How to Memorise Times Tables Quickly (Step-by-Step)

If your child is struggling with times tables, you’re not alone. It’s one of the most common challenges parents and teachers face — and one of the most important skills to crack before Year 4.

The good news? With the right approach, most children can memorise their times tables faster than you’d think. This guide walks you through exactly how to do it — step by step, trick by trick — using proven methods that actually stick.

Whether you’re a parent helping at home, a teacher planning lessons, or a child ready to take on the challenge yourself, you’ll find everything you need right here. We’ll also show you how to use Hit the Button — a brilliant free maths game — to make practice genuinely fun and effective.

Let’s get started.

What Are Times Tables?

Times tables are simply repeated addition written in a faster way.

When we say 3 × 4, we mean “three groups of four” — which is the same as 4 + 4 + 4 = 12.

Once a child understands this, the numbers stop feeling random and start making sense.

Example:

• 2 × 5 = five groups of two = 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 10
• 5 × 2 = two groups of five = 5 + 5 = 10

Same answer — because multiplication works both ways. That’s called the commutative property, and it immediately halves the number of facts your child needs to learn.

Times tables run from 1 × 1 all the way to 12 × 12, giving 144 number facts in total. But with smart learning strategies, that number shrinks dramatically.

Why Times Tables Matter So Much

The UK National Curriculum (KS1 and KS2) expects children to know their times tables fluently by the end of Year 4. Since 2020, Year 4 pupils also sit the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) — an online test that checks speed and accuracy up to 12 × 12.

But it goes beyond the test.

Times tables are the foundation of almost everything else in maths:

• Long multiplication and division
• Fractions and decimals
• Percentages and ratios
• Problem-solving and word problems

Children who know their tables automatically can focus their mental energy on the harder parts of a problem. Children who are still working them out are using up precious thinking space — which leads to mistakes and frustration.

There are also real cognitive benefits to memorising times tables. Repeated retrieval practice strengthens memory pathways, builds mathematical confidence, and improves number sense — the ability to spot patterns and relationships between numbers.

Step-by-Step Guide to Learning Times Tables

Step 1: Start With the Easy Tables First

Not all times tables are equal. Start with the ones that come naturally.

Best order to learn:

1. 1× (anything × 1 = itself)
2. 10× (just add a zero)
3. 2× (doubles — most children already know these)
4. 5× (end in 0 or 5 — easy to spot)
5. 11× (up to 9 — just repeat the digit: 11 × 7 = 77)
6. Then: 3×, 4×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, 12×

Mini tip: Master one table completely before moving to the next. Jumping between tables too quickly causes confusion and weak recall.

Step 2: Use the Commutative Property to Cut Your Work in Half

Here’s something most children don’t realise: 3 × 7 and 7 × 3 are the same fact.

Once you know 3 × 7 = 21, you already know 7 × 3 = 21.

This means from the 144 total facts in a 12 × 12 grid, you really only need to learn around 66 unique facts — and many of those come from the easy tables you’ve already learned.

Example:

• You know your 2× table → you already know the “× 2” column too
• You know your 5× table → you already know the “× 5” column too

Showing children the times table grid and highlighting these pairs is a powerful visual moment.

Step 3: Learn in Small Chunks — Then Test Immediately

The biggest mistake is trying to learn an entire table in one go.

Instead, use this chunk-and-test method:

1. Learn 3 facts at a time (e.g. 6×1, 6×2, 6×3)
2. Say them out loud — twice
3. Cover them and recall them — without looking
4. Get them right? Add 3 more
5. Get one wrong? Repeat just that fact 5 times, then move on

This uses a technique called active retrieval, which is far more effective than simply reading or reciting. Every time the brain struggles to recall something, the memory gets stronger.

Mini tip: Keep practice sessions to 10 minutes maximum. Short, frequent sessions beat long, occasional ones every time.

Step 4: Use Spaced Repetition

Once your child has learned a table, don’t abandon it.

Spaced repetition means reviewing facts at increasing intervals:

• Day 1: Learn
• Day 2: Review
• Day 4: Review again
• Day 7: Quick test
• Day 14: Spot check

This pattern pushes knowledge into long-term memory rather than short-term cramming. Apps like Hit the Button naturally support this because they test all facts randomly — keeping old knowledge active while new facts are being added.

Step 5: Aim for Automatic Recall (Not Just Counting)

There’s a big difference between a child who “works out” 7 × 8 and a child who knows it instantly.

The goal is automaticity — instant recall without any working out at all.

