Websink Prep UKStep-by-step practice MathsLevel 2 chaptersMaths textbooksLevel 1Level 2Level 3Level 4Level 5Browse allPast papersFind a tutorBecome a tutor
Step-by-step practice: Maths · Level 2Chapter 9 · Time
Level 2 · Chapter 9

Time

By the end of this chapter you will be able to

  • Tell the time to the hour and half past
  • Write times in digital form and words
  • Know where the hands point
  • Put days and months in order
  • Use before, after and between

You should already know

  • Counting to 100 (Level 2, Chapter 1)
  • Counting in 5s (Level 2, Chapter 1)
  • Numbers to 12 on a clock face

Where this leads

  • Measures and time with more units (Level 3)
  • Money (Chapter 8)

Step-by-step practice: maths (Level 2). Small steps, repeated until fluent. Content: Tell the time to the hour and to half past on an analogue clock, Tell the time to the hour and to half past in digital form, Draw or show the hour hand and minute hand for o'clock and half past times, Know the days of the week and the months of the year, in order, Say which event comes first, next and last in a day, Use before, after and between with times.

Exercise P  Do you remember?

Non-calculator
1
FLook at clock F. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112F
2
FLook at clock H. Which time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112H
3
FWhat day comes after Friday?
4
FWhich month comes after January?
5
FWrite ten o'clock in digital form.
9.1

O'clock times on a clock

Level 2
Tell the time to the hour on an analogue clock, Write o'clock times in digital form
Video lesson: O'clock times on a clockComing soon

A clock has a short hand and a long hand. The short hand shows the hour.

When the long hand points to 12, the time is o'clock. Then 00 minutes is written after the hour.

123456789101112
The long hand is on 12. The short hand is on 3. The time is 3 o'clock, or 3:00.

Key ideas

  • The short hand shows the hour.
  • The long hand on 12 means o'clock.
  • O'clock is 3:00 in digital form.
Worked example 9.1.1
Look at clock C. What time does it show? Write it in words.

Method. The short hand shows the hour. The long hand points to 12 at o'clock.

  1. Look at the long hand. It points straight up to 12, so there are no minutes.
    long hand on 12
  2. Look at the short hand. It points to the 3, so the hour is 3.
    short hand on 3
  3. Write the time.
    three o'clock

Check. 3:00 is the digital form of this time.

Watch out. When the long hand points to 12, the time is an o'clock time.

Worked example 9.1.2
Look at clock I. What time does it show? Write it in words.

Method. The short hand shows the hour. The long hand points to 12 at o'clock.

  1. Look at the long hand. It points straight up to 12, so there are no minutes.
    long hand on 12
  2. Look at the short hand. It points to the 9, so the hour is 9.
    short hand on 9
  3. Write the time.
    nine o'clock

Check. 9:00 is the digital form of this time.

Watch out. When the long hand points to 12, the time is an o'clock time.

Worked example 9.1.3
Look at clock L. What time does it show? Write it in words.

Method. The short hand shows the hour. The long hand points to 12 at o'clock.

  1. Look at the long hand. It points straight up to 12, so there are no minutes.
    long hand on 12
  2. Look at the short hand. It points to the 12, so the hour is 12.
    short hand on 12
  3. Write the time.
    twelve o'clock

Check. 12:00 is the digital form of this time.

Watch out. When the long hand points to 12, the time is an o'clock time.

Watch out

Watch out. The hour is the short hand. Do not read the long hand as the hour.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Draw a clock on paper. Ask: “Which hand is short? Where is the short hand?”

Exercise 9A  Practice: o'clock times

Non-calculator
1
FLook at clock L. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112L
2
FLook at clock D. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112D
3
FWrite four o'clock in digital form.
4
FWrite twelve o'clock in digital form.
5
FLook at clock F. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112F
6
FLook at clock A. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112A
7
FLook at clock J. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112J
8
FWrite one o'clock in digital form.
9
FWrite eleven o'clock in digital form.
10
FWrite six o'clock in digital form.
11
FWrite two o'clock in digital form.
12
FLook at clock E. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112E
13
FLook at clock H. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112H
14
FLook at clock B. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112B
15
FWrite eight o'clock in digital form.
16
FWrite five o'clock in digital form.
9.2

Half past the hour

Level 2
Tell the time to half past on an analogue clock, Draw or show where the hour hand and minute hand point for half past
Video lesson: Half past the hourComing soon

When the long hand points to 6, it is half past. The time is half past the hour that the short hand has just passed.

Half past 4 has the short hand between 4 and 5, and the long hand on 6.

123456789101112
The long hand is on 6. The short hand is between 4 and 5. The time is half past 4.

Key ideas

  • The long hand on 6 means half past.
  • The short hand has just passed the hour.
  • Half past 4 is 4:30.
Worked example 9.2.1
Look at clock D. Which time does it show? Write it in words.

