Direction and Distance

Overview

Direction and Distance is a fundamental reasoning topic in IBPS PO Prelims that tests your ability to visualize movement on a two-dimensional plane using compass directions. Questions typically describe a person walking in various directions and ask you to find the final position, shortest distance from the starting point, or the direction they're facing.

This topic carries 2-4 questions in the Prelims exam and is considered a scoring area because the concepts are straightforward once you master the compass framework. The key challenge is accurate visualization—one wrong turn in your mental map can derail the entire solution. Speed matters here, so building a systematic approach to draw quick diagrams is essential.

Students who perform well on this topic share one habit: they always draw. Mental calculations in direction problems lead to errors, especially when shadow-based or rotational questions appear.

Key Concepts

• **The 8-Point Compass**: North (N), South (S), East (E), West (W) are the four cardinal directions. Between them lie Northeast (NE), Northwest (NW), Southeast (SE), and Southwest (SW). North is always drawn pointing upward on your rough sheet.

• **Opposite Directions**: N↔S and E↔W are opposite pairs. Moving North then South cancels out; same for East-West movements.

• **Left and Right Turns**: These depend on which direction you're currently facing. Facing North and turning right means you now face East. Facing South and turning left also means East.