5 Proven Tricks to Master Times Tables Fast

Learning times tables is a rite of passage for every student. But it doesn't have to be a painful experience of endless rote memorization. Here are 5 proven strategies that actually work:

1. Start with the Easy Ones 🎯

Don't try to learn all 12 tables at once. Start with the ones that have clear patterns:

• 2× table - Just doubles! 2×6 = 6+6 = 12
• 5× table - Always ends in 0 or 5
• 10× table - Just add a zero
• 11× table - Up to 9, just repeat the digit (11×7 = 77)

Mastering these first builds confidence for the trickier ones.

2. Use the Commutative Property 🔄

Here's a secret that cuts your work in half: 3×7 = 7×3. This means you don't need to memorize both! Once you know 3×7, you automatically know 7×3.

This cuts the number of facts from 144 to just 78. Much better!

3. The Famous 9s Trick ✨

The 9× table has a magical pattern. For any 9× fact:

• The tens digit is one less than the multiplier
• The two digits add up to 9

Example: 9×7 = 63 (because 6 is one less than 7, and 6+3 = 9)

4. Practice Daily, But Keep It Short ⚡

5-10 minutes of daily practice beats one long weekly session. Our brains learn better with spaced repetition. Use our interactive times tables practice for quick daily drills, or print a times tables worksheet for offline practice.

5. Make It a Game 🎮

Competition and rewards work wonders. Time your child and track their improvement. Celebrate when they beat their personal best! Our practice tools include score tracking to make this easy.

The Bottom Line

Mastering times tables takes time, but with the right strategies and consistent practice, any student can achieve fluency. Start with easy patterns, practice daily in short bursts, and make it fun. Before you know it, those multiplication facts will become automatic!

Written by the PanMaths Team • Your Math Learning Companion