Method. When the long hand points to 6, it is half past the hour.

  1. Look at the long hand. It points to 6, which means half past.
    long hand on 6
  2. Look at the short hand. It has passed 4 and is almost at five.
    short hand between 4 and 5
  3. Write the time. Say half past the hour that has just passed.
    half past four

Check. The time is 4:30 in digital form.

Watch out. Half past the hour uses the hour that has just passed, not the next hour.

Worked example 9.2.2
Look at clock K. Which time does it show? Write it in words.

Method. When the long hand points to 6, it is half past the hour.

  1. Look at the long hand. It points to 6, which means half past.
    long hand on 6
  2. Look at the short hand. It has passed 11 and is almost at twelve.
    short hand between 11 and 12
  3. Write the time. Say half past the hour that has just passed.
    half past eleven

Check. The time is 11:30 in digital form.

Watch out. Half past the hour uses the hour that has just passed, not the next hour.

Worked example 9.2.3
At half past four, which number does the long hand point to?

Method. Think about how far the long hand has gone round the clock.

  1. Think about the minutes. Half an hour is half way round the clock, to the 6.
    30 minutes
  2. Find the number on the clock face. Count round the numbers on the face.
    6
  3. Write the answer.
    6

Check. 6 is where the long hand points for this time.

Watch out. Half past: the long hand is on 6. O'clock: the long hand is on 12.

Watch out

Watch out. Half past 4 is not 5 o'clock. The short hand is past the 4, so the time is half past 4.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Ask: “Where is the long hand at half past?” Then move the hands together to show it.

Exercise 9B  Practice: half past

Non-calculator
1
PSAt half past five, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
2
PSAt half past two, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
3
PSAt half past four, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
4
FLook at clock E. Which time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112E
5
FLook at clock K. Which time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112K
6
FLook at clock H. Which time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112H
7
PSAt half past eleven, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
8
PSAt twelve o'clock, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
9
PSAt seven o'clock, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
10
FLook at clock L. Which time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112L
11
FLook at clock C. Which time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112C
12
PSAt two o'clock, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
13
FLook at clock A. Which time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112A
14
PSAt half past six, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
15
PSAt half past eight, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
16
FLook at clock G. Which time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112G
9.3

Digital times and times in words

Level 2
Tell the time in digital form, Say the time in words
Video lesson: Digital times and times in wordsComing soon

In digital form the hour comes first, then a colon, then the minutes.

So 7 o'clock is 7:00, and half past 4 is 4:30. Always write two digits for the minutes.

Key ideas

  • Digital time: hour : minutes.
  • o'clock is :00.
  • Half past is :30.
Worked example 9.3.1
Write seven o'clock in digital form.

Method. Digital time shows the hour, then a colon, then the minutes.

  1. Write the hour. The hour is the number before the colon.
    7
  2. Write the minutes. O'clock means zero minutes, so the minutes are 00.
    00
  3. Write the time.
    7:00

Check. Read 7:00 aloud: seven and zero zero minutes.

Watch out. Always write two digits for the minutes, like 9:05 and 9:30.

Worked example 9.3.2
Write half past four in digital form.

Method. Digital time shows the hour, then a colon, then the minutes.

  1. Write the hour. The hour is the number before the colon.
    4
  2. Write the minutes. Half past means 30 minutes after the hour, so the minutes are 30.
    30
  3. Write the time.
    4:30

Check. Read 4:30 aloud: four and thirty minutes.

Watch out. Always write two digits for the minutes, like 9:05 and 9:30.

Worked example 9.3.3
Write 9:30 in words.

Method. Read the hour first. Then say whether it is o'clock or half past.

  1. Read the hour. The number before the colon is the hour.
    9
  2. Read the minutes. 30 means half past. 00 means o'clock.
    30
  3. Write the time in words.
    half past nine

Check. The digital time 9:30 matches half past nine.

Watch out. Half past is 30 minutes. o'clock is 00 minutes.

Watch out

Watch out. 4:30 is half past 4. It is not 4:3 or 30:4.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Look at a digital clock together. Read each time aloud, the hour first and then the minutes.

Exercise 9C  Practice: digital times and words

Non-calculator
1
FWrite half past six in digital form.
2
FWrite 7:00 in words.
3
FWrite 12:00 in words.
4
FWrite half past three in digital form.
5
FWrite half past two in digital form.
6
FWrite 5:30 in words.
7
FWrite half past seven in digital form.
8
FWrite 1:00 in words.
9
FWrite half past one in digital form.
10
FWrite 3:00 in words.
11
FWrite 2:30 in words.
12
FWrite 10:00 in words.
13
FWrite 9:30 in words.
14
FWrite 2:00 in words.
15
FWrite half past ten in digital form.
16
FWrite half past eleven in digital form.
9.4

Days of the week and months of the year

Level 2
Know the days of the week in order, Know the months of the year in order
Video lesson: Days of the week and months of the yearComing soon

There are seven days in a week. They go in order: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

There are twelve months in a year. They go in order from January to December.

