Cambridge IGCSE®

Bearings – Past paper questions

The questions in this document have been compiled from a number of past papers, as indicated in the table
below.

Use these questions to formatively assess your learners’ understanding of this topic. Some questions have
additional ‘Challenge questions’ included. These do not form part of the original questions, but have been
added as part of the lesson plans included in Resource Plus.

Question Year Series Paper number

8ab 2017 June 31
7a 2017 June 32
4 2017 June 33
8a 2017 June 41
21 2017 November 13
5 2017 November 31
6ab 2017 November 32
3 2017 November 42
1c 2020 Specimen P3

The mark scheme for each question is provided at the end of the document.

You can find the complete question papers and the complete mark schemes (with additional notes where
available) on the School Support Hub www.cambridgeinternational.org/support.

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 1

 8 The scale drawing shows the positions of Bogota (B) and Quito (Q).
The scale is 1 centimetre represents 150 kilometres.

North

B
North

Scale: 1 cm to 150 km

(a) (i) Measure the length of the line BQ.

.......................................... cm [1]

(ii) Work out the actual distance from Bogota to Quito.

.......................................... km [1]

(iii) Measure the bearing of Quito from Bogota.

................................................. [1]

(b) A plane leaves Quito and flies straight to Manaus.

Manaus is 2100 km on a bearing of 100° from Quito.

On the scale drawing, mark the position of Manaus (M). [3]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 2

 7 (a) The diagram shows the positions of ports M, P, Q and R.

North

NOT TO
SCALE
Q

117 km
45 km North

118°
M P R

Port M and port P are due west of port R.

Port M is due south of port Q.
QM = 45 km and QR = 117 km.

(i) Write down the bearing of port P from port R.

................................................. [1]

(ii) Work out the bearing of port P from port Q.

................................................. [3]

(iii) Work out the distance MR.

MR = ......................................... km [3]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 3

 4 (a) Measure the reflex angle at A.

.................................................. [1]

(b)

b°
NOT TO
SCALE

68°

Find the value of b.

Give a reason for your answer.

b = ................... because ..................................................................................................................... [2]

(c)

e°
NOT TO
36° SCALE

c° d°

Find the values of c, d and e.

c = .................................................

d = ................................................

e = ................................................. [3]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 4

 (d) A regular polygon has 24 sides.

Work out the size of one of the interior angles of the polygon.

.................................................. [3]

(e) Town Y is 6.7 km from town X.

The bearing of town Y from town X is 113°.

On the scale drawing, draw a line from X and mark the position of Y.
The scale is 1 centimetre represents 1 kilometre.

North

Scale: 1 cm to 1 km

[2]

(f) Give the correct mathematical name for each of the shapes described below.

(i) I am a quadrilateral.
I have two pairs of parallel sides but no right angles.
I have two lines of symmetry.

.................................................. [1]

(ii) I am a quadrilateral.
I have one pair of opposite angles that are equal.
I have one line of symmetry.

.................................................. [1]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 5

 8 (a)
North

A 110°
North NOT TO
38 km
50 km SCALE

C B
280°

A, B and C are three towns.

The bearing of B from A is 110°.
The bearing of C from B is 280°.
AC = 38 km and AB = 50 km.

(i) Find the bearing of A from B.

................................................. [2]

(ii) Calculate angle BAC.

Angle BAC = ................................................ [5]

(iii) A road is built from A to join the straight road BC.

Calculate the shortest possible length of this new road.

.......................................... km [3]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 6

 21 The scale drawing shows a park ABCD.
The scale is 1 centimetre represents 20 metres.

North

D C

Scale: 1 cm to 20 m

(a) Find the actual distance AD.

............................................. m [2]

(b) Measure the bearing of B from A.

................................................. [1]

(c) There is a path across the park that is equidistant from CB and CD.

Using a straight edge and compasses only, construct the position of the path.
Show your construction arcs. [2]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 7

 5 The scale drawing shows the positions of three towns A, B and C.
The scale is 1 centimetre represents 12 kilometres.

North

North
B
North

Scale: 1 cm to 12 km

(a) Find the actual distance between town A and town B.

........................................... km [2]

(b) Measure the bearing of town B from town A.

................................................. [1]

(c) Measure the bearing of town B from town C.

................................................. [1]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 8

 (d) Town D is 84 km from town A and 42 km from town C.

(i) In this part, use a ruler and compasses only and show your construction arcs.
On the diagram, construct a possible position for town D.

[3]

(ii) A plane takes 10 minutes to fly the 84 km from town A to town D.

Work out the average speed of the plane in kilometres per hour.

........................................ km/h [2]

(e) The bearing of town E from town A is 118°.

Work out the bearing of town A from town E.

................................................. [2]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 9

 6 The diagram shows the positions of two towns, A and B.
The scale is 1 centimetre represents 10 kilometres.

North

Scale: 1 cm to 10 km

(a) (i) Find the actual distance from A to B.

............................................ km [2]

(ii) Measure the bearing of B from A.

.................................................. [1]

(b) (i) Another town, C, is 78 km from A on a bearing of 103°.

Mark and label the position of town C on the diagram. [2]

(ii) Chailai takes 45 minutes to drive the 78 km from town A to town C.

Calculate her average speed in kilometres per hour.

