Lesson Y7-U01-L04

Compass Directions and Bearings Quiz: KS3 Geography, Unit 1

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson Y7-U01-L04, Compass Directions and Bearings: 20 multiple choice questions for the KS3 Geography (National Curriculum), Unit 1: Year 7: The UK and Map Skills, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. Which list gives the four main cardinal compass points in a clockwise order?

    • North, East, South, West
    • North, West, South, East
    • North, East, West, South
    • North, South, East, West

  2. A bearing is always measured starting from which direction?

    • The nearest river
    • South
    • North
    • The school gate

  3. Which way do we turn when measuring a bearing?

    • Clockwise
    • Anticlockwise
    • Upwards
    • Backwards from East

  4. What is the three-digit bearing for due East?

    • 090
    • 270
    • 180
    • 045

  5. What is the three-digit bearing for due South?

    • 180
    • 000
    • 270
    • 090

  6. What is the three-digit bearing for North-East (NE)?

    • 045
    • 225
    • 135
    • 315

  7. What is the three-digit bearing for South-East (SE)?

    • 315
    • 135
    • 045
    • 225

  8. What is the three-digit bearing for North-West (NW)?

    • 315
    • 225
    • 045
    • 270

  9. Which compass point sits halfway between East and South?

    • North-West (NW)
    • South-East (SE)
    • North-East (NE)
    • South-West (SW)

  10. Which point sits halfway between North and North-East on a 16-point compass?

    • North-North-West (NNW)
    • North-West (NW)
    • North-North-East (NNE)
    • East-North-East (ENE)

  11. How should a bearing of 90 degrees due East be correctly written?

    • E90
    • 090
    • 900
    • 9.0

  12. How many digits are always used to write a standard map bearing?

    • Three
    • Four
    • Two
    • One

  13. When measuring a bearing with a protractor, what is placed on the starting point?

    • The zero mark
    • The centre
    • The 180 mark
    • The outer edge

  14. Which direction are angles measured when finding a map bearing?

    • Clockwise
    • Inwards
    • Anticlockwise
    • Upwards

  15. On a map, a protractor centred on a church shows the campsite at 135. Which compass direction does this match?

    • South-East
    • North-East
    • North-West
    • South-West

  16. A path heads due West from a village. Which bearing is correct?

    • 180
    • 315
    • 270
    • 090

  17. Why is a 3-digit bearing like 225 better than 'south-west'?

    • Shows map height
    • Gives exact direction
    • Always points north
    • Easier to estimate

  18. A bearing of 225 matches which compass point?

    • South-East (SE)
    • South-West (SW)
    • West (W)
    • North-West (NW)

  19. Why can two walkers using the word 'south' end up apart?

    • Always points north
    • Uses three digits
    • Covers wide slice
    • Measures in miles

  20. What is the correct clockwise order of all eight main compass points starting from North?

    • N, E, S, W, NE, SE, SW, NW
    • N, SE, S, SW, W, NW, N, NE
    • N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW
    • N, NW, W, SW, S, SE, E, NE

All KS3 Geography quizzes