Times Tables Race

In just ten minutes per day, this resource is proven to improve a child’s speed and accuracy with multiplication facts to support all areas of calculation in mathematics. In order to access the Year 5 and 6 maths curricula, children benefit greatly from the ability to rapidly recall their times tables facts. Without this skill, children spend valuable time having to ‘work out’ their times tables facts and this has a negative impact on accuracy, efficiency and most importantly confidence, in mathematics.

This Resource contains…

1. Five sheets of multiplication questions.
2. Five sheets of division questions.
3. Three recording charts to monitor progress.

How this resource works
The Question Sheets.
Each times-table sheet contains seventy-five questions arranged in three columns. The aim is to complete as many of these questions as possible in ten minutes without missing any of the questions out!
For younger children, or children who are less confident with their times tables, the sheets could be divided into three separate columns so that they are only faced with twenty-five questions at a time!

How to record progress
Which Recording Chart to use.
At the end of the ten-minute session, choose one of the Recording Charts included in the pack.
• If a child is not confident with their tables and is only working on one column, use Recording Chart 1. This will record a maximum of 18 questions so will build confidence in the early stages of proficiency.
• If the children are moving onto the second column , choose the Recording Chart 2
• If the children are completing over 36 questions in 10 minutes, choose Recording Chart 3.

Completing the Recording Chart.
It is recommended that the children complete the Recording Chart of their scores so that they can see how they improve over time.
The Recording Chart is divided into columns. Complete one column on the Recording Chart for each ten-minute session.

1. Record the number of questions answered in one colour.
2. Use the answer sheet to mark the questions.
3. Criss cross over the column already completed to show the number of questions that were correctly answered.
   (This will help the child see how accurate they are as well as how speedy they are.
   If a child is getting all their questions right, their challenge is to do more in the time available.
   If a child is completing many more questions than they are answering correctly, the next challenge is to slow down and aim for greater accuracy.)

Challenge and Extension.

1. Use the Division Sheets in place of the multiplication questions.

2. Reduce the time limit allowed to complete the questions.

3. Focus on the time taken to complete the whole sheet. How quickly can you complete the seventy-five questions?