Key ideas

  • Monday comes first in the week in the UK.
  • Sunday comes last in the week.
  • January is the first month and December is the last.
Worked example 9.4.1
What day comes after Tuesday?

Method. Say the days of the week in order: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

  1. Find Tuesday. Find the day in the list.
    Tuesday
  2. Move one step forward. The days go in order. The next day is one step on.
    Wednesday
  3. Write the answer.
    Wednesday

Check. The days of the week in order are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Watch out. The week goes from Monday to Sunday. Sunday comes before Monday.

Worked example 9.4.2
What day comes before Monday?

Method. Say the days of the week in order: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

  1. Find Monday. Find the day in the list.
    Monday
  2. Move one step back. The day before is one step back.
    Sunday
  3. Write the answer.
    Sunday

Check. The days of the week in order are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday.

Watch out. The week goes from Monday to Sunday. Sunday comes before Monday.

Worked example 9.4.3
Which month comes after March?

Method. The months of the year go in order from January to December.

  1. Find the month in the list. The months go in order through the year.
    March
  2. Use the list to find the answer. Move along the list the right way.
    April
  3. Write the answer.
    April

Check. The months are January to December, in that order.

Watch out. The months are in order: January, February, March, April and so on.

Watch out

Watch out. The day before Monday is Sunday. The month before January is December.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Sing or say the days and the months in order. Ask what the next day or month will be.

Exercise 9D  Practice: days and months

Non-calculator
1
FWhat day comes after Thursday?
2
FWhat day comes before Monday?
3
FWhat day comes after Wednesday?
4
FWhich month comes after July?
5
FWhat day comes before Sunday?
6
FWhich month is the 12th month of the year?
7
FWhat day comes after Saturday?
8
FWhich month is the 6th month of the year?
9
FWhat day comes before Thursday?
10
FWhich month comes before July?
11
FWhich month is the 1st month of the year?
12
FWhich month comes before January?
13
FWhich month comes before November?
14
FWhich month comes after April?
15
FWhich month comes before October?
16
FWhich month comes before May?
9.5

Before, after and between times

Level 2
Say which event comes first, next and last in a day, Use before, after and between with times
Video lesson: Before, after and between timesComing soon

A day goes in order. Morning comes first, then the afternoon.

Before means earlier. After means later. Between means somewhere in the middle of two times.

Key ideas

  • Morning comes before afternoon.
  • One hour later is one hour after.
  • Between means after one time and before another.
Worked example 9.5.1
The clock shows two o'clock. What time is one hour later?

Method. Change the hour by one. Keep the minutes the same.

  1. Start at two o'clock. This is the time we begin with.
    2:00
  2. Change the hour by one. One hour later means moving the hour hand on by one number.
    two o'clock goes to three o'clock
  3. Write the new time. The minutes stay at 00.
    three o'clock

Check. One hour after three o'clock gives two o'clock again.

Watch out. Going back one hour from 1 o'clock gives 12 o'clock.

Worked example 9.5.2
The clock shows one o'clock. What time is one hour earlier?

Method. Change the hour by one. Keep the minutes the same.

  1. Start at one o'clock. This is the time we begin with.
    1:00
  2. Change the hour by one. One hour earlier means moving the hour hand back by one number.
    one o'clock goes to twelve o'clock
  3. Write the new time. The minutes stay at 00.
    twelve o'clock

Check. One hour before twelve o'clock gives one o'clock again.

Watch out. Going back one hour from 1 o'clock gives 12 o'clock.

Worked example 9.5.3
What time is exactly between two o'clock and four o'clock?

Method. Find the time one hour after the first time. It is halfway to the second time.

  1. Start at two o'clock. The first time is the start.
    2:00
  2. Move one hour on. One hour later is halfway to the second time.
    two o'clock + 1 hour = three o'clock
  3. Write the time between. It is between 2 and 4.
    three o'clock

Check. 3 is one hour after 2 and one hour before 4.

Watch out. Between means after the first time and before the second.

Worked example 9.5.4
Put these in order of the day, earliest first: Breakfast at 8 o'clock in the morning, School at 9 o'clock in the morning, Tea at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

Method. Morning comes first, then the afternoon. Put the mornings in order, then the afternoons.