You can test this simply: if your child takes longer than 3 seconds on a fact, it’s not yet automatic. That’s the fact to focus on.

Mini tip: Write “hard” facts on sticky notes and put them somewhere your child sees them every day — the fridge, their desk, the bathroom mirror.

Easy Tricks and Shortcuts for Times Tables

The 9× Finger Trick

Hold up both hands, palms facing you.

To find 9 × 4: fold down your 4th finger from the left. You’ll see 3 fingers on the left and 6 on the right → 36.

This works for 9 × 1 through 9 × 10 every time.

The 11× Pattern

Up to 11 × 9: just double the digit.

• 11 × 3 = 33
• 11 × 7 = 77

For 11 × 10 = 110, 11 × 11 = 121, 11 × 12 = 132 — these three are worth memorising separately.

The 5× Shortcut

Any number × 5 = half that number × 10.

So 7 × 5 = half of 7 × 10 = half of 70 = 35.

The 4× and 8× Doubling Method

• 4 × any number = double it, then double again
• 8 × any number = double, double, double

Example: 4 × 7 → 7 + 7 = 14 → 14 + 14 = 28

The “Hard Facts” Short List

Research shows most children find these facts the hardest:

• 6 × 7 = 42
• 6 × 8 = 48
• 7 × 8 = 56
• 8 × 8 = 64

Give these extra attention. Use silly mnemonics:

• “Five, six, seven, eight — 56 = 7 × 8” (5-6-7-8 — all four digits in order!)
• “I ate and ate until I was sick: 8 × 8 = 64”

Common Mistakes (and How to Fix Them)

1. Trying to learn all tables at once Why it happens: parents want quick results. Fix: one table per week, fully mastered.

2. Only reciting in order Why it happens: it feels easier. Fix: always mix up the order — out-of-sequence recall is what the MTC actually tests.

3. Relying on finger counting Why it happens: it works in the short term. Fix: gently discourage it after Year 2 and push for automatic recall instead.

4. Skipping the “boring” tables Why it happens: the 1× and 10× feel too easy to bother with. Fix: they still appear on tests — quick wins build confidence.

5. Practising for too long in one session Why it happens: pressure to catch up. Fix: 10 minutes daily is significantly better than 1 hour once a week.

6. Never reviewing what’s already been learned Why it happens: focus moves to the next table. Fix: include a 2-minute “random facts” review every session.

7. Using worksheets only Why it happens: it’s easy to set. Fix: mix in verbal, visual, and game-based practice to keep the brain engaged.

Fun Practice Methods

At Home:

• Times tables in the car — call out a fact, child answers before you reach the next traffic light
• Stick a times table grid on the fridge and quiz over breakfast
• Use dice — roll two dice and multiply the numbers together
• Clap and chant — rhythm helps memory (especially for the 3s and 4s)

In the Classroom:

• Table tennis-style oral games — teacher and child take turns calling facts
• “Beat your score” timed worksheets — improving by just 1 each time builds confidence
• Peer quizzing in pairs
• Times table bingo — great for whole-class engagement

Real Life:

• “We need 6 plates for 4 people each — how many altogether?”
• Counting coins
• Halving and doubling recipes while baking

Practise Times Tables Using Hit the Button

One of the most effective ways to build speed and confidence with times tables is by playing Hit the Button — a fast-paced, interactive maths game designed specifically for KS1 and KS2 learners.

Here’s why it works so well:

Speed: The game puts children under gentle time pressure — exactly what the Year 4 MTC replicates. Regular play trains the brain to recall facts faster and faster.

Accuracy: Immediate feedback means children know straight away if they’ve made a mistake — no waiting, no confusion.

Confidence: As scores improve, children feel it. There’s a huge difference in motivation between a child who “thinks” they know their tables and one who has proved it by getting 20/20 in 60 seconds.

Coverage: Hit the Button covers all times tables from 1× to 12×, as well as division facts, number bonds, halves, and doubles. It’s a complete mental maths toolkit in one place.

Even just 5 minutes of Hit the Button per day alongside other methods can make a remarkable difference within a few weeks.

Play Hit the Button now and start building those times table skills today.

Practice Questions

Try these yourself — answers are below!

Mixed difficulty:

1. 3 × 4 = ?
2. 7 × 2 = ?
3. 9 × 5 = ?
4. 6 × 6 = ?
5. 8 × 3 = ?
6. 7 × 7 = ?
7. 12 × 4 = ?
8. 9 × 8 = ?
9. 11 × 6 = ?
10. 6 × 7 = ?
11. 8 × 8 = ?
12. 7 × 12 = ?

