Start with the hour.
Recognise the clock and practise simple times such as seven o’clock.
Useful alongside Cambridge English Pre A1 Starters.
C2 LAB APP · PRE-A1–A2 · FREE
Tell the Time in English
Move the hands, hear the time and practise saying it naturally. Free clock practice for Pre-A1, A1 and A2 learners, teachers and classroom screens.
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WHAT TIME IS IT?
07:30
half past seven
Also: seven thirty
Explore. Drag either hand and watch the English change.
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C2 ENGLISH SCHOOL UPDATES
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LEARN THE LANGUAGE
Past, to, quarter and half — made visual.
In everyday English, we often describe the minutes in relation to the hour. Up to 30 minutes we normally use past. After 30 minutes, we can count towards the next hour with to. You will also hear digital-style times such as seven forty-five.
Teacher tip
Let students listen first without reading the answer. Then reveal the wording and ask them to repeat it aloud. Recognition before repetition makes the listening work harder.
Let students listen first without reading the answer. Then reveal the wording and ask them to repeat it aloud. Recognition before repetition makes the listening work harder.
7:00seven o'clock
7:15quarter past seven
7:30half past seven
7:45quarter to eight
7:20twenty past seven
7:55five to eight
Quick questions
Is this Tell the Time app free?
Yes. It is free to use for students, teachers and schools, with no account required.
What level is this English clock practice for?
It starts at Pre-A1 with simple o’clock times, then develops through A1 and A2 with half past, quarter past/to, five-minute intervals and more flexible listening and speaking practice.
Can Starters, Movers and Flyers learners use this app?
Yes. The activity is useful independent practice for learners working around Cambridge English Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers and A2 Flyers levels. It is a C2 English School resource and is not an official Cambridge English activity.
What's the difference between “past” and “to”?
We normally use past for minutes after the hour and to for minutes before the next hour: 7:20 is “twenty past seven”; 7:40 is “twenty to eight”.
Can I use it on an interactive whiteboard?
Yes. Classroom view enlarges the activity and Teacher mode gives you quick controls for generating practice in class.
PRE-A1 → A2
One clock. Three useful stages.
The language of time grows with the learner. Use Easy, Medium and Challenge to move from simple clock recognition towards faster, more natural English.
Add the patterns.
Practise half past, quarter past, quarter to and common five-minute intervals.
Useful alongside Cambridge English A1 Movers.Make it flexible.
Work with any minute, digital-style answers and faster listening and speaking practice.
Useful alongside Cambridge English A2 Flyers.Cambridge Young Learners: this independent C2 English School activity can support learners preparing for Pre A1 Starters, A1 Movers and A2 Flyers. It is not produced or endorsed by Cambridge English.
KEEP PRACTISING
Try another C2 Lab app.
100 Common Verbs
Type & Listen
English Level TestCAMBRIDGE YOUNG LEARNERS
Turn practice into exam confidence.
This clock is useful independent practice for Pre A1, A1 and A2 learners. If your child is preparing for Starters, Movers or Flyers, C2 can add structured teacher feedback and an individual preparation plan.