How to read an analogue clock — a guide for parents and children

How do you read an analogue clock?

Reading an analogue clock is taught in Year 1 and Year 2, and the secret is to break it into three fixed steps: first find the short hand (hours), then the long hand (minutes), and finally remember that every number on the clock is worth 5 minutes of the long hand. This staged guide works at home too — step by step, from o'clock through to quarter past and quarter to.

The three rules

Short hand — hours · Long hand — minutes · Every number on the clock is worth 5 minutes

Half past three: the short hand has passed the 3 (on its way to the 4), and the long hand is on the 6 — that is 30 minutes.

Worked examples, step by step

O'clock

The short hand is on the 3 and the long hand is on the 12. What is the time?

The long hand on the 12 means "exactly" — zero minutes
The short hand points to 3
Answer: it is three o'clock (3:00)

Half past

The long hand is on the 6 and the short hand is between the 3 and the 4. What is the time?

The long hand on the 6: by the 5-minute rule, 6 × 5 = 30 minutes — that is "half past"
The short hand between 3 and 4 tells you the last full hour was 3
Answer: half past three (3:30)
Watch out: a common mistake is to read the short hand as 4 — but until it reaches the 4, the time is still three-something

Quarter past and quarter to

What is the difference between the long hand on the 3 and the long hand on the 9?

Long hand on the 3: by the rule 3 × 5 = 15 minutes — "quarter past" (for example quarter past four, 4:15)
Long hand on the 9: 9 × 5 = 45 minutes have passed — 15 minutes remain until the next hour, so we say "quarter to" (for example quarter to five, 4:45)
Tip for children: the right-hand side of the clock is "past", the left-hand side is "to"

From a digital clock to an analogue one

A digital clock shows 14:45. How does that look on an analogue clock, and how do you say it?

On the 24-hour clock, 14 is 2 in the afternoon (14 − 12 = 2)
45 minutes: the long hand is on the 9 (because 45 ÷ 5 = 9)
The short hand is already close to the 3, because the next full hour is 3
Answer: quarter to three in the afternoon

Now try it yourself

🕐

Starting school maths

Counting, comparing and shapes for Reception and Year 1 — with a read-aloud button.

⏰

Learn measurement

Time, length, mass and money — explanations and practice by year group.

🖨️

Printable worksheets

Sheets ready to print with answers, for practice away from the screen.

Frequently asked questions

At what age do children learn to tell the time?

In the National Curriculum, time is taught gradually across Year 1 and Year 2: first o'clock and half past, then quarter past and quarter to, and finally five-minute intervals. There is no need to worry if it has not "clicked" at 6 — it is a skill that matures with short, regular practice.

How do you explain "quarter to" to a child?

Split the clock into two halves: when the long hand is on the right-hand side (between 12 and 6) you say how many minutes have gone "past"; when it is on the left-hand side, how many are left "to" the next hour. On the 9 there are 15 minutes left, so it is "quarter to".

What is the difference between the 12-hour and the 24-hour clock?

An analogue clock shows 12 hours, so every hour appears twice a day. On a 24-hour digital clock the afternoon simply keeps counting: 13:00 is 1 pm, 20:00 is 8 pm. To convert, subtract 12.

What is the best way to practise at home?

Short questions from everyday life ("when does the club start? show me on the clock"), 5 minutes a day. Add interactive practice at the right level and printed worksheets with clock faces to draw on.

✍️ Written by the MathsUK teamChecked against the National Curriculum and GCSE specificationsLast updated: 13.09.2026