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 CPO
Direction Sense is part of the General Intelligence & Reasoning section (25% of the SSC CPO syllabus).
Direction Sense Solved Examples for SSC CPO
12 exam-pattern direction sense questions from the practice bank, each with a full solution.
Seema walks 8 km towards East, then turns left and walks 6 km, then turns left and walks 8 km. How far and in which direction is she from her starting point?
- A.6 km NorthCorrect
- B.8 km North
- C.6 km South
- D.8 km East
Solution
From start: 8 km East, turn left (North) 6 km, turn left (West) 8 km. East-West: 8E - 8W = 0. North-South: 6N. She is 6 km North of the starting point.
Radha walks 12 km to the west, then turns south and walks 16 km. She then turns east and walks 12 km. How far is she from her starting point?
- A.12 km
- B.16 kmCorrect
- C.28 km
- D.40 km
Solution
Radha walks 12 km West, then 16 km South, then 12 km East. The West and East movements cancel each other out. Therefore, she is 16 km South of her starting point, which means 16 km away.
In the morning after sunrise, Suresh was standing facing a pole. The shadow of the pole fell exactly to his right. Which direction was he facing?
- A.East
- B.West
- C.SouthCorrect
- D.North
Solution
In the morning, the sun rises in the East. If the shadow of the pole falls to Suresh's right, his right must be West. Therefore, he is facing South.
Based on the logical principles of Blood Relations with Direction Sense, determine the valid outcome or relationship.
- A.Both Conclusion I and Conclusion II follow logically
- B.Conclusion I follows logically from the given premiseCorrect
- 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 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.
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.
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.
Priya is facing North. She turns 90 degrees clockwise, then 180 degrees anticlockwise, then 45 degrees clockwise. Which direction is she facing now?
- A.North-WestCorrect
- B.North-East
- C.South-West
- D.West
Solution
Starting: North (0 degrees). Turn 90 degrees clockwise: now facing East. Turn 180 degrees anticlockwise: East - 180 = West. Turn 45 degrees clockwise: West + 45 = North-West. She is facing North-West.
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.
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.
A stands 5m North of his sister B. B stands 12m East of her father C (SSC Dir+BR 2). 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.
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.
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 CPO?
35 exam-pattern Direction Sense questions for SSC CPO Reasoning, each with a step-by-step solution. Practice is free — no sign-up needed to start.