What is the hardest times table?

A ranking from hardest to easiest

Based on error rates in timed quizzes and what teachers see daily:

1. 7 times table — no pattern, little overlap with other tables
2. 8 times table — doubling three times works, but feels complex
3. 6 times table — mid-difficulty, needs the 5 × X + X trick
4. 4 times table — double the double, not obvious
5. 9 times table — has many tricks, but only if you know them
6. 3 times table — little pattern but small numbers
7. 2 times table — just doubling
8. 5 times table — ends in 0 or 5
9. 10 times table — add a zero
10. 1 times table — no work

Which fact is the hardest?

The fact children get wrong most often is consistently 7 × 8 = 56. Two hard tables in one fact. Right after come 8 × 6 = 48 and 7 × 6 = 42.

A handy memory trick for 7 × 8: 5, 6, 7, 8 — 56 = 7 × 8.

Why are 7 and 8 so hard?

The 5 times table always ends in 0 or 5. The 10 times table puts a zero after the number. The 9 times table has the finger trick and the digit-sum trick. The 2 and 4 times tables are just doubling.

The 7 times table has none of these handles. The answers look random. That is why it really has to be memorised.

How do you tackle the hardest tables?

Start with the facts you already know from other tables. You know 7 × 2 from the 2 times table. 7 × 5 from the 5 times table. 7 × 10 from the 10 times table. That gets you halfway.

For the rest: memorise the anchor facts 7 × 7 = 49 and 7 × 8 = 56. From those anchors you can reach the neighbours (7 × 6 = 7 × 7 − 7 = 42).