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Time

Timetables, time zones and schedules

Inter City Travel Core + Extended 10 min read

On this page
  1. In this note
  2. Formula bank
  3. Reading a timetable
  4. Time zones
  5. Schedules and journey speeds
  6. Ways they test it
  7. Mistakes to avoid
  8. Summary
  9. Practice
  10. Can I do this?
  11. Quiz

In this note

Syllabus 1.15 (0580) / 1.6 (4024): timetables, time zones and schedules
  • 1.15Read and use timetables: journey times, which bus to catch, waiting times.
  • 1.15Work with time zones: local departure and arrival times, including a change of day or date.
  • 1.15Plan a schedule backwards from a deadline, and use journey times in speed calculations.

Before you start: time calculations.

Formula bank

TimetableLearn itone COLUMN = one bus; one ROW = one stopUse it when a table of times.
Ahead / behindLearn itahead → ADD the gap; behind → SUBTRACT itUse it when converting to another city's clock.
Flight arrival (local)Learn itdeparture + flight time (departure clock), then convertUse it when time zones.
Average speedLearn it\(\text{distance}\div\text{time in decimal hours}\)Use it when a journey with clock times.

Reading a timetable

Each column is one bus (or train); each row is a stop. Follow ONE column down to follow one bus.

StopBus 1Bus 2Bus 3Bus 4
Park Road06 5008 2509 2011 05
Mill Lane07 1208 4709 4211 27
Station07 3009 0510 0011 45
Market07 3709 1210 0711 52
City Centre08 0009 3510 3012 15

General methodHow to answer any timetable question

  1. Find the starting stop's row and the bus you need in it.
  2. Follow THAT column down to the destination row.
  3. Latest bus to arrive by a time: read the destination row, pick the last time not after the deadline, then go up its column.
  4. Count on between the two times for a journey or waiting time.

Example Rashid catches the 09 20 bus at Park Road. When does he reach City Centre, and how long does it take?

Follow the 09 20 column down.

  1. Column 3 at City Centre: 10 30
  2. 09 20 → 10 30 = 1 h 10 min

Answer 10 30, taking 1 h 10 min

Try it yourself

1
How long does the 09 42 bus take from Mill Lane to Market?
Show answer

Answer 25 min

2
Ana must be at City Centre by 09 40. Latest bus from Park Road?
Show answer

Answer 08 25

Time zones

Places have different local times. If City B is 4 hours ahead of City A, when it is 14 00 in A it is 18 00 in B. A flight takes the same number of hours on any clock - just never mix the two clocks.

General methodHow to find a local arrival time

  1. Write the departure time on the departure city's clock.
  2. Add the flight time: arrival time, still on the departure clock.
  3. Convert: destination ahead → add the gap; behind → subtract it.
  4. Check the day and date (did it pass midnight?).

Example Dubai is 4 hours ahead of London. A flight leaves London at 14 25 and takes 6 h 50 min. Local landing time in Dubai?

London clock first, then + 4 h.

  1. London clock: 14 25 + 6 h 50 = 21 15
  2. Dubai clock: 21 15 + 4 h = 01 15

Answer 01 15 the next day

General methodHow to find a flight time from two local times

  1. Put the landing time on the DEPARTURE clock (undo the time difference).
  2. Count on from departure to that time.

Example A plane leaves P at 16 40 and lands in Q at 11 45 the next day. Q is 5 hours ahead of P. How long is the flight?

Landing on P's clock: 11 45 − 5 h = 06 45.

  1. 16 40 → 06 45: 14 h 05 min

Answer 14 h 5 min

Try it yourself

1
A city 3 hours ahead: a 2-hour flight leaves at 09 00 local. Local landing time?
Show answer

Answer 14 00

2
A city 1 hour behind: leave 23 30, fly 2 h. Local landing time?
Show answer

Answer 00 30

Schedules and journey speeds

General methodHow to plan backwards from a deadline

  1. Start from the deadline.
  2. Subtract every duration in turn (journey, breaks, getting ready).

Example Lee must arrive at 16 40. The journey takes 9 h 55 min and he allows 30 min at the start. When must he set off?

Subtract both durations.

  1. 16 40 − 9 h 55 = 06 45
  2. 06 45 − 30 min = 06 15

Answer 06 15

Example A train leaves at 13 45, arrives at 17 09 and travels 289 km. Average speed?

Duration in decimal hours, then divide.

