Theory & Concepts

SSC CGL Direction Sense Test Questions, Formulas & Tricks

Prepare Direction Sense Test for SSC CGL with formulas, short tricks, solved examples, practice questions, PYQs, and free PDF notes for faster exam preparation.

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35 min readDifficulty: Easy-Medium

Direction Sense Test evaluates your sense of orientation and ability to calculate distances. These problems often involve a person moving through a series of turns, requiring you to find their final displacement or final direction relative to the starting point.

Learning path

Cardinal & Intercardinal Directions
Left/Right Turn Logic
Pythagoras Theorem Application
20 Exam-Pattern Questions

1. The Standard Compass

Always draw a small compass on your rough sheet before starting a problem. North is always 'Up'.

Main Directions

North (N): Top
South (S): Bottom
East (E): Right
West (W): Left

Sub-Directions

North-East (NE): Between N & E
North-West (NW): Between N & W
South-East (SE): Between S & E
South-West (SW): Between S & W

2. Movements & Shortest Distance

L/R

Left/Right Turns

Facing North: Left = West, Right = East.
Facing South: Left = East, Right = West.
Facing East: Left = North, Right = South.
Facing West: Left = South, Right = North.

\( a^2 \)

Shortest Distance (Displacement)

When you need to find the diagonal distance between two points, use the Pythagoras Theorem:
\text{Distance} = \sqrt{(\text{Base})^2 + (\text{Height})^2}

3. 20 Practice Questions (Solved)

Question 01Exam Pattern

A man starts from a point and walks 2 km towards North, turns towards his right and walks 2 km, turns right again and walks. What is the direction now he is facing?

A) South

B) East

C) North

D) West

Correct answer: A) South

Solution

Step 1: The man starts by walking North.

Step 2: He turns right. Facing North, a right turn means he is now walking East.

Step 3: He turns right again. Facing East, a right turn means he is now walking South.

Conclusion: He is now facing South. Option A.

Question 02Exam Pattern

Janaki started from her house and walked 2 km towards North. Then she took a right turn and covered 1 km. Then she took again a right turn and walked for 2 km. In what direction is she going?

A) North

B) East

C) South

D) West

Correct answer: C) South

Solution

Step 1: Walked 2 km North.

Step 2: Right turn (East) for 1 km.

Step 3: Right turn again (South) for 2 km.

Conclusion: She is currently walking in the South direction. Option C.

Question 03Exam Pattern

A man walks 5 km toward south and then turns to the right. After walking 3 km he turns to the left and walks 5 km. Now in which direction is he from the starting place?

A) West

B) South

C) South-West

D) North-East

Correct answer: C) South-West

Solution

Step 1: Move 5 km South.

Step 2: Turn Right (Facing South, Right is West). Walk 3 km West.

Step 3: Turn Left (Facing West, Left is South). Walk 5 km South.

Step 4: He is now 10 km South and 3 km West from the start.

Conclusion: Relative to the start, he is in the South-West direction. Option C.

Question 04Exam Pattern

Kailash faces towards North. Turning to his right, he walks 25 metres. He then turns to his left and walks 30 metres. Next, he moves 25 metres to his right. He then turns to his right again and walks 55 metres. Finally, he turns to the right and moves 40 metres. In which direction is he now from his starting point?

A) South-West

B) South

C) North-West

D) South-East

Correct answer: D) South-East

Solution

Step 1: Start facing North. Turn Right → 25m East.

Step 2: Turn Left → 30m North.

Step 3: Turn Right → 25m East.

Step 4: Turn Right → 55m South.

Step 5: Turn Right → 40m West.

Step 6: Net East-West distance: 25(E) + 25(E) - 40(W) = 10m East.

Step 7: Net North-South distance: 30(N) - 55(S) = 25m South.

Step 8: Position is 10m East and 25m South.

Conclusion: The direction is South-East. Option D.

Question 05Exam Pattern

Deepa moved a distance of 75 metres towards the north. She then turned to the left and walking about 25 metres, turned left again and walked 80 metres. Finally, she turned to the right at an angle of 45°. In which direction was she moving finally?

A) North-East

B) North-West

C) South

D) South-West

Correct answer: D) South-West

Solution

Step 1: 75m North.

Step 2: Turn Left (West) → 25m.

Step 3: Turn Left (South) → 80m.

Step 4: She is currently facing South.

Step 5: Turn Right at 45°. Facing South, a Right turn is towards West.

