Times tables tug of war lets you tick exactly the tables you want, from 1 to 12, and race another team along the rope. The game above opens on the 2s, 5s and 10s. Use this order to decide what to tick next.
Stage (England) | Tables | Tick in the game |
|---|---|---|
Year 2 | 2, 5 and 10 | One at a time, then together |
Year 3 | 3, 4 and 8 | Add each to the tables you know |
Year 4 | 6, 7, 9, 11 and 12 | Then mix all tables up to 12 |
This is the national curriculum order for England, and it works at any age. The game only asks facts from your ticked tables, so a match on the 7s really is 7s practice.
Why ticking fewer tables works better
One ticked table at Medium (up to 12) gives 12 possible facts. A player answering every 3 seconds sees about 30 questions in 90 seconds, so each fact comes up two or three times in one match. Tick all twelve tables and there are 144 possible questions, so most will not appear at all. Work on one or two new tables, then add them to the mix once they are accurate.
How many times tables facts are there?
The full 12 by 12 grid has 144 facts, but only 78 are different once you notice that 6 × 8 and 8 × 6 are the same. Each new table therefore has fewer new facts than it first appears. If you already know the 2s, 3s, 4s, 5s, 6s, 8s and 10s, the 7s leave only four new facts: 7 × 7, 7 × 9, 7 × 11 and 7 × 12.
A week of practice on one table
Day | What to do |
|---|---|
1 | Learn a route for the table with no clock, such as 5s plus 2s for the 7s |
2 | Play the table alone against the Gentle robot |
3 | Two 90-second matches, and rebuild every fact on the review list |
4 | Mix in one table you already know |
5 | Play a person, then write the facts from memory |
Route ideas for every table are on the multiplication tug of war page. When a table feels solid, practise the reverse with division tug of war.
Preparing for the Multiplication Tables Check
Pupils in England take the Multiplication Tables Check in Year 4. It has 25 questions with six seconds for each, and answers are typed. This game is not the official check. Choosing from four answers is easier than producing one, so it works best as a warm-up beside typed or written practice. Our four-week routine combines both.
Reading the review list
After each match, look for patterns and not just single errors. The same fact missed twice needs a new route. Answers one table step off, such as 48 for 7 × 8, suggest counting along the table instead of recalling. Square numbers like 7 × 7 are worth learning as a set, since they have no partner fact to lean on.
Frequently asked questions
Which order should the times tables be learned in?
The English national curriculum introduces the 2s, 5s and 10s first, then the 3s, 4s and 8s, then the rest by Year 4.
Can teams practise at different levels?
Yes. Each team can have its own level, so one team can work with smaller numbers in the same match.
Do players need an account?
No. Nothing needs to be installed.