Direction Sense – Easy Study Notes
(For the Assam Patwari / Lekhpal Reasoning Ability Paper)
1. What is Direction Sense?
- It is the skill of telling which way you are facing.
- Think of it as a compass that shows North, South, East, West and the intermediate points (NE, SE, SW, NW).
- In questions you often need to decide who is looking where or what happens when you turn.
2. Everyday Analogy
| Situation | Direction Sense | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| A friend walks in a circle | North → East → South → West → back to North | Every turn is 90° |
| A clock’s hands | 12 o’clock = North, 3 = East, 6 = South, 9 = West | The hand moves clockwise |
3. Basic Rules (Very Short)
| Rule | What it tells you |
|---|---|
| Rule 1 | If you move clockwise from North, you go East, then South, then West, and back to North. |
| Rule 2 | If you move counter‑clockwise from North, you go West, then South, then East, then back to North. |
| Rule 3 | A 90° turn (called a “right turn”) sends you from one cardinal point to the next in the clockwise order. |
| Rule 4 | A 270° turn (or a “left turn”) sends you to the previous point in the counter‑clockwise order. |
| Rule 5 | If two people are 180° apart they face each other. |
4. How to Solve Direction Questions
-
Identify the starting point.
Example: “A is facing North.” -
Count the turns (right or left).
Right turn = +90°, Left turn = –90°. -
Add the turns to the starting point using the order:
N → E → S → W → back to N (clockwise). -
Read the final direction.
5. Tiny Example
Question
“Ravi is facing North. He turns right, then right again. Where is he facing now?”
| Step | Direction | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | North | Starting point |
| 2 | Right turn → East | 90° clockwise |
| 3 | Right turn → South | Another 90° clockwise |
Answer: Ravi is facing South.
6. Quick Practice
| # | Question | Answer |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | A is facing East. He turns left. Where is he? | North |
| 2 | B looks South, turns right, then left. Final direction? | South |
| 3 | C faces West, turns right twice. Final direction? | East |
| 4 | D faces North, turns left three times. Final direction? | East |
7. Tips for the Exam
| Tip | Why it Helps |
|---|---|
| Write a small diagram if the question is long. | Keeps track of turns. |
| Use the “clock” picture in your head. | North = 12, East = 3, etc. |
| Check the wording – “turns right” = +90°, “turns left” = –90°. | Avoids confusion. |
| Practice with a timer to build speed. | Real exam is timed. |
8. Summary
- Direction sense is about knowing where you face after turns.
- Use the simple clockwise / counter‑clockwise order.
- Count 90° turns, add to the starting direction.
- Practice short problems to gain confidence.
Good luck with your Assam Patwari / Lekhpal exam!