Choose your study region

Choose a course collection, not your nationality. Changing region does not change your courses, progress or access.

Compass network home

Optional preference saved in this browser on Compass Revision. It does not sync between devices or the separate course websites. You are never redirected automatically.

All questions
Direction and movement

What is the difference between 'course' and 'track'?

Short answer

Course is a specified intended or steered direction; track is the actual path made over the ground

Course needs a qualifier—desired, to steer or steered—while track is the path actually made over the ground. Tide, current, leeway and steering can create a difference, so a passage update should label both quantity and reference. Revise this in Directions and Movement.

Quick check

What is the difference between 'course' and 'track'?