Direction Tests for CA Foundation
Direction sense tests: compass directions, left and right turns, angles of rotation, distance using Pythagoras, and shadows from the sun.
Quantitative AptitudePaper 3, Logical Reasoning11 MCQs2 lessons2 flashcards3 memory tricks
What you'll learn
- Directions and turns
Track direction after a series of turns. - Distance and shadows
Find the shortest distance and use shadows to find direction.
Key formulas
| Shortest distance (right-angle path) | √(a² + b²) |
|---|---|
| Common triples | 3-4-5, 6-8-10, 5-12-13 |
Concepts explained
Turns and compass directions
Right turns are 90° clockwise, left turns 90° anticlockwise; eight compass points are 45° apart.
What it means
- N → E → S → W clockwise.
- Two same-direction turns = 180°; four = 360°.
- 135° = three 45° steps.
- Opposite direction: flip both letters (NE ↔ SW).
- Facing north, right, right
Answer: South
- From south-west
Answer: North
Related terms
- Bearing: angle measured clockwise from north
- Ordinal directions: NE, SE, SW, NW
Exam tip: Turn your own body (or pen) on paper as you read the question.
Shortest distance and final position
Add the north–south and east–west movements separately, then use Pythagoras for the straight-line distance.
What it means
- Net N–S = north total − south total; net E–W similarly.
- Distance = √(net N–S² + net E–W²).
- Direction from the signs (e.g. north and east → north-east).
- Common triples: 3-4-5, 6-8-10, 5-12-13.
- 3 km north, 4 km east
Answer: 5 km NE
- 5 W, 3 N, 5 E
Answer: 3 km north
Related terms
- Displacement: straight-line distance from start
- Total distance: sum of all legs walked
Exam tip: Don't confuse total distance walked with distance from the start.
Directions from shadows
Shadows fall opposite the sun: west in the morning, east in the evening.
What it means
- Morning: sun east, shadow west.
- Evening: sun west, shadow east.
- Facing your shadow in the morning: you face west; in the evening: east.
- Shadow to your right in the morning (west on right): you face south.
- Shadow to the right
Answer: Facing south
- Facing own shadow
Answer: Facing east
Related terms
- Noon: shortest shadow
- Sundial: uses shadows to tell time
Exam tip: Mark the sun and the shadow on your sketch first, then place the person.
Memory tricks
Shadows fall opposite the sun.
Right turn = 90° clockwise; left turn = 90° anticlockwise.
Distance for right-angle paths: √(a² + b²).
Try 3 CA Foundation-style questions
Q1. From a point, Arun walks 5 km west, turns right and walks 3 km, then turns right and walks 5 km. Where is he now?
- 3 km south of the starting point
- 5 km west of the starting point
- 3 km north of the starting point
- At the starting point
Show answer
Answer: (3) 3 km north of the starting point
West 5 → right (north) 3 → right (east) 5: the east–west legs cancel, leaving him 3 km north.
Q2. Ravi faces north, turns right, then turns right again. Which direction is he facing now?
- East
- West
- North
- South
Show answer
Answer: (4) South
North → right → East → right → South.
Q3. A man is facing south-west. He turns 135° clockwise. Which direction is he facing now?
- South
- East
- North-west
- North
Show answer
Answer: (4) North
Clockwise from south-west: 45° to west, 90° to north-west, 135° to north.
Practise all 11 questions Free · explanations for every option · see where you go wrong