Reading and calculating time for 11+ maths practice
21 October 2026
Reading clocks
Children need to read both analogue and digital clocks for the 11+ exams. Analogue clocks use hands to show hours and minutes. Digital clocks show the time with numbers, such as 2:15 pm or 14:15.
Understanding am and pm
The 12-hour clock uses am for morning and pm for afternoon and evening. The 24-hour clock runs from 00:00 (midnight) to 23:59. For example, 3:40 pm becomes 15:40 in 24-hour format.
Calculating time differences
To find out how much time has passed between two times, count the hours first, then add the minutes. Breaking the problem into steps helps avoid mistakes.
Worked example
Start time: 2:15 pm
End time: 3:40 pm
Step 1: Find the time to the next hour. 2:15 pm to 3:00 pm is 45 minutes.
Step 2: From 3:00 pm to 3:40 pm is 40 minutes.
Step 3: Add the two intervals. 45 minutes + 40 minutes = 85 minutes.
Step 4: Convert 85 minutes to hours and minutes. 60 minutes = 1 hour, so 85 minutes = 1 hour 25 minutes.
The correct answer is 1 hour 25 minutes.
Key insight: Practise with different start and end times, including examples that cross over noon or midnight. Encourage your child to write out each step to avoid confusion.
