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Times Tables: What They Are and How to Learn Them

In one line: A times table is a list of answers you get when you multiply one number by 1, 2, 3 and so on, and multiplying means adding equal groups.

Why it works

When you know your times tables by heart, you don't have to count every time you multiply. This frees your brain for harder problems, like dividing, working with fractions or working out how much things cost. Knowing them quickly also makes everyday jobs easier, like sharing sweets fairly or working out how many seats are in 6 rows of 8.

Think of it like: Think of a times table like a staircase where every step is the same height. In the 3 times table, each step goes up by 3: 3, 6, 9, 12. To find 4 × 3, you climb 4 steps of 3 and land on 12. (Where this breaks: The staircase only shows one way to see multiplication. It does not show that 4 × 3 and 3 × 4 give the same answer, which is easier to see with rows of objects, like 4 rows of 3 apples looking the same as 3 columns of 4 when you turn them sideways.)

Worked example

Work out 7 × 8 using facts you already know.

  1. 7 × 8 means 7 groups of 8.
  2. Split the 7 groups into 5 groups and 2 groups, because the 5 and 2 times tables are easier.
  3. 5 × 8 = 40.
  4. 2 × 8 = 16.
  5. Add the two parts together: 40 + 16 = 56.

Answer: 7 × 8 = 56

Common mistakes

  • Counting on in ones to find an answer is slow and easy to get wrong, so instead build from a fact you know, like 5 × 6 = 30, then add one more 6 to get 6 × 6 = 36.
  • Treating 6 × 7 and 7 × 6 as two different facts doubles the work, so remember they have the same answer and you only need to learn one of them.
  • Adding instead of multiplying, such as saying 4 × 3 = 7, happens when you rush, so picture 4 groups of 3 dots to check that the answer is 12.
  • Saying 5 × 0 = 5 is a common slip, so remember that zero groups of anything is nothing, which means any number times 0 is 0.

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What is 4 × 5?

Questions parents ask

What year do kids learn times tables?

In the UK, children usually start with the 2, 5 and 10 times tables in Year 2 and are expected to know all tables up to 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4. In Australia, most children build them up from Year 2 to Year 4. In the US, kids start skip counting in Grade 2 and are expected to know their facts up to 10 × 10 by the end of Grade 3.

How can I help my child with times tables at home?

Short, regular practice works better than long sessions, so try five minutes a day in the car or at breakfast. Skip counting out loud, chanting tables, playing card games and asking quick questions like "How many legs on 6 dogs?" all help. Praise steady progress rather than speed at first.

Which times tables are the hardest, and in what order should they be learnt?

Most children find 6 × 7, 7 × 8 and similar facts in the 6, 7, 8 and 12 tables the trickiest. A good order is 10, 2 and 5 first, then 3, 4 and 8 (4 is double 2, and 8 is double 4), then 6, 9, 11, 7 and 12. Because facts can be swapped, by the time your child reaches the 7 times table they will already know most of it.

Should my child just memorise times tables or understand them?

Both matter. Understanding that multiplication means equal groups helps children work out a fact they have forgotten, while quick recall saves time and effort in harder maths. Aim for understanding first, then practise until the answers come quickly.