Step 6: 45° between South and West is South-West.

Conclusion: The correct option is D.

Question 06Exam Pattern

One morning after sunrise, Suresh was standing facing a pole. The shadow of the pole fell exactly to his right. To which direction was he facing?

A) East

B) West

C) North

D) South

Correct answer: D) South

Solution

Step 1: In the morning, the Sun is in the East.

Step 2: Shadows always fall towards the West in the morning.

Step 3: The shadow is to Suresh's right. This means West is to his right.

Step 4: If West is to the right, then Suresh must be facing South.

Conclusion: The correct option is D.

Question 07Exam Pattern

A child is looking for his father. He went 90 metres in the East before turning to his right. He went 20 metres before turning to his right again to look for his father at his uncle's place 30 metres from this point. His father was not there. From here he went 100 metres to the North before meeting his father in a street. How far did the son meet his father from the starting point?

A) 80 m

B) 100 m

C) 140 m

D) 260 m

Correct answer: B) 100 m

Solution

Step 1: 90m East.

Step 2: Turn Right (South) → 20m.

Step 3: Turn Right (West) → 30m.

Step 4: From here, 100m North. Net vertical movement: 100(N) - 20(S) = 80m North.

Step 5: Net horizontal movement: 90(E) - 30(W) = 60m East.

Step 6: Start to Finish distance using Pythagoras: \( \sqrt{80^2 + 60^2} \).

Step 7: \( \sqrt{6400 + 3600} = \sqrt{10000} = 100 \) m.

Conclusion: The distance is 100m. Option B.

Question 08Exam Pattern

If South-East becomes North, North-East becomes West and so on. What will West become?

A) North-East

B) North-West

C) South-East

D) South-West

Correct answer: C) South-East

Solution

Step 1: Standard SE is 135° clockwise from North.

Step 2: Logic: SE becomes North (Shift of 135° Anti-Clockwise).

Step 3: Check: NE (45° CW from N) shifted 135° ACW becomes West. Logic holds.

Step 4: Apply to West: West shifted 135° ACW → West to South (90°) then another 45° to South-East.

Conclusion: West becomes South-East. Option C.

Question 09Exam Pattern

A man walks 6 km South, turns left and walks 4 km, again turns left and walks 5 km. Which direction is he facing now?

A) South

B) North

C) East

D) West

Correct answer: B) North

Solution

Step 1: Start South.

Step 2: Turn Left (Facing South, Left is East).

Step 3: Turn Left again (Facing East, Left is North).

Conclusion: He is facing North. Option B.

Question 10Exam Pattern

Starting from a point P, Sachin walked 20 metres towards South. He turned left and walked 30 metres. He then turned left and walked 20 metres. He again turned left and walked 40 metres and reached a point Q. How far and in which direction is the point Q from the point P?

A) 20 metres West

B) 10 metres East

C) 10 metres West

D) 10 metres North

Correct answer: C) 10 metres West

Solution

Step 1: P → 20m South.

Step 2: Turn Left → 30m East.

Step 3: Turn Left → 20m North. (Back on the same latitude as P).

Step 4: Turn Left → 40m West.

Step 5: Horizontal distance from P: 30(E) - 40(W) = 10m West.

Conclusion: Point Q is 10m West of P. Option C.

Question 11Exam Pattern

Rama travels 10 km towards North, turns left and travels 4 km and then again turns right and covers 5 km and then turns right and travels 4 km. How far is he from the starting point?

A) 5 km

B) 10 km

C) 15 km

D) 19 km

Correct answer: C) 15 km

Solution

Step 1: 10 km North.

Step 2: Left turn (West) → 4 km.

Step 3: Right turn (North) → 5 km.

Step 4: Right turn (East) → 4 km. (This cancels out the 4km West).

Step 5: Total distance North: 10 + 5 = 15 km.

Conclusion: He is 15 km from the starting point. Option C.

Question 12Exam Pattern

A person walks 4 km East and then turns 90° clockwise and walks 3 km. What is the displacement?

A) 7 km

B) 5 km

C) 1 km

D) 25 km

Correct answer: B) 5 km

Solution

Step 1: Path forms a right-angled triangle with sides 4 and 3.

Step 2: Displacement = \( \sqrt{4^2 + 3^2} = \sqrt{16 + 9} = \sqrt{25} = 5 \) km.

Conclusion: The correct option is B.

Question 13Exam Pattern

If North is called North-West, West is called South-West, South is called South-East and so on. What will East be called?

