Learn the 3-Step Method
1Read the analogue face.
Short hand = hour, long hand = minutes. Each number is 5 minutes.
2Past or to.
Minute hand on the right = ‘past’; on the left = ‘to’. 8:40 is ‘20 to 9’.
3Convert to 24-hour.
Morning: same numbers (07:25). Afternoon/evening: add 12 (7:25 pm → 19:25).
Worked Example
Write ‘quarter to four in the afternoon’ in both digital forms.
Watch Out! Common Mistakes
The classic! The SHORT hand is the hour. If the long hand points at 6 and the short between 2 and 3, it’s half past 2, not half past 6.
Wrong! Each clock number is 5 minutes: the 4 means 20 past.
Wrong! 07:25 is morning. Evening adds 12: 19:25.
⬇ Cheat Sheet
- Short hand = hours; long hand = minutes (×5 per number).
- Right side = past; left side = to.
- pm times: add 12 for the 24-hour clock.
- Midnight 00:00 · noon 12:00.
📖 Continue Your Journey
Quick summary
- Short hand = hour; long hand = minutes, counting 5 per number.
- Minute hand right of the 12 = 'past'; left = 'to'.
- Convert pm times to 24-hour by adding 12: 7:25 pm = 19:25.
- Midnight is 00:00; noon is 12:00.
Frequently asked questions
How do you convert to the 24-hour clock?
Morning times keep their numbers (7:25 am = 07:25). From 1 pm onwards, add 12 to the hour: 7:25 pm = 19:25.
What does 'quarter to' mean?
Fifteen minutes before the next hour. Quarter to four is 3:45.
Why do children still need analogue clocks?
School exams test them, classroom clocks use them, and reading one builds the 5-minute counting that underpins all time work.
Continue your child's learning journey
with the MindBlaze app.
Fun daily learning missions for children. Clear progress insights for parents — helping every child start secondary school ready to learn.
