Fiducia TogetherScale drawings and bearings
Direction measured from north, always three figures, always clockwise.
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.
What it is
A bearing is an angle measured clockwise from north, written with three figures — 045°, not 45°.
Where it applies
Both tiers, and geography.
How it works
Scale drawings represent real distances at a fixed ratio, so a measured length converts by the scale.
Back bearings differ by 180 degrees, adding or subtracting to stay within 000 to 360.
How to use it in your work
Always write three figures. It is a mark and it is routinely dropped.
Draw a north line at the point you are measuring FROM. Measuring from the wrong point is the standard error.
Use a sharp pencil and check the protractor scale you are reading.
Where to get help
Your teacher and your board's specification and mark scheme.
Revise this with a song
These are ours. We write revision songs because a lot of people remember a tune when they cannot remember a page, and because revising out loud in the kitchen beats staring at a highlighter.
- The Maths Song The GCSE maths topics, in order.
Where to read more
Last reviewed 2026-08-28 by Fiducia Together · Next review due 2027-08-28
Please note: This page explains a word or a process in education. It is general information about the system, the law and the guidance in England — not advice about your child, your school or your exam. If a decision is going against you, get advice from one of the free services we link to before you agree to anything or miss a deadline. If you are revising, check your own exam board's specification: boards word things differently and yours is the one that marks you.