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From which compass directions does the sun rise and set?

Position (Very Easy)

This 11 Plus Maths quiz introduces basic position and direction, helping pupils understand how we describe turns, angles, and movement.

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Fascinating Fact:

Turning a full circle is a rotation of three hundred and sixty degrees, proof that maths loves round numbers.

In 11 Plus Maths, pupils learn to describe movement and position using simple terms such as clockwise, anticlockwise, left, right, and degrees of rotation. This topic builds spatial awareness and strengthens geometry skills.

Key Terms

Rotation: The act of turning around a fixed point, such as rotating a shape on a grid.
Clockwise: A direction of rotation that follows the same path as the hands of a clock.
Anticlockwise: The opposite direction to a clock’s hands, turning to the left instead of the right.

To find out more about the subjects covered in the 11 Plus, visit our 11 Plus subject guide for parents.

Frequently Asked Questions (Click to see answers)

What is meant by position in maths?

Position describes where something is located, such as a point on a grid or the place of an object in a sequence.

What is the difference between clockwise and anticlockwise?

Clockwise means turning in the same direction as the hands of a clock, while anticlockwise means turning the other way.

How many degrees are in a full turn?

A full turn or rotation equals three hundred and sixty degrees, dividing neatly into right angles of ninety degrees each.

Try These Related Quizzes

1 .

If you face West and turn through 180° anticlockwise, what direction will you be facing now?

West

North

South

East

'Anticlockwise' means that you turn (rotate) in the opposite direction to which the hands of the clock turn: the hands of the clock turn 'clockwise'. 180° = two lots of 90° or a half turn

2 .

If you face East and turn through 270° anticlockwise, what direction will you be facing now?

South

North

West

East

'Anticlockwise' means that you turn (rotate) in the opposite direction to which the hands of the clock turn: the hands of the clock turn 'clockwise' 270° = three lots of 90° or three-quarters of a turn

3 .

If you face South and turn through 360°, what direction will you be facing now?

East

North

South

West

If you turn through 360°, you will ALWAYS end up facing the same direction no matter which way you turn

4 .

If you face North and turn through 540° clockwise, what direction will you be facing now?

West

East

North

South

'Anticlockwise' means that you turn (rotate) in the opposite direction to which the hands of the clock turn: the hands of the clock turn 'clockwise'. 540° = six lots of 90°

5 .

If you face North, what is the compass point directly behind you?

East

South

West

You can't tell

Make a little drawing and you will see that it is South

6 .

If you face east, what is the compass point directly behind you?

You can't tell

South

West

North

Make a little drawing and you will see that it is West

7 .

From which compass directions does the sun rise and set?

The sun rises in the E and sets in the E

The sun rises in the E and sets in the N

The sun rises in the E and sets in the W

The sun rises in the W and sets in the E

Learn this fact

8 .

If the sun rises in the E and sets in the W, which way does the Earth turn (rotate)?

The Earth rotates from S to E

The Earth rotates from W to S

The Earth rotates from E to W

The Earth rotates from W to E

It must rotate in the opposite direction to the sun

9 .

Karen and Susan are at the same position on the ground. Karen is facing North. Susan is facing East. If Karen turns clockwise through 180° what angle must Susan turn through to face in the same direction as Karen?

90° clockwise

180° anticlockwise

180° clockwise

90° anticlockwise

'Anticlockwise' means that you turn (rotate) in the opposite direction to which the hands of the clock turn: the hands of the clock turn 'clockwise'. Karen turns through 180° (= two lots of 90° or half a turn) and ends up facing south. Susan will have to turn clockwise through 90° (quarter of a turn)

10 .

Karen and Susan are at the same position on the ground again. Karen is facing north. Susan is facing east. If Karen turns anticlockwise through 180° what angle must Susan turn through to face in the same direction as Karen? This time, Susan is NOT allowed to turn clockwise through 90°.

270° clockwise

90° anticlockwise

270° anticlockwise

45° anticlockwise

Susan must turn in the opposite direction until she faces south again as in question 9. This shows that for every anticlockwise rotation there is also a clockwise rotation that brings you facing in the same direction. Did you notice that Karen turned anticlockwise through 180° this time? She ended up facing the same direction as in question 9: this happened because in both cases she performed a half turn. Note: the anticlockwise angle turned through + the clockwise angle turned through = 360°. This is a good check if you want to make sure that you haven't made a mistake

Author: Frank Evans (Specialist 11 Plus Teacher and Tutor)