A bearing: 3 figures, clockwise from North
Always measured from North, clockwise, written with three digits (e.g. , not ).
Back bearing differs by 180°
The bearing of from is the bearing of from (add 180 if under 180, subtract if over).
Draw North lines and use parallel-line angles
Draw a North arrow at each point; co-interior (allied) angles between the parallel North lines give 180°.
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.
On Nov 2024 Paper 2H (Q24) 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.
On Nov 2024 Paper 2H (Q24) students often scored 5 of 6 marks, failing only to give the final bearing.
Bearing with fewer than 3 figures
Giving instead of . Bearings under still need a leading zero to make three figures, e.g. and .
(general exam technique)
Wrong ±180 for a back bearing
Subtracting from a bearing under (giving a negative), or adding to one over (giving more than ). Add if under , subtract if over.
(general exam technique)
Measuring the wrong way
Measuring anticlockwise, or from a direction other than North. A bearing is always taken from North, turning clockwise.
(general exam technique)
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.
Convert back to a bearing
After finding a distance or interior angle, turn the result into a bearing measured from North and write it as three figures — do not stop at the angle.
Pick the rule from the triangle
Once the interior angle is known: a right angle → Pythagoras or SOHCAHTOA; otherwise the sine or cosine rule.
How is a bearing measured and written?
The bearing of from is . Find the bearing of from .
