Understand the idea.
Count the minutes
Find the long minute hand first. Each large number around the clock adds five minutes from the top: the 1 means five minutes past, the 2 means ten minutes past, and the 3 means fifteen minutes past.
The small marks divide the hour into single minutes. Count clockwise from the nearest five-minute number already passed. For example, two small steps after the 3 mean minutes past.
Find the hour as well
The short hour hand moves throughout the hour. Read the last hour number it has passed, even when it is close to the next one. Between 8 and 9 means the hour is still eight.
Write digital time with the hour, a colon and two minute digits. Seven minutes past four is . At the next whole hour the minutes return to and the hour increases by one.
See the method in action.
Minutes past eight
Read this clock.
Worked solution
- 1
Read the minute hand.
The 3 marks 15 minutes, and the long hand is two small marks farther clockwise.
- 2
Read the hour hand.
The short hand has passed 8 but has not yet reached 9, so the hour is eight.
- 3
Combine the hour and minutes.
The digital time puts the hour before the colon and the 17 minutes after it.
8:17, or seventeen minutes past eight.
Near the next hour
Read this clock.
Worked solution
- 1
Read the minute hand at 11.
Each large-number step represents five minutes past the hour.
- 2
Find the hour already passed.
The short hand is between 2 and 3, so it is still in the two o’clock hour.
- 3
Write the digital time.
There have been 55 minutes since two o’clock.
- 4
Describe how close it is to three.
Five minutes remain until the next hour, so it is five minutes to three.
2:55, or five minutes to three.
Try it yourself.
Check your understanding
Write nine minutes past six digitally.
Show answer & reasoning
6:09
The hour is six and the minutes are nine. Use two minute digits, giving . The zero shows that fewer than ten minutes have passed.
Keep practising
6 worksheet questions
Read the questions online
- Read this clock.
- Read this clock.
- Write thirty-six minutes past ten digitally.
- Write 5:04 in words.
- The long hand is on 9. How many minutes past the hour does it show?
- At 11:58 the short hand is near 12. Why is the time not 12:58?
Read the worked solutions
- Read this clock.
The long hand is at 2: 10 minutes.
The short hand has passed 4.
4:10 - Read this clock.
Three marks after 4 means minutes.
The short hand has passed 7.
7:23 - Write thirty-six minutes past ten digitally.
The hour is 10 and the minutes are 36.
10:36 - Write 5:04 in words.
04 means four minutes.
Four minutes past five. - The long hand is on 9. How many minutes past the hour does it show?
9 groups of 5 minutes make 45 minutes.
45 minutes - At 11:58 the short hand is near 12. Why is the time not 12:58?
The hour changes when the minutes reach 00.
It has not reached 12 yet; it is still in the eleventh hour.
Curriculum reference & lesson scope
Australian Curriculum v9 and SA Curriculum
Analogue/digital clocks to the minute; seconds/minutes/hours/days; duration.
Official curriculum source ↗