Maths · Size, Position & Time
O'clock times
Read whole-hour times on a clock.
Practice & Master are locked until you try:
What is o'clock?
O'clock means the big hand points straight up. The little hand points at a number. That number tells us the hour!
The big hand
The big hand is the minute hand. When it points to 12, we say o'clock. It means zero minutes past the hour.
The little hand
The little hand is the hour hand. It tells us which hour it is. Look at the number it points to.
Reading o'clock times
First check the big hand points to 12. Then read the number where the little hand points. Say that number then o'clock!
Worked examples
1. The little hand points to 3. The big hand points to 12. What time is it?
- The big hand points to 12, so it is o'clock.
- The little hand points to 3.
- The time is 3 o'clock.
2. The little hand points to 7. The big hand points to 12. What time is it?
- Check the big hand is at 12. Yes it is!
- The little hand is at 7.
- So the time is 7 o'clock.
Try it yourself
The little hand points to 5. The big hand points to 12. What time is it?
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