2. Make counting quicker — Learner Route

Step 2 · Make counting quicker

This is what times tables are for

You could count:
4, 8, 12, 16
or you could remember:
4 × 4 = 16
Four groups of four make a total of 16.

By remembering that 4 groups of 4 are 16, you speed up your counting.

That is what times tables are all about.

And there is good news.

There are shortcuts that make the facts easier to learn.

The biggest shortcuts

Three facts you get almost for free

× 0
always 0
× 1
stays the same
× 10
count in tens
7 × 0 = 0   ·   7 × 1 = 7   ·   7 × 10 = 70
Core idea · ×2

What does doubling mean?

Multiplying by 2 means having twice as many.

5 → two copies → 10
Try both ways ↓
2 × 5 = 5 + 5 = 10

Different ways to think. Same answer.

Have a try

Just ×0, ×1 and ×2

2 × 7
This counts towards your Times Tables Recall progress.
📝 Learning stage: use paper, a whiteboard or a chalkboard if it helps. Work things out. This is practice for understanding — not a test of instant recall.
Stop here if you need to.
Stay with these facts until they feel comfortable. You do not need to rush on.
Next table · The 5s

Two useful ways to think about ×5

Quick and easy: count in 5s
5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30...
The answers always end in 5 or 0.
A method worth learning
×10, then divide by 2
5 × 8
8 × 10 = 80
halve 80
40
Keep this method.
It becomes especially useful later, when you multiply much larger numbers by 5.
Have a try

Now ×5 and ×10

5 × 8
This counts towards your Times Tables Recall progress.
📝 Learning stage: use paper, a whiteboard or a chalkboard if it helps. Work things out. This is practice for understanding — not a test of instant recall.
This can be a separate step.
Stay here for a while. Move on when ×5 and ×10 are starting to feel familiar.
Look how far you have come
⅓

That is already about a third!

You have met ×1, ×2, ×5 and ×10 — four of the twelve core tables.
Nice work 🎉
Next step · The 3s

Speaking of 3s...

Here is the first times table where you really have to get your hands dirty.

Literally. Get some objects in your hands and start making groups of 3.

3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18...
Move 3 at a time. Count 3 at a time.
Use anything you can hold.
Counters, Lego, beads, crayons, pasta — whatever is nearby.
Have a try

Just the 3s

3 × 7
This counts towards your Times Tables Recall progress.
📝 Learning stage: use paper, a whiteboard or a chalkboard if it helps. Work things out. This is practice for understanding — not a test of instant recall.
Stay here for a while.
Keep practising the 3s until the rhythm starts to feel familiar.

Want to just memorise them?

Some people feel quite comfortable learning each times-table row on its own. That is absolutely fine.

If that works for you, you can jump straight to Times Tables Recall in Practice Lab and practise until the facts start to stick.

Open Times Tables Recall → Press Next to explore useful strategies.
But if memorising feels like learning a rather boring poem...
stay with us. There are useful patterns and strategies that make the harder facts much easier to rebuild.
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