Bearing: 3 figures, clockwise from North
Always measured from North, clockwise, written with three digits (e.g. , not ).
Draw North lines and use parallel-line angles
Draw a North arrow at each point; co-interior (supplementary) angles between the parallel North lines give 180°.
Back bearing differs by 180°
The bearing of from is the bearing of from (add 180 if under 180, subtract if over).
Drawn from real examiner reports.
Not drawing an annotated diagram
With no diagram and no scaffolding, students don't find the angle inside the triangle to use the cosine/sine rule.
In one reported question those who drew an annotated diagram and marked the 118° angle for angle ABC made the first method mark; many who did not, stalled.
Stopping before the final bearing
Finding a distance or an interior angle but not converting it back into a three-figure bearing.
In one reported question students often scored 5 of 6 marks, failing only to give the final bearing.
Dropping the leading zero
A bearing under must be written with a leading zero: is , is . Omitting the leading zero (writing ) can lose the accuracy mark.
Measuring anticlockwise or not from North
Bearings are ALWAYS measured clockwise from the North line. Measuring anticlockwise, or from a different reference line, gives a wrong angle. Turn clockwise from North every time.
Adding 180° when the bearing is over 180°
For the reverse bearing, add only if the bearing is under ; subtract if it is over. Adding to a bearing over gives an impossible answer above .
Mark every North line and angle
Annotate the diagram with North arrows and known angles before choosing a rule; give the answer as 3 figures.
Finish with a three-figure bearing
Do not stop at a distance or an interior triangle angle — convert it back to a bearing measured clockwise from North, written as three figures. This final conversion is where marks are most often lost.
Pick the right triangle rule
Once the interior angle is found, use Pythagoras or SOHCAHTOA if the triangle is right-angled, and the sine or cosine rule if it is not. Draw the triangle and mark the known sides and angle first.
How is a bearing measured and written?
The bearing of from is . Find the bearing of from .
