 5 m
(e) North-West
30. Ram goes 15 m North, then turns right
24. A man is
performing yoga with his head and walks 20 m, then again turns right
down and legs up. His face is towards and walks 10 m, then again turns right
the West. In which direction, will his left
hand be?
and walks 20 m. How far is he from his
(RRB (ASM) 2004] original position? SSC (10+2) 2013)
(a) North (d)
(b) South (c) East West (a) 5 m (b) 10 m (c)15 m (d) 20 m

Starting from the point, Raju walked 31. Onee morning at 70'clock, Naresh
2m North, he turned right and walked started walking with his back towards
m , he again turned right and walked the Sun. Then, he turned towards left,
4m, then he turned left and walked walked straight and then turned towards
right and walked straight. Then, he
How far is he now and in which
direction from the
a) 27 m vards East starting po
(b) 5 m towards East
again turned towards left. Now, in which
direction is he facing?
c) 15 m towards East (a) North (b) East ( c ) West (d) South
(d) None of these