When Do Kids Learn Their Times Tables?

If your child has started bringing home times tables practice, you might be wondering what is expected and when. The short answer: most children learn the times tables between the ages of 6 and 9, starting with the easy patterns and finishing with the tricky 6s, 7s, 8s and 9s. Below is what schools in the US and England expect at each stage, plus what you can do at home.

Times tables in the US (Common Core)

Many US states use the Common Core State Standards for math, or their own standards based on them. Your state or school district may phrase things differently, so check with your child's teacher, but the broad pattern looks like this.

• Kindergarten and 1st grade (ages 5–7): counting, adding and subtracting. Children learn to count to 100 by ones and by tens in kindergarten, which lays the groundwork for the 10s.
• 2nd grade (ages 7–8): skip counting by 5s, 10s and 100s, working with arrays (rows and columns of objects) up to 5 by 5, and adding equal groups. This is the "pre-multiplication" year.
• 3rd grade (ages 8–9): the big multiplication year. Children learn what multiplication and division mean and, by the end of the year, are expected to know from memory all products of two one-digit numbers. That means every fact up to 9 × 9.
• 4th grade (ages 9–10): multiplying bigger numbers, such as a four-digit number by a one-digit number, and two two-digit numbers. Quick recall of the basic facts makes this much easier.

Notice that the Common Core goal is facts up to 9 × 9. Many US schools and teachers also practise the 10s, 11s and 12s, but that varies from school to school.

Times tables in the UK (England's National Curriculum)

The National Curriculum in England sets out a clear order. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own curriculums, but the order of learning is often similar.

The Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check

In England, children in Year 4 take a short online check called the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC), in June. It has 25 questions covering the tables up to 12 × 12, and children have 6 seconds to answer each one. It is designed to show whether children can recall facts quickly, so speed matters as well as accuracy. There is no pass mark, so it is not something a child can fail. It is there to help schools see which pupils need more support.

For children, the best preparation is the same as for any times tables learning: short, regular practice with mixed questions. If your child is anxious, it can help to know the check is quick, private and done on a screen at school.

US grades and UK years side by side

Because UK children start school earlier, a UK Year 2 child is the same age as a US 1st grader. That is why UK children often meet times tables at what looks like a younger "year" number.

Signs your child is ready to start

Before memorising, children need to understand what multiplication means. Your child is probably ready when they can:

• count confidently to 100,
• skip count in 2s, 5s and 10s,
• add small numbers without counting on their fingers every time,
• understand "3 groups of 4" when they see it with real objects.

If those are not there yet, that is the place to start. Pushing memorised facts before the meaning is in place tends to make times tables harder, not easier.

How to help at home at each stage

• Ages 5–6: count everything. Count steps in 2s, coins in 5s and fingers in 10s. Sing counting songs.
• Ages 6–7: introduce the 2, 5 and 10 times tables using real objects: pairs of socks, hands of fingers, packs of ten.
• Ages 7–8: move on to the 3, 4 and 8 times tables, using doubling as the main trick.
• Ages 8–9: fill the gaps with the 6s, 7s, 9s, 11s and 12s, and practise mixed facts against the clock in a game like our times tables game.

For a day-by-day routine, see how to learn times tables fast. For a trick for each table, see our times tables tricks guide.

What if my child is behind?

First, do not panic. Times tables click at different speeds, and a child who finds them hard at 8 can still become quick at them. Find out exactly which facts are missing (a colour-in multiplication chart is perfect for this), then practise just those for five minutes a day. Ask the teacher what method the class is using so you can match it at home. If your child struggles with number facts in general, not just times tables, mention it to the teacher, who can help work out what support might help.