  1. Sort the mornings. Earlier mornings come first.
    8 o'clock, 9 o'clock
  2. Add the afternoons after the mornings. Afternoon comes after the morning.
    5 o'clock
  3. Write the order.
    8 o'clock in the morning, 9 o'clock in the morning, 5 o'clock in the afternoon

Check. Read the list again. Each time is later than the one before.

Watch out. Check the period first: 9 o'clock in the morning comes before 1 o'clock in the afternoon.

Watch out

Watch out. 12 o'clock comes after 11 o'clock, and 1 o'clock comes after 12 o'clock. The clock goes round.

Exam tip

Grown-up tip. Make a day plan together. Ask: “What happens first? What happens next? What happens last?”

Exercise 9E  Practice: before, after and between

Non-calculator
1
PSPut these in order of the day, earliest first: Lunch at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Breakfast at 8 o'clock in the morning, School at 9 o'clock in the morning.
2
PSPut these in order of the day, earliest first: School at 9 o'clock in the morning, Tea at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, Lunch at 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
3
PSWhat time is exactly between seven o'clock and nine o'clock?
4
PSThe clock shows nine o'clock. What time is one hour earlier?
5
PSPut these in order of the day, earliest first: Lunch at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, School at 9 o'clock in the morning, Breakfast at 8 o'clock in the morning.
6
PSThe clock shows eight o'clock. What time is one hour later?
7
PSWhat time is exactly between three o'clock and five o'clock?
8
PSPut these in order of the day, earliest first: School at 9 o'clock in the morning, Lunch at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Tea at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.
9
PSWhat time is exactly between six o'clock and eight o'clock?
10
PSWhat time is exactly between one o'clock and three o'clock?
11
PSThe clock shows ten o'clock. What time is one hour later?
12
PSWhat time is exactly between eight o'clock and ten o'clock?
13
PSThe clock shows five o'clock. What time is one hour earlier?
14
PSWhat time is exactly between nine o'clock and eleven o'clock?
15
PSThe clock shows ten o'clock. What time is one hour earlier?
16
PSPut these in order of the day, earliest first: Breakfast at 8 o'clock in the morning, Lunch at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Tea at 5 o'clock in the afternoon.

Chapter summary

SkillMethod
O'clockThe long hand is on 12; the short hand gives the hour
Half pastThe long hand is on 6; the time is half past the hour just passed
DigitalHour : minutes. O'clock is :00, half past is :30
Days and monthsDays Monday to Sunday; months January to December
Before, after, betweenEarlier, later, and in the middle of two times

Can you…?

  • I can tell the time to the hour on a clock face
  • I can tell the time to half past on a clock face
  • I can write times in digital form and in words
  • I can say the days of the week and the months of the year in order
  • I can use before, after and between with times

Key terms

hour hand
the short hand, which shows the hour
minute hand
the long hand, which shows the minutes
digital time
a time written with a colon, for example 4:30
before and after
earlier and later

Exercise 9Z  Check-up

Non-calculator
1
Look at clock F. Which time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112F
2
Write four o'clock in digital form.
3
Put these in order of the day, earliest first: Breakfast at 8 o'clock in the morning, Lunch at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, School at 9 o'clock in the morning.
4
Write half past ten in digital form.
5
Which month comes after December?
6
What time is exactly between ten o'clock and twelve o'clock?
7
At eleven o'clock, which number does the long hand point to?
123456789101112
8
Look at clock E. What time does it show? Write it in words.
123456789101112E
9
What day comes before Friday?
10
What time is exactly between six o'clock and eight o'clock?

Total 19 marks. Allow about 19 minutes.

Exercise 9X  Practice test questions

Non-calculator
1
FWrite three o'clock in digital form.[1 mark]
2
PSThe clock shows three o'clock. What time is one hour later?[1 mark]
3
FWrite ten o'clock in digital form.[1 mark]
4
FWrite half past eleven in digital form.[1 mark]
5
FWrite 3:00 in words.[2 marks]
6
FLook at clock A. Which time does it show? Write it in words.[2 marks]
123456789101112A
7
FWrite half past two in digital form.[2 marks]
8
PSAt half past eleven, which number does the long hand point to?[3 marks]
123456789101112
9
PSPut these in order of the day, earliest first: Lunch at 1 o'clock in the afternoon, Tea at 5 o'clock in the afternoon, School at 9 o'clock in the morning.[3 marks]
10
FLook at clock I. Which time does it show? Write it in words.[3 marks]
123456789101112I
← Chapter 8: MoneyChapter 10: Level 2 check →

Websink Prep UK is an independent site. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by AQA, Pearson Edexcel, OCR, WJEC, Eduqas, CCEA, SQA, GL Assessment, CEM or the Department for Education. All exam board names and trademarks belong to their owners. Past papers are linked from the exam boards' own websites and are not hosted here.

About Websink Prep UK · Find a tutor · Privacy · Terms · Cookie settings