MathsMission

Times tables by year group

In England, the national curriculum sets out which times tables children learn in each year, ending with all tables to 12× by the end of Year 4. Here is what that looks like year by year, and what to practise at each stage.
Times tables expectations by UK school year.
YearNew this yearShould stay secure
Reception—2×, 5×, 10×
Year 12×, 5×, 10×2×, 5×, 10×
Year 23×2×, 3×, 5×, 10×
Year 34×, 8×2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 8×, 10×
Year 46×, 7×, 9×, 11×, 12×2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, 10×, 11×, 12×
Year 5—2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, 10×, 11×, 12×
Year 6—2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, 10×, 11×, 12×

Reception

Counting in twos, fives and tens — long before anything is called a times table.

New this year: —. Keep sharp: 2×, 5×, 10×.

Year 1

Counting patterns become the first tables. Doubling and halving matter more than speed.

New this year: 2×, 5×, 10×. Keep sharp: 2×, 5×, 10×.

Year 2

The 3× table joins in, and children start to see multiplication as repeated addition.

New this year: 3×. Keep sharp: 2×, 3×, 5×, 10×.

Year 3

The 4× and 8× tables build on doubling: double the 2×, then double again.

New this year: 4×, 8×. Keep sharp: 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 8×, 10×.

Year 4

The big year. All tables to 12× are expected, and the Multiplication Tables Check happens in June.

New this year: 6×, 7×, 9×, 11×, 12×. Keep sharp: 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, 10×, 11×, 12×.

Year 5

No new tables — the job is speed and confidence, ready for fractions and long multiplication.

New this year: —. Keep sharp: 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, 10×, 11×, 12×.

Year 6

Tables are now a tool, used constantly in written methods, ratio and problem solving.

New this year: —. Keep sharp: 2×, 3×, 4×, 5×, 6×, 7×, 8×, 9×, 10×, 11×, 12×.

How to practise each stage

Practise the tables that are already familiar until answers come instantly, and add each new table one at a time. Mixing a brand new table into a long random test usually knocks confidence rather than building it.

MathsMission uses exactly this split: tables already taught are marked Keep sharp, this year's tables are marked New this year, and tables from later years are marked Pioneer for children who want to push ahead.