Geometry & MeasuresKey Facts

Key Compass Bearings

Part of BearingsGCSE Mathematics

This key facts covers Key Compass Bearings within Bearings for GCSE Mathematics. Revise Bearings in Geometry & Measures for GCSE Mathematics with 19 exam-style questions and 5 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 3 of 8 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.

Topic position

Section 3 of 8

Practice

19 questions

Recall

5 flashcards

Key Compass Bearings

Direction Bearing How to Remember
North 000° (or 360°) Starting point
East 090° Quarter turn clockwise
South 180° Half turn (opposite to North)
West 270° Three-quarters turn
North-East 045° Halfway between N (000°) and E (090°)
South-East 135° Halfway between E (090°) and S (180°)
South-West 225° Halfway between S (180°) and W (270°)
North-West 315° Halfway between W (270°) and N (360°)

Keep building this topic

Read this section alongside the surrounding pages in Bearings. That gives you the full topic sequence instead of a single isolated revision point.

Practice Questions for Bearings

A ship travels in the direction of North-East. Which of the following correctly writes this as a three-figure bearing?

  • A. 45°
  • B. NE45
  • C. 045°
  • D. 0045°
1 markfoundation

Explain how to find the back bearing (return bearing) of any given bearing. Your answer should cover both cases.

3 marksstandard

Quick Recall Flashcards

Bearing of East
090° (quarter turn clockwise from North)
Bearing of West
270° (three-quarters turn clockwise from North)

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