What Direction Sense Questions Test
- Net displacement and shortest distance (Pythagoras)
- Final facing direction after multiple turns
- Left/right turns relative to current facing
- Shadow-based direction problems (sunrise/sunset)
Question bank coverage by sub-pattern
How Direction Sense Appears in SSC CGL
Direction Sense is part of the General Intelligence & Reasoning section (25% of the SSC CGL syllabus). See the full SSC CGL Tier-I breakdown.
Direction Sense Solved Examples for SSC CGL
12 exam-pattern direction sense questions from the practice bank, each with a full solution.
At sunrise, Amit was standing facing a pole. The shadow of the pole fell exactly to his right. Which direction was he facing?
- A.SouthCorrect
- B.North
- C.East
- D.West
Solution
At sunrise, the sun is in the East, so shadows fall towards the West. If the shadow fell to Amit's right, then West is to his right. If West is to his right, Amit is facing South.
Meera walks 15 m towards South, turns left and walks 20 m, turns left again and walks 15 m. She is now facing which direction?
- A.NorthCorrect
- B.South
- C.East
- D.West
Solution
Starting facing South: walks 15 m South. Turns left (now facing East): walks 20 m. Turns left (now facing North): walks 15 m. She is now facing North.
One morning after sunrise, two friends, A and B, were talking to each other face to face. If B's shadow was exactly to the left of A, which direction was B facing?
- A.North
- B.SouthCorrect
- C.East
- D.West
Solution
In the morning, the sun rises in the East, so shadows fall to the West. If B's shadow is to the left of A, A's left is West. Therefore, A is facing South. Since A and B are face to face, B is facing North.
Gaurav exits from the backdoor of his north facing house and walks 25 m straight, then he takes a left turn and walks 36 m, then he turns left and walks 47 m. He turns left again and walks 36 m. How far and in which direction is he from his house now?
- A.22 m, NorthCorrect
- B.11 m, North
- C.22 m, South
- D.11 m, South
Solution
He walks 25m North, 47m South. The net displacement is 47-25 = 22m South from the exit point. Since he exited from the back, he is 22m North from the house.
A is B's son. C is B's sister and she has a daughter D and a son E. F is D's maternal uncle. If E walks 5 km towards North, then turns to his right and walks 3 km, then turns to his right and walks 2 km, then in which direction is he from his starting point?
- A.North-EastCorrect
- B.North-West
- C.South-East
- D.South-West
Solution
E is the son of C, who is B's sister. F is D's maternal uncle, meaning F is also C's brother. The question asks for E's final direction from his starting point. E walks 5 km North, then 3 km East, then 2 km South. Net movement is 3 km North and 3 km East. Hence, North-East.
M is the daughter of N. N is the wife of O. P is the brother of M. Q is the father of R. R is the sister of P. If P walks 7 km towards East, then turns to his right and walks 4 km, then turns to his left and walks 7 km, in which direction is he from his starting point?
- A.South-EastCorrect
- B.South-West
- C.North-East
- D.North-West
Solution
P walks 7 km East, 4 km South, and 7 km East. Net movement is 14 km East and 4 km South. Therefore, he is in the South-East direction.
X is Y's sister's husband. Z is X's mother. W is Z's father. If Y walks 15 km towards West, then turns to his right and walks 10 km, then turns to his right and walks 15 km, then in which direction is he from his starting point?
- A.NorthCorrect
- B.South
- C.East
- D.West
Solution
The blood relation details are extra information. Y walks 15 km West, 10 km North, and 15 km East. The West and East movements cancel out, leaving him 10 km North from his starting point. Therefore, he is in the North direction.
Based on the logical principles of Blood Relations with Direction Sense, determine the valid outcome or relationship.
- A.Conclusion I follows logically from the given premiseCorrect
- B.Both Conclusion I and Conclusion II follow logically
- C.Conclusion II follows logically from the given premise
- D.Neither Conclusion I nor Conclusion II follows
Solution
In Blood Relations with Direction Sense, analyzing the relationship between the terms verifies that Conclusion I is a direct and necessary deduction.
A stands 5m North of his sister B. B stands 12m East of her father C (SSC Dir+BR 3). What is the shortest distance between A and C?
- A.13mCorrect
- B.17m
- C.15m
- D.14m
Solution
Shortest distance = sqrt(5^2 + 12^2) = sqrt(25 + 144) = sqrt(169) = 13 meters.
P is Q's father's brother. R is P's mother. S is Q's grandmother. If Q walks 10 km towards South from his house, turns left and walks 5 km, then turns left and walks 10 km, and finally turns right and walks 5 km, in which direction is he from his house?
- A.EastCorrect
- B.West
- C.North
- D.South
Solution
The blood relation details are extra information. The key is Q's movement. He walks 10 km South, 5 km East, 10 km North, and 5 km East. His net displacement is 10 km East. Therefore, he is in the East direction from his house.
A is B's father. C is B's mother. D is C's brother. E is D's son. If A walks 12 km towards North, turns left and walks 5 km, then turns left and walks 3 km, and turns left again and walks 5 km, in which direction is he from his starting point?
- A.NorthCorrect
- B.South
- C.East
- D.West
Solution
A walks 12 km North, 5 km West, 3 km South, and 5 km East. The West and East movements cancel each other out. The net movement is 12 km North and 3 km South, which results in 9 km North. Therefore, A is in the North direction.
A stands 5m North of his sister B. B stands 12m East of her father C (SSC Dir+BR 1). What is the shortest distance between A and C?
- A.13mCorrect
- B.17m
- C.15m
- D.14m
Solution
Shortest distance = sqrt(5^2 + 12^2) = sqrt(25 + 144) = sqrt(169) = 13 meters.
Direction Sense — Frequently Asked Questions
How do I avoid errors in direction questions?
Plot every move on a small compass sketch with North fixed upward. Errors come from processing turns mentally — "left" depends on current facing, which is exactly what mental tracking loses.
When is Pythagoras needed?
Whenever the question asks the distance "from the starting point" after perpendicular moves — sum the net horizontal and vertical displacements and take the hypotenuse.
How many Direction Sense practice questions does Parikshala have for SSC CGL?
35 exam-pattern Direction Sense questions for SSC CGL Reasoning, each with a step-by-step solution. Practice is free — no sign-up needed to start.