Functional Skills content subsumes and builds on lower levels, so Level 2 assumes you already read analogue and 24-hour digital clocks, record time using am and pm, and convert within the same system between units of time. Build on this to solve real time, timetable and scale problems under exam conditions: the Level 2 maths assessment lasts 1 hour 45 minutes, split into Section 1 (non-calculator, 25 minutes) and Section 2 (calculator, 1 hour 20 minutes).
Time is not base-10, so handle units carefully. Remember that 1 hour = 60 minutes and 1 minute = 60 seconds. A decimal fraction of an hour must be multiplied by 60 to give minutes: 1.5 hours = 1 hour 30 minutes (not 1 hour 50), and 2.25 hours = 2 hours 15 minutes.
Bus and train timetables list times in columns; read down a column for one service and across a row to compare stops. To find a journey duration, subtract the departure time from the arrival time using the hours-and-minutes method above. Watch for journeys crossing midnight or running across days, and check whether you need the next available service.
For scale drawings, maps and plans, the actual distance equals the measured drawing distance multiplied by the scale factor, while the drawing distance equals the actual distance divided by the scale factor. A scale of 1:50000 means 1 unit on the map represents 50000 of the same units in reality, so 4 cm on the map = 200000 cm = 2 km (since 1 km = 100000 cm and 1 m = 100 cm). At Level 2 you must calculate actual dimensions from scale drawings and create a scale diagram given actual measurements.
Journey planning combines these skills with compound measures: speed = distance ÷ time, distance = speed × time, and time = distance ÷ speed, with units made consistent (hours for mph). You may also convert miles to kilometres or apply time-based rates of pay. Across time zones, adjust the local clock for the offset before calculating an arrival time.
1. How many minutes are there in one hour?
There are 60 minutes in 1 hour, a fixed factor used in all time calculations. (Standard units of time; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 1 statement 16 (convert between units of time))
2. In the 24-hour clock, what time is 1:00 pm?
To convert a 12-hour pm time to the 24-hour clock you add 12 to the hours, so 1:00 pm becomes 13:00. (Standard time-conversion rule; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
3. What is midnight written as on the 24-hour clock?
Midnight is written as 00:00 on the 24-hour clock, the start of a new day. (Standard time-conversion rule; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
4. A bus leaves at 09:50 and arrives at 11:20. How long does the journey take?
From 09:50 to 11:20 is 1 hour 30 minutes, found by counting whole hours and remaining minutes separately, not by base-10 subtraction. (Standard timetable method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
5. How is 1.5 hours correctly written as hours and minutes?
A decimal fraction of an hour is multiplied by 60, so 0.5 hours = 30 minutes, giving 1 hour 30 minutes. (Standard time arithmetic; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 15 (compound measures) and statement 16)
6. A train departs at 14:35 and the journey takes 2 hours 50 minutes. At what time does it arrive?
14:35 plus 2 hours is 16:35, then plus 50 minutes is 17:25. (Standard timetable method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 problem-solving (subsumes Entry Level 3 statement 13))
7. A worker's shift starts at 22:00 on Monday and finishes at 06:30 on Tuesday. How long is the shift?
From 22:00 to midnight is 2 hours, and from midnight to 06:30 is 6 hours 30 minutes, giving 8 hours 30 minutes in total. (Standard elapsed-time method across days; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 problem-solving)
8. A delivery van is loaded at 08:45 and reaches its destination 3 hours 40 minutes later. What is the arrival time?
08:45 plus 3 hours is 11:45, then plus 40 minutes carries past the hour to give 12:25. (Standard elapsed-time method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 problem-solving)
9. A flight leaves at 23:40 and lands at 03:15 the next day (same time zone). How long is the flight?
From 23:40 to midnight is 20 minutes, and from midnight to 03:15 is 3 hours 15 minutes, giving 3 hours 35 minutes. (Standard elapsed-time method across days; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 problem-solving)
10. A machine runs continuously from 18:30 on Friday until 09:00 on Saturday. For how long does it run?
From 18:30 to midnight is 5 hours 30 minutes, and midnight to 09:00 is 9 hours, giving 14 hours 30 minutes. (Standard elapsed-time method across days; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 problem-solving)
11. How is 2.25 hours correctly expressed in hours and minutes?
The decimal part 0.25 is multiplied by 60, giving 15 minutes, so 2.25 hours is 2 hours 15 minutes. (Standard time arithmetic; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 15 and statement 16)
12. A coach leaves at 19:25 on Saturday and the timetabled journey is 11 hours 50 minutes. On which day and at what time does it arrive?
19:25 plus 11 hours is 06:25 on Sunday, then plus 50 minutes gives 07:15 on Sunday. (Standard elapsed-time method across days; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 problem-solving)
13. A worker is paid 9.60 GBP per hour. One shift starts at 21:45 and ends at 06:15 the next morning, with no unpaid breaks. What is the gross pay for the shift?
