GCSE Maths Practice: bearings

Question 7 of 10

This question helps students identify the bearing of West from North using compass rotation.

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\( \begin{array}{l}\text{What is the bearing of West from North?}\end{array} \)

Choose one option:

Count clockwise from North: North (0°), East (90°), South (180°), West (270°). Draw a compass to visualise.

West is one of the cardinal points on a compass, located 270° clockwise from North. Bearings are measured clockwise starting from North. To determine the bearing of West, start at North (0°), move clockwise to East (90°), continue past South (180°), and reach West at 270°. Understanding this sequence is essential for navigation, orienteering, and solving geometric problems involving bearings. Practise plotting bearings on a compass diagram to improve accuracy. Use three-digit notation to represent bearings consistently (e.g., 090° for East, 270° for West). Mastery of cardinal bearings prepares students for intermediate bearings, reverse bearings, and rotations. Visualisation and repetition are key for internalising bearings and confidently answering exam-style questions.