Worked example
31 October 2026
Many children find time words like o'clock, half past, quarter past and quarter to confusing at first. Understanding what these words mean helps your child read clocks quickly and talk about time with confidence. Let's look at a typical question your child might see.
Example question
What time is it when the minute hand points at 9 and the hour hand is almost at 4?
Step 1: The clock is split into four quarters. Each quarter is 15 minutes.
Step 2: When the minute hand points at 9, it means 45 minutes past the hour.
Step 3: The hour hand is nearly at 4. That means it is nearly 4 o'clock.
Step 4: We say 'quarter to four'.
The answer is quarter to four, or 3:45.
After working through this example, your child will be able to spot when a clock shows 'quarter to' an hour. This skill makes it much easier to read and say times in everyday life and in schoolwork. More questions just like this are ready for your child to practise next.