......................................... km/h [2]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 10

 3
B
North

NOT TO
70 m
SCALE

100 m
C A
40°

110 m

The diagram shows a field ABCD.

(a) Calculate the area of the field ABCD.

............................................m2 [3]

(b) Calculate the perimeter of the field ABCD.

............................................. m [5]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 11

 (c) Calculate the shortest distance from A to CD.

............................................. m [2]

(d) B is due north of A.

Find the bearing of C from B.

................................................. [3]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 12

 1 (c) The scale drawing shows a map of Kingswood Park.
There are two straight paths and one circular path.
The scale is 1 cm represents 200 m.

North

North Gate

East Gate

West Gate

Scale: 1 cm to 200 m

South Gate

(i) Yana walks along the straight path from East Gate to West Gate.

Work out the distance she walks.

Give your answer in kilometres.

.......................................... km [2]

(ii) Measure the bearing of South Gate from North Gate.

............................................... [1]

(iii) The entrance, P, to a children’s play area is 500 metres from North Gate on a bearing of 195°.

Mark the position of P on the map. [2]

(iv) Ivan runs once around the circular path.

Calculate the distance Ivan runs.

............................................ m [4]

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 13

 Mark schemes

Question Answer Marks Part marks

8(a)(i) 4.4 1
8(a)(ii) 660 1FT their (a)(i) × 150
8(a)(iii) 220 1
8(b) 14 [cm] from Q 2 M1 for 2100 ÷ 150 soi
100° from Q 1

Question Answer Marks Part marks

7(a)(i) 270 1
7(a)(ii) 152 3 M1 for 180 − 118 soi by 62
M1 for 180 − 90 − their 62 soi by 28 or
better
and 180 − their 28
or
90 + their 62

M2 for √1172 − 452 or better

7(a)(iii) 108 3
or
M1 for […]2 + 452 = 1172 or better

Question Answer Marks Part marks

4(a) 328 1
4(b) 68 1
corresponding 1
4(c) 72 1
108 1FT FT is 180 − their c
72 1FT FT is their c
4(d) 165 3 360
M2 for 180 − or (180×(24−2)÷24)
24
or better
360
or M1 for or 180×(24−2) or better
24
4(e) Correct distance XY 1
Correct bearing 1
4(e)(ii) Rhombus 1
4(e)(ii) Kite 1

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 14

 Question Answer Marks Part marks
8(a)(i) 290 2 M1 for 180 + 110 oe
8(a)(ii) 156.8 or 156.7[9..] 5 B1FT for CBA = 10° (their (a) − 280)
and B3 for [angle ACB = ]13.2°
50sin(their 10)
or M2 for [sin C] =
38
50 38
or M1 for = oe
sinC sin (their 10)
8(a)(iii) 8.68 or 8.677 to 8.684 3 M2 for [ 𝑥 =] 50sin(their 10) oe
𝑥
or M1 for sin(their 10)= oe
50
or M1 for a correct right-angled triangle
drawn with 50 as hypotenuse

Question Answer Marks Part marks

21(a) 168 2 B1 for 8.4 seen
21(b) [0]74 1
21(c) Correct angle bisector with correct arcs 2 B1 for correct bisector with wrong / no
meeting AB arcs

Question Answer Marks Part marks

5(a) 51.6 2 B1 for 4.3[cm]
5(b) [0]47 1
5(c) 292 1
5(d)(i) Arc centre A radius 7 cm 1
Arc centre C radius 3.5 cm 1
One point marked at intersection of 1 If zero scored, SC1 for any arc centred
correct arcs on A or C,
or correct point marked with no arcs
5(d)(ii) 504 2 M1 for 84 ÷ their time or 84 × 6
5(e) 298 2 M1 for 118 + 180 oe

Question Answer Marks Part marks

6(a)(i) 95 2 B1 for 9.5
6(a)(ii) 135 1
6(b)(i) Correct length and bearing 2 B1 for 7.8 cm from A
B1 for 103° from A
6(b)(ii) 104 2 78
M1 for × 60 oe
45
78
or for
time

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 15

 Question Answer Marks Part marks
3(a) 7040 or 7035. … 3 1
M1 for × 100 × 70 oe
2
1
M1 for × 100 × 110 × sin 40 oe
2
3(b) 374 or 375 or 374.4 to 374.5…. 5 M2 for 1102 +1002 −2×110×100×cos40
oe
or M1 for implicit form
A1 for 5250 or 5247. …
(or 72.4 or 72.43 to 72.44)
M1 for 702+1002
3(c) 64.3 or 64.27 to 64.28 nfww 2 distance
M1 for sin40= oe
100
3(d) 235 3 B2 for [angle ACB =] 34.99 to 35 or
[angle ABC = ] 55[.0…]
70
or M1 for tan [ACB] =
100
100
or tan [ACB] = or equivalent trig ratio
70

Question Answer Marks Part marks

1(c)(i) 2.2 2 B1 for 11 or 2200 seen
1(c)(ii) 150° 1
1(c)(iii) Correct position 2 B1 for bearing 195°
B1 for distance 2.5 cm
1(c)(iv) 3770 or 3769.9 to 3770.4 4 B2 for diameter 1200 [metres] soi
or B1 for diameter 6 [cm] soi
M1 for 𝜋 × their diameter soi

Bearings – Past paper questions Copyright © UCLES 2018 16