Understanding the four main compass points: North, South, East, West and their positions.
Where your child meets this in real life: Reading maps, following directions, understanding weather reports
This topic isn't tested on its own, but it sits inside questions on tested topics. Each SEAG paper has 28 maths questions. Questions 29 to 50 are multiple choice with five possible answers, and questions 51 to 56 need a short written answer. With 56 questions in 60 minutes across English and maths, that is about a minute per question.
SEAGReady breaks four compass points into 2 steps, taught in order so each skill builds on the last.
Identify North, South, East, and West on a compass rose and understand their positions and relationships
Use compass points to describe the direction from one place to another on a simple map or grid
Try three free questions from our four compass points course. They start easy and get harder, so you can see where your child's confidence runs out. If they manage the last one without a hint, this topic is probably secure. If not, the steps above show where to start.
Harry is learning to use a compass in his geography class. Which compass point is always at the TOP of a standard compass rose?
On a map, the library is directly to the left of the park. What direction is the library from the park?
Emily says: 'If you start at North and go clockwise, you pass East, then South, then West, then back to North.' Tom says: 'That means there are 4 steps to go all the way around.' Starting at South and going ANTICLOCKWISE, which direction do you reach after 2 steps?
This is the exact interactive worked example your child sees in SEAGReady. Step through it and watch the method build up.
Rosie is learning to read a compass for her orienteering club. She needs to label the four main directions.
Starting at North and going clockwise, what is the order of the four compass points?
N, ?, ?, ?
North is at the top of a standard north-up compass rose
Step 1 of 5
Rosie is learning to read a compass for her orienteering club. She needs to label the four main directions.
Starting at North and going clockwise, what is the order of the four compass points?
The four compass points in clockwise order are North, East, South, West.
The key insight: Remember 'Never Eat Soggy Waffles' - the first letter of each word gives N, E, S, W clockwise!
Common mix-up: Putting East on the left side. On a standard north-up compass rose, East is on the right and West is on the left.
These are the misconceptions we see most often in four compass points, including the ones our practice questions are specifically designed to catch.
Sitting the SEAG test this November? Read our last-month revision plan, Paper 1 vs Paper 2 and test day guide.
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.
Free to start · no card needed