Direction Sense – Reasoning Ability Notes
(For the Manipur Police Sub‑Inspector – SI – Exam)
1. What is “Direction Sense”?
Direction sense is a type of reasoning question that asks you to figure out where someone or something is located relative to another person or object.
Think of it as a game of “hide‑and‑seek” on a map: you’re told a few clues about how people move, and you have to guess the final spot.
2. Basic Compass Points
| Symbol | Name | Everyday Example |
|---|---|---|
| N | North | The direction of the sun’s rise |
| S | South | The direction of the sun’s set |
| E | East | The direction of the sunrise |
| W | West | The direction of the sunset |
| NE | North‑East | Halfway between N and E |
| NW | North‑West | Halfway between N and W |
| SE | South‑East | Halfway between S and E |
| SW | South‑West | Halfway between S and W |
Tip: If you can picture a clock face, 12 o’clock = North, 6 o’clock = South, 3 o’clock = East, 9 o’clock = West.
3. How to Read the Clues
- Identify the starting point – Who or what is the reference?
- Track each movement – Note the direction and number of steps.
- Mark the new position – A quick sketch helps.
- Keep the same “scale” – If one step is 1 m in the clue, keep that scale consistent.
4. Step‑by‑Step Solving Strategy
| Step | What to Do | Quick Example |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Draw a point for the start | Mark “A” on paper. |
| 2 | Add a small arrow for each direction | If “A goes north for 2 steps”, draw an arrow up. |
| 3 | Count the steps | Two arrows up means “A is 2 steps north”. |
| 4 | Repeat for all clues | Keep adding arrows for each new instruction. |
| 5 | Note the final point | The last arrow’s tip is the answer. |
| 6 | Double‑check | Make sure you didn’t flip a direction or miss a step. |
5. Tiny Example
| Statement | What it means | Sketch |
|---|---|---|
| “B is at the same spot as A.” | B = A | A and B together |
| “B moves 3 steps east.” | B goes right 3 steps | A → → → |
| “C is 2 steps north of B.” | C goes up 2 steps | C above B |
Answer: C is 2 steps north of the point B ended up at.
6. Common Patterns in Questions
| Pattern | How it looks | Quick fix |
|---|---|---|
| Multiple people | “A and B face the same direction.” | Draw both arrows the same way. |
| Relative positions | “C is to the left of D.” | Place C left of D. |
| Circular movement | “E moves in a circle 4 steps each time.” | After 4 moves, E returns to start. |
| Opposite directions | “F goes north, G goes south.” | They move away from each other. |
7. Tips for Speed & Accuracy
- Use a grid – Draw a small square grid (1 cm per step).
- Keep the same direction for all arrows – No rotating the paper.
- Count steps as you draw – Don’t wait until the end.
- Check for “same spot” clues early – These anchor the rest of the diagram.
- Practice with a timer – Aim for < 30 seconds per question.
8. Quick Practice Problem
Question
A walks 3 steps north, then 2 steps east.
B is 1 step north of A.
C is 4 steps west of B.
Where is C relative to A?
Solution
- A starts at point A.
- A moves 3 N → point A1.
- A moves 2 E → point A2 (final spot).
- B is 1 N of A → B at A1 + 1 N = B.
- C is 4 W of B → C at B – 4 W.
- From A2 to C:
- A2 is 3 N + 2 E from start.
- C is 4 W from B, which is 1 N from A.
- Relative difference:
- East/West: 2 E (A2) – 4 W = 2 E + 4 E = 6 E.
- North/South: 3 N (A2) – 1 N = 2 N.
- Answer: C is 2 steps north and 6 steps east of A.
(In direction terms: NE but farther east than north.)
9. Final Checklist Before the Exam
- Sketch a quick diagram for every question.
- Use a consistent scale (1 step = 1 cm).
- Mark start and end points clearly.
- Double‑check any “same spot” or “opposite” statements.
- Keep your hand steady to