How to read the clock
An analog clock gives the time with a short hand for the hours and a long hand for the minutes. When the task asks for time to the nearest five minutes, use the minute hand’s position to determine minutes in steps of 5.
1) Read the hour hand
- Find the number the short hand has passed most recently.
- If it is between two numbers, the hour is the earlier one until the hand reaches the next hour mark.
2) Read the minute hand
- Each number on the clock stands for 5 minutes.
- Start at 12 as 0 minutes, then count by fives: 1 = 5, 2 = 10, 3 = 15, and so on.
- If the minute hand is exactly on a number, the minutes are a multiple of 5.
3) Write the time
Combine the hour and minutes in the usual format, such as 3:25 or 7:40.
4) Check your answer
- Make sure the minute value is one of the five-minute counts.
- Confirm the hour hand matches the hour you chose.
- If the clock is near the next hour, be careful not to round when you should read the exact five-minute position.
Quick habit
Always read the hour first, then count the minute hand by fives. This keeps the answer accurate and easy to verify.