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Position Quiz Illustration | An aeroplane

Knowing how to navigate is very important for pilots.

Position 3 (Very Easy)

This 11 Plus Maths quiz helps pupils learn compass directions, turns, and how to describe movement in space and on grids.

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Fascinating Fact:

The four main compass points, north, east, south, and west, can be remembered with the phrase “Never Eat Soggy Waffles,” a delicious piece of geography and maths.

In 11 Plus Maths, pupils explore direction and position using compass points and turns. These skills help with map reading, geometry, and understanding movement in real-world settings.

Key Terms

Compass Point: One of the main directions used for navigation, such as north, east, south, or west.
Grid: A network of lines that help locate positions or describe movement.
Turn: A movement around a point, measured in degrees or described by fractions like quarter and half turns.

Discover how direction and movement fit into the 11 Plus Maths curriculum in our 11 Plus courses and materials guide for parents.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What are the four main compass points?

The four main compass points are north, east, south, and west. They are used to describe direction and movement on maps.

What does a quarter turn mean in direction?

A quarter turn means turning ninety degrees, such as moving from north to east, or from east to south.

How can I remember the compass points?

A popular memory trick is “Never Eat Soggy Waffles,” which stands for north, east, south, and west in clockwise order.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

If you face West and want to face South, you should turn…

… through 90° clockwise

… through 270° anticlockwise

… through 270° clockwise

… through 180° anticlockwise

'Clockwise' means that you turn (rotate) in the same direction to which the hands of the clock turn: the hands of the clock turn 'clockwise'. 270° = three lots of 90° or a three-quarter turn.
90° anticlockwise would also work, but that was not one of the available answers

2 .

If you face North and turn through 90° anticlockwise, what direction will you be facing now?

North

East

South

West

'Anticlockwise' means that you turn (rotate) in the opposite direction to which the hands of the clock turn: the hands of the clock turn 'clockwise'. 90° = one-quarter of a turn from North to West

3 .

If you face South and want to face East, you should turn…

… through 90° anticlockwise

… through 90° clockwise

… through 270° anticlockwise

… through 450° clockwise

90° anticlockwise would take you from 6 o’clock (South) back to 3 o’clock (East).
270° clockwise would also work, but that was not one of the options

4 .

If you face West and turn through 540° anticlockwise, what direction will you be facing now?

North

East

South

West

'Anticlockwise' means that you turn (rotate) in the opposite direction to which the hands of the clock turn: the hands of the clock turn 'clockwise'. 540° = six lots of 90°, or one and a half rotations

5 .

If you face North, what is the compass point 90° to your left?

East

South

West

Impossible to say

To your left is another way of saying anticlockwise. Make a little drawing and you will see that it is West

6 .

If you face East, what is the compass point 270° to your left?

North

South

West

Impossible to say

To your left is another way of saying anticlockwise, and 270° is three lots of 90°, or three-quarter turns. Make a little drawing and you will see that it is South

7 .

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun rises in the East. From which direction does the Sun rise in the Southern Hemisphere?

North

East

South

West

In both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, the Sun rises in the East and sets in the West. However, in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun is always in the Southern part of the sky, while in the Southern Hemisphere, it is always in the Northern part of the sky.

8 .

Starting from North, what is the order of the four compass points if read anticlockwise?

North, East, South, West

North, South, East, West

North, South, West, East

North, West, South, East

This mnemonic will help you remember the order of the compass points if read clockwise:
Never Eat Soggy Worms
To read them anticlockwise, say North first and then reverse the order of the other three points

9 .

Ship A is heading West when it makes a 90° turn in a clockwise direction.
Ship B is heading East. What angle must Ship B turn through to face in the same direction as Ship A?

A 90° turn in an anticlockwise direction

A 90° turn in a clockwise direction

A 270° turn in an anticlockwise direction

A 180° turn in an anticlockwise or a clockwise direction

If Ship A is heading West and makes a 90° turn clockwise, it will now be heading North.
If Ship B is heading East and wants to head North, then it could make either a 270° turn in a clockwise direction, or a 90° turn in an anticlockwise direction. However, only one of these options was available

10 .

An aeroplane is heading South, but the airport is to its West. Which of the following would be the simplest turn it could make to be facing in the right direction?

A 90° turn clockwise

A 270° turn anticlockwise

A 450° turn clockwise

A 630° turn anticlockwise

All of the options would result in the aeroplane facing West:
A 90° turn clockwise is one-quarter turn from South to West and so the simplest,
A 270° turn anticlockwise is three-quarter turns from South to East, East to North and North to West,
A 450° turn clockwise is five-quarter turns. Four will take it from South back to South, and the fifth would take it from South to West,
A 630° turn anticlockwise is seven-quarter turns. Four will take it from South back to South, the fifth from South to East, the sixth from East to North and the seventh from North to West

Author: Frank Evans (Specialist 11 Plus Teacher and Tutor)