Quantitative Aptitude · Reasoning

Time and Clocks

491 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

A bus for Delhi leaves every thirty minutes from a bus stand. An enquiry clerk told a passenger that the bus had left 10 minutes back and the next bus will leave at 9:35 a.m. At what time did the enquiry clerk give this information to the passenger?

  1. 9:10 a.m.

  2. 8:55 a.m.

  3. 9:08 a.m.

  4. 9:15 a.m.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The next bus will leave at 9:35 a.m. A bus leaves every thirty minutes from the bus stand. This implies that the previous bus left at 9:05 a.m. An enquiry clerk told a passenger that the bus had left 10 minutes back, i.e. at 9:05 a.m. + 10 minutes = 9:15 a.m. Option (4) is correct.

Multiple choice

How many times do the hands of a clock coincide in a day?

  1. 20

  2. 12

  3. 22

  4. 24

  5. 11
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The hands of a clock coincide once in every hour, but between 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock, they coincide only once. So, they coincide 11 times in 12 hours and thus, 11 x 2 = 22 times in 24 hours.

Multiple choice

How many times are the hands of a clock at right angle in a day?

  1. 24

  2. 16

  3. 44

  4. 48

  5. 22
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

It is clear that both hands of a clock are at right angle twice in every hour, except at 3'o clock and 9'o clock. At 3'o clock and 9'o clock, the positions are identical. So, they are at right angle 22 times in 12 hours. Thus, in 24 hours they are 22 x 2 = 44 times at right angle.

Multiple choice

The priest told the devotees, "The temple bell is rung at intervals of 45 minutes. The last bell was rung five minute ago. The next bell is due to ring at 7:45 am. At what time did the priest give the information to the devotees?

  1. 7:40 am

  2. 6:55 am

  3. 7:05 am

  4. 7:00 am

  5. 7:10 am
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

According to the information, the next bell will ring at 7:45 am, and the bell is rung at regular intervals of 45 minutes. So, the previous bell was rung at 7:45 - 00:45 = 7:00. The priest gave the information after five minutes of the ringing of the last bell, not before five minutes, the next bell is due to ring.

Multiple choice

A watch, which gains 5 seconds in 3 minutes was set right at 7 a.m. In the afternoon of the same day, when the correct time is 4 p.m., what time will be indicated by that watch?

  1. 3:45 p.m.

  2. 4:10 p.m.

  3. 4:00 p.m.

  4. 4:15 p.m.

  5. 3:50 p.m.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

It is clear that the watch gains 5 seconds in every 3 minutes, and the number of hours between 7a.m to 4:00 p.m. is = 9 hours, i.e. 9 * 60 = 540 minutes. So, according to this, the watch will gain 540 minutes = 540 * 5 / 3 = 900 seconds and 900 seconds = 900 / 60 = 15 minutes. Thus, the watch will gain 15 minutes in 9 hours. Therefore, the time indicated by the watch at 4 p.m. = 4.00 + 0:15 = 4:15 pm.

Multiple choice

Muskan would like to complete all her homework before 10 p.m. in order to watch an important TV programme. She has 40 minutes assignment in each of her five prepared subjects. What is the latest time at which she can start and still complete her homework in time for the programme?

  1. 6.30 p.m.

  2. 6.40 p.m.

  3. 7.10 p.m.

  4. 7.20 p.m.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Total homework time = 5 subjects × 40 minutes = 200 minutes = 3 hours 20 minutes. To finish by 10 p.m., Muskan must start at 6:40 p.m.

Multiple choice

The meridian _____ determines the Indian Standard Time and passes through ____.

  1. 82°30'E, Lucknow

  2. 82°30'E, Allahabad

  3. 80°30'E, Allahabad

  4. 80°30'E, Lucknow

  5. 82°30'W, Allahabad
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Indian Standard Time ( IST) is determined by 82°30'E, which is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich meridian line and passes through Allahabad. The Indian Standard Time ( IST) is determined by 82°30'E, which is 5 hours 30 minutes ahead of Greenwich meridian line and passes through Allahabad.

Multiple choice

What is the time difference between each longitude?

  1. 6 minutes

  2. 4 minutes

  3. 5 minutes

  4. 8 minutes
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Earth completes one full rotation (360°) in 24 hours. Dividing 24 hours by 360 degrees gives 4 minutes per degree of longitude. This is why time zones are roughly based on 15° segments (15 × 4 = 60 minutes), creating one-hour time differences between adjacent zones.

Multiple choice

If two points are placed just on either side of the International Date Line, the difference in time between these two points will approximately be how many hours?

  1. 12 hours

  2. 18 hours

  3. 24 hours

  4. 2 hours
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The International Date Line marks the transition between calendar days. When you cross the IDL, the date changes by one full day. Points immediately adjacent on either side are approximately 24 hours apart in local time, with one side being in the current day and the other side being either one day ahead or behind.

Multiple choice

The exact time taken by the earth for single rotation on its own axis is

  1. 24 hours

  2. 24 hours and 35 seconds

  3. 23 hours, 50 minutes and 7.2 seconds

  4. 23 hours, 56 minutes and 4.09 seconds
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Earth completes one rotation relative to the fixed stars (a sidereal day) in 23 hours, 56 minutes, and 4.09 seconds. This is slightly less than 24 hours because during Earth's rotation, it also moves along its orbit. The solar day (noon to noon) averages 24 hours, but the actual rotation period is shorter.