Blood Relations & Direction Sense
Blood relations and direction sense are solved with a diagram, not a sentence. Candidates lose these marks by holding the relationships in their head. Draw a family tree with the older generation on top, or draw the compass and walk the route — the answer usually becomes obvious the moment it is on paper.
Don't read this page — work through it. Each block asks you to commit to an answer before it tells you anything.
Start here: what do you already know?
Relations & directions — true or false?
6 statements · 12s each
Draw it: the three symbols that do all the work
| Symbol | Meaning |
|---|---|
| + / − | Male / female |
| Horizontal line | Same generation — siblings or spouse |
| Vertical line | Parent → child, older generation on top |
Put the oldest generation at the top and work down. Never write a relationship you have not drawn.
Sort the relation by side of the family
Which side of the family?
0/6Father's sister
Which group does it belong to?
Directions: fix the compass
Facing north: right is east, left is west, behind is south. Every direction question reduces to applying that consistently.
Distances and turns
1/3A man walks 4 km north, then 3 km east. How far is he from the start (straight line)?
7km
Method, in order
Match the description to the relation
Quick reference
Exam tip: when a question says "pointing to a photograph", the speaker is never in the photo unless stated. Draw the speaker outside the tree and link inwards.