  1. 3 h 24 min = 3.4 h
  2. \(289\div3.4\)

Answer 85 km/h

Ways they test it

Type 1 Timetable reading

"Which is the latest bus she can catch?" / "How long does she wait?" (1-2 marks)

Spot it a bus or train table.

  1. Columns are buses.
  2. Count on.

Type 2 Local arrival time and date

"Find the local time, day and date when he lands." (2-3 marks)

Spot it two cities, "ahead/behind".

  1. Departure clock first.
  2. Convert; track the date.

For example leaves 22 10 Mon 14 July, 11 h 25 min, 3 h ahead

  1. 22 10 + 11 h 25 = 09 35 Tue
  2. + 3 h = 12 35

Answer 12 35 Tuesday 15 July

Type 3 Flight time from local times

"How long is the flight?" (2 marks)

Spot it both times local.

  1. Convert one time to the other clock first.

Type 4 Speed from a timetable

"Find the average speed." (2 marks)

Spot it times + a distance.

  1. Decimal hours.
  2. Distance ÷ time.

Mistakes to avoid

  • ✗ Reading across a row for one bus✓ read down a columnColumns are buses.
  • ✗ Subtracting local times from two clocks✓ convert one time firstA duration needs one clock.
  • ✗ Ahead → subtract✓ ahead → addAhead means a later clock.
  • ✗ Date unchanged after midnight✓ the next dayTrack the day.

Summary

  • Timetables: one column = one journey.
  • Time zones: flight time on the departure clock, then convert.
  • Ahead: add; behind: subtract. Watch the date.
  • Deadlines: subtract every duration.

If you see …

  • "local time"convert at the END.
  • "how long is the flight" with two local timesconvert one time first.

Practice

Practice: easy, medium, hard

Easy

1
Using the timetable, when does the 08 25 bus reach City Centre?
Show answer

Answer 09 35

2
City B is 4 hours ahead of City A. It is 14 00 in A. Time in B?
Show answer

Answer 18 00

3
City B is 2 hours behind City A. It is 09 30 in A. Time in B?
Show answer

Answer 07 30

Medium

1
A flight leaves Karachi at 08 15 and takes 4 h 40 min. The destination is 2 hours behind Karachi. Local landing time?
Guide me

What is it asking? local time

What do we know? behind = subtract

Plan Karachi clock first: 12 55

Show working
  1. 08 15 + 4 h 40 = 12 55
  2. − 2 h = 10 55

Answer 10 55

2
Lee must arrive at 16 40. The journey takes 9 h 55 min; he allows 30 min first. When must he set off?
Guide me

What is it asking? a start time

What do we know? deadline and two durations

Plan subtract each

Show working
  1. 16 40 − 9 h 55 = 06 45
  2. − 30 min

Answer 06 15

3
150 km in 2 h 30 min. Average speed in km/h?
Guide me

What is it asking? speed

What do we know? 2 h 30 = 2.5 h

Plan ÷

Show working
  1. \(150\div2.5\)

Answer 60

Hard

1
Karim's flight leaves at 22 10 local time and takes 11 h 25 min. The destination is 3 hours ahead. Local landing time?
Guide me

What is it asking? local time

What do we know? ahead = add

Plan departure clock first

Show working
  1. 22 10 + 11 h 25 = 09 35 next day
  2. + 3 h = 12 35

Answer 12 35 (next day)

PartAnswer / workingMarksGuidance
09 35 seenM1
12 35A1
next day / dateA1
Total: 3 marks
2
A plane leaves P at 16 40 and lands in Q at 11 45 the next day (local times). Q is 5 hours ahead. Flight time?
Guide me

What is it asking? a duration

What do we know? two clocks

Plan landing on P's clock: 06 45

Show working
  1. 16 40 → 06 45

Answer 14 h 5 min

PartAnswer / workingMarksGuidance
06 45 on P's clockM1
14 h 05 minA1
Total: 2 marks
3
A train leaves at 13 45 and arrives at 17 09, travelling 289 km. Average speed in km/h?
Guide me

What is it asking? speed

What do we know? duration 3 h 24

Plan decimal hours

Show working
  1. 3.4 h
  2. \(289\div3.4\)

Answer 85

PartAnswer / workingMarksGuidance
3.4 hM1
85A1
Total: 2 marks

Can I do this?

Anything unticked: revise that section first. All ticked: take the quiz.

Quiz

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