A) North-West

B) North-East

C) South-East

D) South-West

Correct answer: B) North-East

Solution

Step 1: North is called North-West (45° anti-clockwise shift).

Step 2: West is called South-West (45° ACW shift).

Step 3: Apply 45° ACW shift to East → It becomes North-East.

Conclusion: The correct option is B.

Question 14Exam Pattern

A man is facing North-West. He turns 90° in the clockwise direction and then 135° in the anti-clockwise direction. Which direction is he facing now?

A) East

B) West

C) North

D) South

Correct answer: B) West

Solution

Step 1: Start at North-West.

Step 2: +90° (CW) from NW → North-East.

Step 3: -135° (ACW) from NE → 45° back to North, then 90° more to West.

Conclusion: He is facing West. Option B.

Question 15Exam Pattern

Kunal walks 10 km towards North. From there he walks 6 km towards South. Then, he walks 3 km towards East. How far and in which direction is he with reference to his starting point?

A) 5 km West

B) 5 km North-East

C) 7 km East

D) 7 km West

Correct answer: B) 5 km North-East

Solution

Step 1: 10 km North.

Step 2: 6 km back South. Net position: 4 km North.

Step 3: 3 km East. Final position: 4 km North and 3 km East.

Step 4: Distance = \( \sqrt{4^2 + 3^2} = 5 \) km.

Step 5: Direction = North-East.

Conclusion: The correct option is B.

Question 16Exam Pattern

A man is facing West. He turns 45° in the clockwise direction and then another 180° in the same direction and then 270° in the anti-clockwise direction. Which direction is he facing now?

A) South

B) North-West

C) West

D) South-West

Correct answer: D) South-West

Solution

Step 1: Net rotation = (+45 + 180) - 270.

Step 2: Net rotation = 225 - 270 = -45° (Anti-clockwise).

Step 3: 45° ACW from West is South-West.

Conclusion: The correct option is D.

Question 17Exam Pattern

One evening before sunset Rekha and Hema were talking to each other face to face. If Hema's shadow was exactly to the right of Hema, which direction was Rekha facing?

A) North

B) South

C) East

D) Data inadequate

Correct answer: B) South

Solution

Step 1: In the evening, the Sun is in the West.

Step 2: Shadows fall towards the East.

Step 3: Hema's shadow is to her right, so East is to her right.

Step 4: If East is to her right, Hema is facing North.

Step 5: Since Rekha is talking face to face, she must be facing South.

Conclusion: Rekha is facing South. Option B.

Question 18Exam Pattern

A girl leaves from her home. She first walks 30 metres in North-West direction and then 30 metres in South-West direction. Next, she walks 30 metres in South-East direction. Finally, she turns towards her house. In which direction is she moving?

A) North-East

B) North-West

C) South-East

D) South-West

Correct answer: A) North-East

Solution

Step 1: Plotting on a graph (0,0 is home).

Step 2: NW 30m, then SW 30m → She is now on the West side of home.

Step 3: SE 30m → She is now in the South-West relative to home.

Step 4: Turning towards home means she needs to go North and East.

Conclusion: She is moving in the North-East direction. Option A.

Question 19Exam Pattern

Village Q is to the North of Village P. Village R is to the East of Village Q. Village S is to the left of Village P. In which direction is S with respect to R?

A) West

B) South-West

C) South

D) North-West

Correct answer: B) South-West

Solution

Step 1: Q is above P.

Step 2: R is to the right of Q.

Step 3: S is to the left of P (West of P).

Step 4: S is below and to the left of R.

Conclusion: S is South-West of R. Option B.

Question 20Exam Pattern

A man is facing North. He turns 45° in the clockwise direction and then 90° in the anti-clockwise direction. Finally he turns 180° in the clockwise direction. Which direction is he facing now?

A) South-East

B) South-West

C) North-East

D) North-West

Correct answer: A) South-East

Solution

Step 1: Net = +45 - 90 + 180 = +135° (Clockwise).

Step 2: 135° CW from North: 90° (East) + 45° = South-East.

Conclusion: The correct option is A.

Strategy errors to avoid

Confusion in L/R Turns

The most common mistake is taking a left turn as right when facing South. Mentally rotate yourself or the paper to face the direction of movement before deciding Left or Right.

Distance vs Displacement

"How far" usually means the shortest distance (displacement), not the total path walked. If you walked 3km North and 4km East, the answer is 5km, not 7km.

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