The shift lasts 8 hours 30 minutes, which is 8.5 hours, and 8.5 multiplied by 9.60 GBP gives 81.60 GBP. (DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 15 (rates of pay) combined with elapsed-time method)
14. On a map with scale 1:50000, what does the scale tell you?
A scale of 1:50000 means 1 unit on the map represents 50000 of the same units in real life. (Standard scale method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 18)
15. How many centimetres are there in 1 kilometre?
Since 1 km = 1000 m and 1 m = 100 cm, there are 100000 cm in 1 km. (Standard metric length relationships; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 16 and statement 18)
16. To find an actual distance from a scale drawing, what should you do with the measured drawing distance?
Actual distance equals the drawing measurement multiplied by the scale factor; you divide only when going from real distance back to the drawing. (Standard scale method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 18)
17. A plan is drawn to a scale of 1:100. A wall measures 5 cm on the plan. What is the actual length of the wall?
5 cm multiplied by 100 is 500 cm, which is 5 metres. (Standard scale method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 18)
18. On a map with scale 1:50000, two towns are 4 cm apart. What is the real distance between them?
4 cm multiplied by 50000 is 200000 cm, and dividing by 100000 converts this to 2 km. (Standard scale method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 18 and statement 16)
19. A map has a scale of 1:25000. A footpath measures 6 cm on the map. What is its real length?
6 cm multiplied by 25000 is 150000 cm, and dividing by 100000 gives 1.5 km. (Standard scale method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 18 and statement 16)
20. A garden is 18 metres long in reality. On a plan drawn to scale 1:200, how long should it be drawn?
18 m is 1800 cm, and dividing the real measurement by the scale factor 200 gives 9 cm on the plan. (Standard scale method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 18 (create a scale diagram))
21. A map scale states '1 cm represents 2 km'. A road measures 7.5 cm on the map. What is its real length?
Each centimetre represents 2 km, so 7.5 cm represents 7.5 multiplied by 2, which is 15 km. (Standard scale method; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 18)
22. On a 1:50000 map a route measures 9 cm, giving a real distance of 4.5 km. Using the conversion 1 mile is approximately 1.6 km, what is the route length in miles (to the nearest tenth)?
9 cm at 1:50000 is 4.5 km, and dividing 4.5 by 1.6 gives approximately 2.8 miles. (DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 18 (scale) and statement 14 (metric/imperial conversion))
23. A walker covers a route that measures 12 cm on a 1:25000 map, taking 1 hour 15 minutes. What is the average walking speed in km per hour?
12 cm at 1:25000 is 300000 cm or 3 km, and 1 hour 15 minutes is 1.25 hours, so 3 divided by 1.25 gives 2.4 km/h. (DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Level 2 statement 18 (scale) and statement 15 (speed = distance / time))
24. How is 1:00 pm written using the 24-hour clock?
For pm times you add 12 to the hours, so 1:00 pm becomes 13:00. (Standard time-conversion rule (1:00 pm = 13:00); DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
25. How is midnight written using the 24-hour clock?
Midnight is written as 00:00 in the 24-hour clock, the start of the new day. (Standard time-conversion rule (midnight = 00:00); DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
26. A coach is scheduled to depart at 09:35. How is this time written using the 12-hour clock?
Times before 12:00 noon are am, and 09:35 is below 13:00 so the hours stay the same: 9:35 am. (DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 12 (read time using am and pm))
27. A shop closes at 5:30 pm. What is this time on the 24-hour clock?
Add 12 to the pm hours: 5 + 12 = 17, giving 17:30. (Standard time-conversion rule (add 12 to pm hours); DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
28. A train timetable lists a departure as 23:10. What is this time written with am or pm?
For 24-hour times of 13:00 or later, subtract 12 to get pm hours: 23 - 12 = 11, giving 11:10 pm. (Standard time-conversion rule; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
29. A delivery slot is booked for 12:45 am. What is this time on the 24-hour clock?
12 am is midnight (00:00), so 12:45 am is 00:45 on the 24-hour clock. (Standard time-conversion rule (12 am = 00:00); DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
30. A meeting is set for 12:30 pm. What is this on the 24-hour clock?
12 pm is noon, which is 12:00 on the 24-hour clock, so 12:30 pm stays as 12:30 (you do not add 12 to the noon hour). (Standard time-conversion rule (12 pm = 12:00 noon); DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
31. A learner converts 7:15 pm to the 24-hour clock and writes 07:15. What is the correct answer and the mistake made?
For pm times you add 12 to the hours, so 7:15 pm is 19:15; writing 07:15 ignores that it is an evening time. (Standard time-conversion rule (add 12 to pm hours); DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
32. A bus is due at 14:05. Which 12-hour time is correct?
Subtract 12 from the 24-hour hours for afternoon times: 14 - 12 = 2, so 14:05 is 2:05 pm. (Standard time-conversion rule; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
33. On the 24-hour clock, what time is one minute before midnight?
One minute before midnight (00:00) is 23:59, the last minute of the day. (Standard time-conversion rule; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
34. A night shift begins at 10:45 pm and a worker checks a clock showing 22:45. Are these the same time?
Adding 12 to the pm hours gives 10 + 12 = 22, so 10:45 pm is exactly 22:45. (Standard time-conversion rule (add 12 to pm hours); DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)
35. A film starts at 20:00 and the listing must show the time with am or pm. Which is correct?
Subtract 12 from 20 to get 8, and times of 12:00 or later are pm, so 20:00 is 8:00 pm. (Standard time-conversion rule; DfE Functional Skills mathematics, Entry Level 3 statement 13)