Answers:

1. 12 | 2. 14 | 3. 45 | 4. 36 | 5. 24 | 6. 49 | 7. 48 | 8. 72 | 9. 66 | 10. 42 | 11. 64 | 12. 84

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Expert Tips for Parents and Teachers

For parents:

• Praise effort, not just correct answers. “You kept trying on that one” is more powerful than “Well done for getting it right.”
• Keep practice pressure-free. If a child associates times tables with stress, their performance drops.
• Practice alongside your child sometimes — even if you already know the answers. It normalises learning.
• Track progress visually — a simple chart with stars or stickers showing which tables have been mastered is surprisingly motivating for primary-age children.

For teachers:

• Use retrieval practice at the start of every lesson — even just 3 minutes of random oral questioning activates prior knowledge and strengthens memory.
• Be intentional about which facts you target. Most children have the same “hard facts” (6×7, 7×8, 8×8) — these deserve disproportionate practice time.
• Don’t wait for fluency before progressing. Children can continue learning curriculum content while building automaticity in parallel.
• Digital tools like Hit the Button maths work well as a starter activity, fast finisher task, or homework challenge — they’re self-marking and immediately engaging.

Advanced Insight: Why Some Children Struggle (and What Actually Helps)

Many children who struggle with times tables aren’t struggling because of poor memory — they’re struggling because of how they’ve been taught.

Learning times tables by reciting them in order (1×6, 2×6, 3×6…) builds a very fragile kind of knowledge. The brain learns the sequence, not the isolated fact. So when a test jumps straight to “What is 7×6?”, the child has to mentally run through the whole sequence to reach the answer — and that takes time.

The fix isn’t to practise more. It’s to practise differently.

Interleaved practice — mixing facts from different tables randomly — builds far stronger individual memory traces. This is exactly what the Year 4 MTC does, and exactly what Hit the Button trains.

There’s also a concept called desirable difficulty in learning psychology: tasks that feel slightly too hard actually produce better long-term retention than tasks that feel comfortable. Timed games that create a little pressure (not stress — there’s a difference) are pedagogically sound, not just fun.

Finally, spaced retrieval consistently outperforms massed practice in research. Ten minutes a day for two weeks will produce stronger, more lasting knowledge than two hours in one weekend. Build the habit, not the marathon.

Frequently Asked Questions

What age should children start learning times tables? The 2× and 10× tables are introduced in Year 2 (age 6–7). Children are expected to know all tables up to 12×12 by the end of Year 4 (age 8–9).

How long does it take to learn all times tables? With daily 10-minute practice, most children can achieve solid recall across all tables within 8–12 weeks. Some tables (2×, 5×, 10×) may click in days.

What is the Hit the Button maths game? Hit the Button is a free, interactive maths game that tests times tables, division facts, number bonds, and more. It’s widely used in UK primary schools and at home. Children are shown answers and must hit the matching question as fast as possible.

What is the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check? The MTC is an online test given to all Year 4 pupils in England. Children answer 25 questions, one at a time, with 6 seconds per question. It tests all tables from 2× to 12×.

Is it better to learn times tables through songs or games? Both can help, but games like Hit the Button are more effective for building the fast recall the MTC requires. Songs can help introduce a table, but they train sequential recall — which is different from instant retrieval.

Should children use calculators instead? Calculators are useful tools, but they don’t replace mental fluency. Children who know their tables mentally can spot errors, work faster, and handle more complex maths with greater confidence.

What if my child knows the tables but goes blank during tests? This is usually test anxiety combined with conditional memory (facts recalled in practice but not under pressure). More timed game practice — in a low-stakes, fun context — gradually closes this gap.

Conclusion

Times tables aren’t just a school requirement — they’re the foundation that makes everything else in maths easier, faster, and less stressful.

The key takeaways from this guide:

• Start with the easy tables and build confidence first
• Use chunking, active recall, and spaced repetition
• Learn tricks and shortcuts for the harder facts
• Keep daily practice short (10 minutes) and consistent
• Mix up the order — never just recite in sequence
• Use games like Hit the Button to build real speed and accuracy

Whether your child is just starting with the 2× table or preparing for the Year 4 MTC, the methods in this guide work. The only ingredient you need to add is consistency.

Start today. Even five minutes makes a difference.

Ready to practise? Play Hit the Button now and see how fast you can go.

You might also find it helpful to explore related topics on this site, including number bonds, mental addition strategies, and division facts — all of which connect directly to times table knowledge.