SEAGReady
Shape and SpaceP6 level16 questions in the full course

Eight Compass PointsSEAG Practice Questions

Understanding all eight compass points including NE, SE, SW, NW and their positions between the main points.

Where your child meets this in real life: More precise map reading, navigation, describing wind directions

What your child needs to know

SEAGReady breaks eight compass points into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.

  1. 1

    Name Intermediate Points

    Identify and name the four intermediate compass points (NE, SE, SW, NW) on a compass rose

  2. 2

    Direction Between Locations

    Identify which of the 8 compass directions describes the position of one location relative to another

Try these SEAG-style questions

Three free sample questions from our eight compass points course. Every question comes with a full explanation, and hints that guide without giving the answer away.

Question 1Confidence builder

Oliver is learning to read a compass on a school trip. What direction is exactly halfway between North and East?

A compass rose labels N at the top and E at the right, with the unlabelled arm between them highlighted.
Answer choices for question 1
Question 2Confidence builder

Holly is looking at a map. The library is diagonally down and to the left from her school. What direction is the library from the school?

A map shows the library diagonally below-left from the school.
Answer choices for question 2
Question 3Standard

Katie is looking at a compass. Starting from North and moving clockwise, what is the first direction she will pass?

A clockwise 45-degree arc moves from N to the next unlabelled arm on an eight-point compass.
Answer choices for question 3

Try the lesson: Name Intermediate Points

This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.

Rosie is labelling an eight-point compass rose for an orienteering exercise.

What direction is exactly halfway between North and East?

Find the two main points
1

Locate North at the top of the compass

Step 1 of 4

Prefer to read? See every step written out

Rosie is labelling an eight-point compass rose for an orienteering exercise.

What direction is exactly halfway between North and East?

  1. 1

    Find the two main points

    • Locate North at the top of the compass
    • Locate East on the right side
  2. 2

    Name the direction between them

    • The point between North and East is the intermediate point
    • North comes first in the name, then EastN + E = NE

The direction exactly between North and East is North-East (NE).

The key insight: For intermediate compass points, always put N or S first, then E or W!

Common mix-up: EN (East-North). The naming rule is: North or South always comes before East or West.

Mistakes to watch for

These are the misconceptions we see most often in eight compass points, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.

  • Getting the order of letters wrong (NE not EN)
  • Confusing which diagonal is which
  • Not understanding 45° positions

Build these skills first

Struggling with eight compass points? The real gap is often in one of these earlier topics.

Four Compass Points

More shape and space practice

Name 2D ShapesLine Types and PropertiesDescribe Shape PropertiesClassify TrianglesClassify QuadrilateralsUnderstand Polygons
16 questions on this topic alone

Master eight compass points and everything it unlocks

SEAGReady finds the exact step where your child gets stuck, teaches it with worked examples like the one above, and brings it back for review so it sticks.

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