Times tables are one of those things every child needs to know, but most children find boring. The research is clear on what works — and it's not just repeating "7 times 8 is 56" until it sticks.
In an age of calculators and AI, some parents question whether rote multiplication is still important. The answer from cognitive science is emphatic: yes. Fluent recall of multiplication facts frees up working memory for higher-level problem solving. A child who has to calculate 6×7 every time can't focus on the algebra problem that contains it.
The UK National Curriculum requires children to know all tables up to 12×12 by the end of Year 4. The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) tests this formally.
Practising a little bit every day is far more effective than long sessions once a week. Research on memory consolidation shows that spacing practice over time — even just 10 minutes daily — leads to significantly better long-term retention than massed practice.
If your child knows their 2s and 5s perfectly, drilling them on 2s and 5s is wasted time. Effective practice focuses on the facts they don't know yet. This is where adaptive apps outperform worksheets — they automatically identify weak spots and give more practice where it's needed.
Mixing different tables together (e.g., 7×4, then 3×9, then 8×6) produces better results than practising one table at a time (the entire 7 times table, then the entire 8 times table). It feels harder in the moment but produces stronger recall.
Being asked "what is 8×7?" and having to retrieve the answer from memory is more effective than reading "8×7=56" repeatedly. Testing IS learning, not just assessment.
For children aged 4–11, extrinsic motivation matters. Earning virtual rewards, growing a character, or beating a personal best time all increase engagement. The key is that the reward follows genuine effort, not just participation.
In England, Year 4 children take the MTC in June. It's 25 questions, each with 6 seconds to answer, covering all tables from 2 to 12. The emphasis is on 6s, 7s, 8s, 9s, and 12s.
The best preparation is consistent daily practice throughout Year 3 and Year 4 — not a cramming sprint in the weeks before the test.
Times tables mastery is built through daily, adaptive, retrieval-based practice with enough motivation to keep going. Whether you use flashcards, an app, or verbal quizzes, the principles are the same: little and often, focus on what's weak, and make it feel rewarding. Looking for the right maths app? See our DoodleMaths or Arithmetix comparison.