Telling time to the minute

Quick answer

Learning outcome

• You can tell the time to the minute on an analogue clock
• You can read digital clocks showing minutes
• You can match times on both types of clocks
• You can use the time to plan your day

Why this matters

How it works

• On an analogue clock, the big hand shows the minutes, and the small hand shows the hour
• Each number on the clock face is 5 minutes apart
• When the minute hand points to 12, it's o’clock
• When the minute hand points to 1, it's 5 minutes past the hour
• When the minute hand points to 2, it's 10 minutes past the hour
• When the minute hand points to 3, it's 15 minutes past the hour (a quarter past)
• When the minute hand points to 4, it's 20 minutes past the hour
• When the minute hand points to 5, it's 25 minutes past the hour
• When the minute hand points to 6, it's 30 minutes past the hour (half past)
• When the minute hand points to 7, it's 35 minutes past the hour
• When the minute hand points to 8, it's 40 minutes past the hour
• When the minute hand points to 9, it's 45 minutes past the hour (a quarter to)
• When the minute hand points to 10, it's 50 minutes past the hour
• When the minute hand points to 11, it's 55 minutes past the hour
• When the minute hand points to 12, it's 60 minutes past the hour (or the next hour)

Examples you can see

Imagine you have a clock with the hour hand pointing to 3 and the minute hand pointing to 7. What time is it?

• The hour hand is pointing to 3, so it's 3 o’clock
• The minute hand is pointing to 7, so it's 35 minutes past 3
• The time is 3:35 or 3 hours and 35 minutes

Look at this digital clock showing 10:45. What does it mean?

• 10 is the hour
• 45 is the number of minutes past the hour
• It's 10 hours and 45 minutes

Let's think about a real-world example: You're going to the park at 2:15. What does that mean?

• It's 2 o’clock
• Plus 15 minutes
• You'll be at the park at 2 hours and 15 minutes

Try it as a mini adventure

Let's go on a time adventure!

You are a time detective trying to solve the mystery of when your friend's birthday party starts. Your friend says, "The party starts at 4:20." You need to find the clock that shows this time.

4th time: You see a clock with the hour hand between 4 and 5, and the minute hand pointing to 4. What time is it?

• The hour hand is pointing to 4, so it's 4 o’clock
• The minute hand points to 4, so it's 20 minutes past 4
• The time is 4:20

6th time: You find another clock showing 5:05. What time is it?

• The hour hand is pointing to 5, so it's 5 o’clock
• The minute hand points to 1, so it's 5 minutes past 5
• The time is 5:05

8th time: You see a clock with the hour hand pointing to 7 and the minute hand pointing to 11. What time is it?

• The hour hand is pointing to 7, so it's 7 o’clock
• The minute hand points to 11, so it's 55 minutes past 7
• The time is 7:55

10th time: You find a clock showing 11:30. What time is it?

• The hour hand is pointing to 11, so it's 11 o’clock
• The minute hand points to 6, so it's 30 minutes past 11
• The time is 11:30

Common mistakes

• Mistake: Thinking that the minute hand points to the hour number when it's 15 minutes past the hour. Why it happens: Confusing the minute hand position with the hour hand. Fix: Remember that 15 minutes past the hour is 3 on the minute hand, not 3 on the hour hand.
• Mistake: Reading the hour hand as 12 when it's 11:59. Why it happens: Not understanding that when the minute hand is almost at 12, it's the next hour. Fix: Count the minutes from the last hour to the next hour.
• Mistake: Mixing up digital and analogue time. Why it happens: Not knowing how the two clocks work together. Fix: Practice matching the same time on both clocks.
• Mistake: Saying 3:60 instead of 4:00. Why it happens: Not understanding that 60 minutes equals one hour. Fix: Remember that when minutes reach 60, the hour increases by one.

Parent and carer guide

Helping your child with telling time to the minute:

• Use a real clock at home and practice together. Ask your child to tell you the time every morning.
• Play a game where you say a time and your child sets the clock to that time.
• Use digital clocks to show how minutes work. For example, "It's 10:15 now, what time will it be in 10 minutes?"
• Make a chart showing the time and what your child does at that time (like breakfast, playtime, homework).
• Practice with real-life situations like "We need to leave for school at 8:15, what time is that?"
• Don't worry if your child makes mistakes – they're learning!

Practice questions

1. What time is shown when the hour hand is pointing to 6 and the minute hand is pointing to 9?
2. What time is shown when the hour hand is pointing to 10 and the minute hand is pointing to 12?
3. What time is shown when the hour hand is pointing to 3 and the minute hand is pointing to 1?
4. What time is shown when the hour hand is pointing to 8 and the minute hand is pointing to 4?
5. What time is shown when the hour hand is pointing to 12 and the minute hand is pointing to 11?
6. What time is shown on a digital clock showing 7:45?
7. What time is shown on a digital clock showing 1:20?
8. What time is shown on a digital clock showing 9:00?
9. What time is shown on a digital clock showing 11:50?
10. What time is shown on a digital clock showing 4:30?

Answers:

1. 6:45
2. 10:00
3. 3:05
4. 8:20
5. 11:55
6. 7:45
7. 1:20
8. 9:00
9. 11:50
10. 4:30

FAQ

How do I know if it's morning or afternoon?

You can tell by looking at the numbers on the clock. If it's between 12 and 6, it's usually morning. If it's between 6 and 12, it's usually afternoon or evening.

What does "quarter past" mean?

"Quarter past" means 15 minutes after the hour. For example, quarter past 3 is 3:15.

How do I remember which hand is the hour hand?

The hour hand is the shorter hand. It moves slowly and points to the hour. The minute hand is longer and moves faster.

Why is it important to know the exact time?

Knowing the exact time helps you plan your day, know when to do things, and be on time for school, play, or other activities.

What if I see a clock with the minute hand pointing to 12 and the hour hand pointing to 11?

That means it's 11:00 or 11 o’clock. When the minute hand points to 12, it's the hour.