Quantitative Aptitude · Reasoning

Time and Clocks

562 Questions

Time and clocks problems evaluate quantitative aptitude by testing concepts on clock gains, losses, and relative speeds of hands. Questions also cover global time zones and standard time calculations. These logical reasoning topics frequently appear in SSC and banking exams.

Clock gain or lossTime zonesAngle between handsStandard time calculationPrecise time measurement

Time and Clocks Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge

1 hour , 1 minute = 3600 seconds

  1. True

  2. False
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

1 hour plus 1 minute equals 3660 seconds, not 3600. Calculation: (1 × 3600) + (1 × 60) = 3600 + 60 = 3660 seconds. The statement omits the 60 seconds from the minute, resulting in an incorrect sum.

Multiple choice general knowledge

Find the angle between the minute hand and hour hand of a clock when the time is 7.20?

  1. 150

  2. 90

  3. 120

  4. 100
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

At 7:20, the minute hand points at 4 (120 degrees from 12). The hour hand at 7:20 is one-third of the way from 7 to 8, at 210 + 10 = 220 degrees from 12 (or 220 - 360 = -140 degrees). The angle between them is 120 - (-140) = 260 degrees, but since we take the smaller angle, it's 360 - 260 = 100 degrees. Alternatively, using the formula: |60×7 - 11×20| / 2 = |420 - 220| / 2 = 100.

Multiple choice softskills creativity

At noon and midnight the hour and minute hands are exactly coincident with each other. How many other times between noon and midnight do the hour and minute hands cross?

  1. 8

  2. 9

  3. 10

  4. 11
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The hour and minute hands coincide 11 times in every 12-hour period, including at noon (12:00) and at midnight (12:00). Between these two endpoints, they cross at approximately 1:05, 2:11, 3:16, 4:22, 5:27, 6:33, 7:38, 8:44, 9:49, and 10:55, which gives us 10 times. The hands move continuously, creating these crossing points approximately every 65.45 minutes.

Multiple choice softskills creativity

How many degrees are there between clock hands at 3.15 pm?

  1. 9

  2. 6

  3. 0

  4. 5.5

  5. 7.5
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

At 3:15, the hour hand moves 1/4 of the way between 3 and 4 (15 minutes = 1/4 hour). Since numbers are 30° apart, the hour hand advances 7.5° from the 3. The minute hand points exactly at 3 (0° from 3). Therefore the angle between them is 7.5°. Many incorrectly assume the hour hand stays at 3 (giving 0°) or calculate full hour differences.

Multiple choice softskills communication

You want to indicate the time and say “It is 2.30”. You say:

  1. a.Es ist zwei Uhr.

  2. b.Es ist halb drei.

  3. c.Es ist viertel nach zwei.

  4. d.Es ist halb zwei
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Germans tell time by looking at the next hour. 2:30 is 'halb drei' (half three) because it's halfway to 3 o'clock. 'Es ist zwei Uhr' means 'it is 2 o'clock', 'Es ist viertel nach zwei' means 'it's quarter past two', and 'Es ist halb zwei' would mean 1:30.

Multiple choice softskills communication

Even a clock that does not work is right twice a day.

  1. Japanese proverb

  2. Chinese Proverb

  3. Polish proverb

  4. Dummy
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

This proverb is widely recorded as Polish in origin, expressing the idea that even something completely non-functional can occasionally be correct by mere chance. The proverb exists in many cultures but Polish folklore is the cited source. Japanese and Chinese proverb collections don't feature this specific saying as a traditional saying - it's more characteristic of Eastern European folk wisdom.

Multiple choice softskills creativity

I went to bed at eight 8'oclock in the evening and wound up my clock and set the alarm to sound at nine 9'oclock in the morning. How many hours sleep would I get before being awoken by the alarm?

  1. 1 hour

  2. 10 hour

  3. 13 hour

  4. 12 hour
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A standard wind-up mechanical alarm clock does not distinguish between AM and PM. If you set it at 8:00 PM to go off at 9:00, it will ring at 9:00 PM, just one hour later.

Multiple choice softskills creativity

I went to bed at 8 in the evening and wound up my clock and set the alarm to ring at 9 in the morning . How many hours sleep would I get before being awoken by the alarm?

  1. 1 hour

  2. 12 hours

  3. 13 hours

  4. 12 hours 55 minutes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

A mechanical wind-up alarm clock does not distinguish between AM and PM. If you set it at 8 PM to ring at 9, it will ring at 9 PM, just one hour later. It cannot wait until 9 AM the next day.

Multiple choice softskills communication

At what time after 4:00 p.m. is the minutes hand of a clock exactly aligned with the hour hand ?

  1. 4:21:49:5

  2. 4:27:49:5

  3. 3:21:49:5

  4. 4:21:44:5
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

At 4:00, hour hand is at 120° (4 × 30°), minute hand at 0°. Relative speed is 5.5°/min (minute: 6°/min, hour: 0.5°/min). To close 120° gap: 120/5.5 = 21.818... minutes = 21 min + 0.818 × 60 sec = 21 min 49.09 sec. Time is 4:21:49.1, which rounds to 4:21:49.5. Option B (27 min) would be after the alignment.

Multiple choice softskills leadership

32 minutes before 19:00 is equal to:

  1. 28 minutes after 18:00

  2. 18:36

  3. 6:28

  4. 20:28
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

32 minutes before 19:00 = 18:60 - 0:32 = 18:28. This is equivalent to "28 minutes after 18:00" (18:00 + 0:28 = 18:28). Option B (18:36) would be 24 minutes before 19:00. Option C (6:28) uses 12-hour format incorrectly. Option D (20:28) is after 19:00.

Multiple choice technology platforms and products

Let's say you're the kind of person who fits four meetings into sixty minutes, or who bills clients for every quarter hour of your work. How can you make Outlook share your sense of time?

  1. View appointments in a customized table instead of the calendar.

  2. Resize the font for the time labels.

  3. Change time scale in the Day view.

  4. None of these
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Outlook's Day view time scale can be customized to show intervals as small as 5-15 minutes instead of the default 30-minute blocks. This is done through the time scale setting, not by changing fonts or switching to table view.