Telling Time Worksheets: Quarter Past and Quarter To

Using this page

Times on the quarter hour: o'clock, quarter past, half past and quarter to. Children read the clock or draw the hands, and can answer in digits (3:15) or in words (quarter past 3). Quarter past and quarter to are usually taught around Year 2 in Australia, and the Common Core asks Grade 2 to tell time to the nearest five minutes. Suits around Year 2 in Australia and Grade 2 in the US (Common Core 2.MD.C.7), but use whatever level fits the child.

Tips

• Practise with a real clock at home: ask the time at breakfast, after school and at bedtime.
• Point out where the hour hand is between two numbers; it tells you which hour it is.
• Use the draw option after reading: drawing the hands shows real understanding.
• Count the minutes by fives around the clock.

Worked example

The long hand points to 9 and the short hand is just before 5. The long hand on 9 means 45 minutes. There are 15 minutes left until 5 o'clock, so the time is quarter to 5, or 4:45.

Common mistakes

Saying quarter to 4 for 4:45. Quarter to names the next hour: quarter to 5.

Thinking quarter past means 25 minutes. A quarter of an hour is 15 minutes.

How to use this generator

Choose the options above the sheet: the number of questions and the settings for this kind of worksheet. Every change makes a new sheet straight away, and New worksheet gives a different set of questions with the same settings.

Each sheet has a worksheet number printed at the top. Type the same number later, or keep the page link, to print exactly the same questions and answer key again. Leave Answer key page ticked to print the answers on a second page, then press Print. Every printed page carries the makekite logo and web address.

Common questions

Why is 4:45 'quarter to 5'?
At 4:45 there is a quarter of an hour left until 5 o'clock, so we say it is a quarter to the next hour.

Are 24-hour times included?
No. These sheets use 12-hour clock faces, and digital answers are written like 3:15.

Can I print the same worksheet again?
Yes. Note the worksheet number printed at the top, or keep the link in your browser's address bar, which ends with that number. Entering it later gives the same questions and answers.

Is it free?
Yes. There is no sign-up, and nothing you choose is sent anywhere: the sheets are made in your browser.