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Bearings practice questions with answers

Foundation and Higher · Grade 4

A second set of bearings questions for GCSE Maths. They are different from the ones on the topic page, so work through both. Try each question, then open the answer to check your working.

More questions

Question 1 Easy

From north, a bearing of 090 points which compass direction? Answer east, west, north or south.

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Answer: east

  1. 090 is a quarter turn clockwise from north.
  2. The value is east.
  • Method (1): 090 is a quarter turn clockwise from north.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer east

Question 2 Easy

Due south is which three-figure bearing?

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Answer: 180

  1. South is halfway around from north.
  2. The three-figure bearing is 180.
  • Method (1): South is halfway around from north.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 180

Question 3 Medium

On a map scale, 1 cm represents 2 km. A line is 5 cm long. What is the real distance in km?

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Answer: 10

  1. Multiply the map length by the scale.
  2. The value is 10.
  • Method (1): Multiply the map length by the scale.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 10

Question 4 Medium

A plane on a bearing of 040 turns clockwise through 35 degrees. What is the new bearing?

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Answer: 75

  1. Add the clockwise turn to the bearing.
  2. The value is 75.
  • Method (1): Add the clockwise turn to the bearing.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 75

Question 5 Hard

A path arrives on a bearing of 070 and leaves on a bearing of 150. What is the size of that turn?

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Answer: 80

  1. Subtract the arrival bearing from the leaving bearing.
  2. The value is 80.
  • Method (1): Subtract the arrival bearing from the leaving bearing.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 80

Question 6 Hard

A point is 4 km east and 4 km north of the start. What is the three-figure bearing of the point from the start?

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Answer: 045

  1. East and north are equal, so the direction is halfway from north to east.
  2. That bearing is 045.
  • Method (1): East and north are equal, so the direction is halfway from north to east.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 045

Exam-style question

A longer question with marks, in the style of a written paper. This is a Yumio practice question, not a past paper question.

Exam-style question 11 marks

The clockwise bearing from north is 060. How many degrees is the anticlockwise angle from north to that same direction?

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Answer: 300

  1. A full turn is 360 degrees.
  2. Subtract the clockwise bearing.
  • Accuracy (1): Answer 300

Quick checks

Short one-step questions. Pick an option before you open the answer.

Check 1

The bearing of B from A is 020°. Work out the bearing of A from B.

  1. 200
  2. 020
  3. 340
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200 The result is 200.

Check 2

A ship sails from port P on a bearing of 030°. On what bearing must it sail to return directly to P?

  1. 210
  2. 030
  3. 330
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210 The result is 210.

Check 3

The bearing of Y from X is 302°. Work out the bearing of X from Y.

  1. 122
  2. 302
  3. 058
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122 The result is 122.

Check 4

A walker goes from X to Y on a bearing of 317°. What is the bearing of the walker's start, X, from Y?

  1. 137
  2. 317
  3. 043
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137 The result is 137.

Check 5

The bearing of B from A is 178°. The bearing of C from A is 203°. Work out angle BAC.

  1. 25
  2. 381
  3. 335
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25 The result is 25.

Check 6

What is the three-figure bearing of south-east?

  1. 135
  2. 225
  3. 315
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135 The result is 135.

Check 7

Point B is due east of point A. Point C has a bearing of 150° from A. Work out angle BAC.

  1. 60
  2. 150
  3. 30
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60 The result is 60.

Check 8

Point C is due south of point A. The bearing of B from A is 145°. Work out angle BAC.

  1. 35
  2. 145
  3. 55
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35 The result is 35.

Check 9

A ship is heading on a bearing of 210°. It turns 40° clockwise. What is its new bearing?

  1. 250
  2. 170
  3. 110
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250 The result is 250.

Check 10

From a lighthouse, the bearing of a boat is 102°. Work out the bearing of the lighthouse from the boat.

  1. 282
  2. 102
  3. 258
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282 The result is 282.

Check 11

The bearing of B from A is 090°. Work out the bearing of A from B.

  1. 270
  2. 272
  3. 280
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270 The result is 270.

Check 12

A ship sails from port P on a bearing of 100°. On what bearing must it sail to return directly to P?

  1. 280
  2. 100
  3. 260
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280 The result is 280.

Check 13

The bearing of Y from X is 272°. Work out the bearing of X from Y.

  1. 092
  2. 272
  3. 088
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092 The result is 092.

Check 14

A walker goes from X to Y on a bearing of 287°. What is the bearing of the walker's start, X, from Y?

  1. 107
  2. 287
  3. 073
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107 The result is 107.

Check 15

The bearing of B from A is 158°. The bearing of C from A is 213°. Work out angle BAC.

  1. 55
  2. 371
  3. 305
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55 The result is 55.

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