Skill: Read clocks to the minute

Look at the two hands on the clock:

• The short hand is the hour hand.
• The long hand is the minute hand.
• Each small mark around the clock stands for 1 minute.
• Each number stands for 5 minutes when you count around from 12:
  • 12 = 0 minutes
  • 1 = 5 minutes
  • 2 = 10 minutes
  • 3 = 15 minutes, and so on.

Example

Suppose the long hand points to the 7, and the short hand is between 3 and 4.

1. Read the minute hand first.
   The long hand points to 7. Since each number is 5 minutes:

$$7 \times 5 = 35$$

So, the minutes are 35.

2. Read the hour hand.
   The short hand is between 3 and 4. It has passed 3, so the hour is 3, not 4.

3. Put the hour and minutes together.
   The time is:

$$\boxed{3{:}35}$$

Remember: The hour hand moves as the minutes pass, so it may be between two numbers. Use the number it has already passed.