Direction Sense Test for the Assam Police Constable (AB & UB) Exam
Direction Sense Test is a reasoning topic of the SLPRB Assam Police Constable (AB & UB) examination in which a person moves in different directions and the candidate must find the final direction, the distance or the shortest path. The questions need no general knowledge and very little calculation, only a neat diagram and a clear sense of the four directions and their turns. Once the path is drawn, the answer is read from the diagram. This page explains the directions, the turning rules, the shortcut for the shortest distance and the traps that cost marks. The material follows the standard reasoning reference books used for Assam recruitment examinations and is reviewed before it is published.
What the Topic Means
In this topic a starting point is given and the person is said to walk or turn by certain distances and certain angles. The candidate must find where the person finally stands, how far the person is from the start, or in which direction the person now faces. The whole question is answered by drawing the path on the rough sheet with the four main directions marked.
The Four Directions and Their Turns
- The main directions are North, South, East and West, and the four in between are North-East, North-West, South-East and South-West.
- A right turn from North leads to East, a right turn from East leads to South, and so on in a clockwise order.
- A left turn from North leads to West, a left turn from West leads to South, and so on in an anticlockwise order.
- A half turn, or a turn of 180 degrees, reverses the direction.
- Common turns in questions are 45, 90, 135 and 180 degrees.
A Step by Step Method
- Draw a small cross and mark North at the top, South at the bottom, East at the right and West at the left.
- Start from the given point and draw the first movement to scale, marking the distance.
- Apply the turn given, remembering that a left turn is anticlockwise and a right turn is clockwise.
- Continue until all movements are drawn.
- Mark the final position and the starting point and measure or count the straight distance between them.
Worked Examples
Example one: a man walks 5 km North, then turns right and walks 5 km. A right turn from North is East, so he is 5 km North and 5 km East of the start, and the straight distance from the start is the diagonal of a square of side 5, which is about 7 km, in the North-East direction. Example two: a woman walks 3 km East, turns left and walks 4 km. A left turn from East is North, so she is 3 km East and 4 km North, and the straight distance is the diagonal of a 3 by 4 right triangle, which is 5 km, in the North-East direction. Example three: a man walks 10 km South, turns left and walks 10 km, then turns left and walks 10 km. He ends 10 km East of the start.
How This Topic Appears in the Examination
The topic usually appears as two to four objective questions of one mark each. The common forms are to find the final direction, to find the distance from the starting point, to find the shortest distance, and to find the direction of the starting point from the final point, which is the reverse of the last answer.
Shortcuts and Speed Methods
- Always draw the diagram, never solve in the head.
- Use the Pythagoras rule for the shortest distance when the path makes a right angle.
- Remember the common right triangles: 3-4-5, 5-12-13 and 8-15-17.
- If the question asks the direction of the start from the end, reverse the final direction.
- Keep the scale small so that the whole path fits on the rough sheet.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Confusing a left turn with a right turn.
- Forgetting that a left turn is anticlockwise.
- Adding the distances in a straight line when the path actually turns.
- Giving the diagonal distance for the direction or the direction for the distance.
- Not reversing the direction when the question asks for the start seen from the end.
Preparation Plan
- Learn the four directions and the four in-between directions.
- Practise drawing the path for twenty questions a day.
- Learn the common right triangles for the shortest distance.
- Solve the reverse-direction questions separately.
- Revise the turning rules once a week.
More Practice Questions
- A man walks 6 km North, then 8 km East. His shortest distance from the start is 10 km.
- A man walks 5 km West, turns right and walks 12 km. His distance from the start is 13 km.
- A man walks 4 km South, turns left and walks 4 km, then turns left and walks 4 km. He is 4 km East of the start.
- If a man finally faces North after two right turns from East, his starting direction was East.
- A man walks 9 km North and then 12 km West. The straight distance is 15 km.
Quick Revision Checklist
- Four main and four in-between directions.
- Right turn is clockwise and left turn is anticlockwise.
- Half turn reverses the direction.
- Pythagoras rule and the 3-4-5 triangle.
- Always draw the path and reverse the direction when asked.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the direction sense test?
It is a reasoning topic in which a person moves in various directions and the candidate must find the final direction, the distance from the start, or the shortest path, by drawing the route.
What is the shortcut for the shortest distance?
When the path makes a right angle, use the Pythagoras rule, that the straight distance is the square root of the sum of the squares of the two sides. Remember the 3-4-5 triangle.
How do I remember left and right turns?
A right turn is clockwise, so from North a right turn leads to East. A left turn is anticlockwise, so from North a left turn leads to West.
What if the question asks the direction of the start from the end?
Find the direction of the end from the start and then reverse it, because the direction of the start seen from the end is the opposite of the direction of the end seen from the start.
Is direction sense scoring in Assam Police?
Yes. With a neat diagram the questions are quick, and the distances usually come from the common right triangles, so they are good marks.