Times tables

England’s national curriculum is a common model: 2, 5 and 10 in Year 2, then 3, 4 and 8 in Year 3, and the rest up to 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4. The easy patterns come first and doubling links 2, 4 and 8. Schools and countries differ, so follow the order your class uses.

Here, a table is marked as mastered when you answer all twelve facts right first time in one round. Your best time for that round is kept, so there is something to beat afterwards.

Because the facts you miss are the only ones worth more practice. In a round, a missed fact returns at the end until you get it right. In the speed test, facts you miss or answer slowly are drawn more often.

No. The answer is accepted the moment it is right, which keeps the rhythm going and works well on a phone number pad.