Reading and Measuring Bearings
Grade 4What is a bearing?
A bearing is a way of describing direction. It is always measured clockwise from North and always written as three figures (e.g. 045°, not just 45°).
Those three rules matter: clockwise, from North, three digits. Get any one wrong and you have the wrong bearing.
Reading bearings from diagrams
Draw a North line at the starting point. Measure the angle clockwise from that North line to the direction of travel. Write it with three digits.
Key reference bearings: North = 000°, East = 090°, South = 180°, West = 270°. These are handy for checking your answer is in the right ballpark.
Worked example
EXAMPLE
Point B is due south-east of point A. State the bearing of B from A.
South-east is exactly between South (180°) and East (90°). Midpoint = (180° + 90°) ÷ 2 = 135°. Write as three figures: 135°.
Common mistake
Always measure from North at the starting point, not the endpoint. "Bearing of B from A" means you stand at A, face North, and rotate clockwise to face B.
