Parent's Guide : The Best Way To Solve TIME Problems in the 11+ Exams
Parent's Guide : The Best Way To Solve TIME Problems in the 11+ Exams
Disclaimer : This blog is just to help Parents in their 11Plus Journey and the information provided here is intended for general guidance purposes only and may not apply to every individual situation or geographic location. Always do your research before you proceed.
Time problems in the 11+ exam (or any standardised exam for that matter) test a student's ability to understand and manipulate time-related information, often requiring them to combine this with other arithmetic skills. Here are some steps and strategies to tackle time problems effectively:
1. UNDERSTAND THE BASICS OF TIME:
Units: Ensure the student knows the relationships between seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, and years.
Clock Reading: Ability to tell time on both digital and analog clocks can be crucial.
2. BREAK DOWN THE PROBLEM:
Read Carefully: Make sure to understand what is being asked. Identify the starting time, the end time, and any intervals.
Keywords: Look for keywords like 'before', 'after', 'past', 'between', and 'elapsed'.
3. DRAW OR VISUALISE:
Number Lines: Drawing a timeline can help visualise the passage of time. Mark the start time and any intervals, then calculate the end time.
Clock Diagrams: For problems about the difference between clock hands or figuring out what the time will be in a certain number of hours and minutes, sketching a clock can help.
4. CONVERT UNITS WHEN NECESSARY:
If a problem gives information in minutes but asks for an answer in hours and minutes, students should be comfortable converting.
5. USE ARITHMETIC SKILLS:
Time problems may involve:
Addition and Subtraction: E.g., determining the amount of time that has passed between two moments.
Multiplication: E.g., if an action is repeated multiple times with intervals in between.
Division: E.g., if you need to divide a period of time into equal parts.
6. CONSIDER THE 24-HOUR CLOCK:
If AM and PM are causing confusion, convert the times to a 24-hour format.
7. PRACTICE COMMON SCENARIOS:
Some recurring themes in time problems include:
Travel: Calculating arrival times based on departure times and travel durations.
Schedules: Figuring out how much time is available between events.
Elapsed Time: How much time passed between two events.
8. DOUBLE-CHECK YOUR ANSWER:
Once you've found an answer, reread the question to ensure you've addressed all parts.
Ensure your answer is in the correct unit and format (e.g., hours and minutes, not just minutes).
9. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE:
The more familiar a student becomes with time problems, the better they'll be at identifying the quickest way to a solution. Use 11+ practice papers and time problem worksheets.
10. STAY CALM AND LOGICAL:
Remind students that every problem has a solution. If they're stuck, it might help to move on and return to the tricky question later with a fresh perspective.
11. CONSIDER THE CALENDAR:
Days in a Month: Remember not every month has 30 or 31 days. February, for example, has 28 days or 29 in a leap year.
Leap Years: Understand the concept and be able to calculate if a particular year is a leap year or not.
12. TIME ZONES:
While not always included in the 11+, understanding time zones can be useful for more advanced time problems, especially if students are given information about events happening in different parts of the world.
13. USE EFFICIENT CALCULATION METHODS:
14. ESTIMATION:
Before diving deep into calculations, quickly estimate what a reasonable answer might be. This can help you verify if your final answer is in the right ballpark.
15. WORK BACKWARDS:
For some problems, it's easier to start with the end time or outcome and work backwards to determine the start time or other unknowns.
16. BE MINDFUL OF AM/PM TRANSITIONS:
If a problem starts in the PM and goes into the AM (e.g., from 11:30 PM to 12:30 AM), students should be comfortable with this 24-hour cycle transition.
17. FRACTIONAL HOURS:
Sometimes, problems may present time in fractional hours (e.g., 2.5 hours). Be able to convert between this format and the standard hour:minute format.
18. PRACTICE WITH REAL-WORLD SCENARIOS:
To deepen understanding, give students real-world scenarios: calculating time intervals for cooking, estimating the time required for multiple tasks, or scheduling a day out.
EXAMPLE
Here's a detailed example of a time-related problem that you might encounter in the 11+ exam, along with a step-by-step solution:
Problem:
Alice started reading a book at 4:15 PM and finished at 5:40 PM on the same day. How long did she read the book for?
Solution:
Step 1: Understand the Problem
Read the problem carefully to understand what is being asked. In this case, we need to find the duration of time Alice spent reading the book.
Step 2: Draw a Timeline
Visualise the time period on a timeline:
4:15 PM 5:40 PM
|---------------------|
Step 3: Identify the Unknown
We need to find the duration of time between 4:15 PM and 5:40 PM.
Step 4: Apply Conversion Factors (if needed)
No conversion factors are needed in this problem.
Step 5: Calculate the Time Duration
To find the duration, we need to calculate the difference in hours and minutes separately:
Hours:5:40 PM - 4:15 PM = 1 hour (since the hour increased from 4 to 5)
Minutes:40 minutes - 15 minutes = 25 minutes
So, the duration is 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Step 6: Check Units
Ensure that the answer has the correct units. The duration is 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Step 7: Double-Check
Review your calculations to make sure they are accurate. In this case, the calculations are straightforward and involve basic subtraction.
Step 8: Write the Final Answer
Write down the final answer in the required format: Alice read the book for 1 hour and 25 minutes.
Step 9: Practice and Time Management
Practice similar problems to reinforce your understanding and problem-solving skills. During the exam, manage your time wisely and move on to the next question if you find one problem particularly challenging.
Finally, encourage your child to think about real-life applications of time problems, like planning their day, determining the duration of their favorite activities, or even simple things like setting alarms. This can make the concept more tangible and relatable.
Hope this blog might be helpful to you.
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