Maths Grids
leader board | numeracy | multiplication grids | tips for improving times
multiplication grids downloads | practice | other
grids
Leader Board
Evil Grid: |
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Best student = NE 3:47 (14 Apr 2020)
2nd student =
JL 6:58 (14 Apr 2020)
Tutor = IM 7:15 first to 100%! (9 Apr 2020)
NE best attempt 3:34, 98% – 18 Jun 2020
JH best attempt 7:01 – 24 Jun 2020
AK best attempt 9:41, 95% – 3 Apr 2020
IL best attempt 13:43 – 24 Jun 2020 |
Most recent: |
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NE 4:31, 100% – 2 Jul 2020
IM 6:40, 99% – 2 Jul 2020 |
10x10
Grid, 2x-12x:
(must be 100% correct) |
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Best student = JL 1:41 – 14 Apr 2020
2nd student = NE 1:53 – 5 Dec 2019 and 16 Apr 2020
3rd student = LE 1:55 online – 16 Apr 2020
4th student = SH 1:57 – 4 Mar 2020
5th student = JD 1:58 – 15 Sep 2012
6th student = JJ 2:24 – 20 Mar 2013 |
Most recent:
years 7-11
PB = personal best |
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LPo 2:21 – 10 Sep 2024 (1:53 PB)
IM 2:18 – 18 Jun 2024 (2:07 PB)
HK 3:00 – 3 Sep 2024 (2:51 PB)
JP 4:39 PB! – 5 Feb 2025
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Other Students:
previous times |
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SH 1:41 PB! (not 100%) – 1 Aug 2023
JL 2:03 – 7 Jun 2023 (1:41 PB)
JH 2:10 (not 100%) – 26 Jun 2023 (1:44 PB, not 100%)
LW 2:21 – 20 Nov 2023 (2:11 PB)
LPe 2:21 – 19 Oct 2023 (2:12 PB)
AS 2:22 – 2 Aug 2022 (1:58 PB)
RL 2:24 – 9 Sep 2023 (2:01 PB, not 100% but close)
CP 2:28 – 28 Feb 2022 (2:22 PB)
CT 2:31 – 10 Nov 2020 (2:25 PB?)
WT 2:37 – 15 Nov 2021 (2:02 PB)
LR 2:52 PB! – 6 Jul 2021
ANC 2:53 – 14 Sep 2023 (2:37 PB)
SL 2:54 – 22 Nov 2021 (2:16? PB)
HB 2:57 PB! – 1 Sep 2020
MW 3:03 – 22 Jul 2020
FL 3:11 – 3 Aug 2020
BS 3:13 – 10 Nov 2020 (2:31 PB?)
TM 3:18 – 1 Jul 2021 (2:56 PB)
JL 3:20 – 15 Oct 2020 (1:41 PB)
ALC 3:30 – 13 Aug 2021 (3:05 PB)
LM 3:30 – 25 Oct 2023 (3:22 PB)
CAD 3:49 PB! – 17 Aug 2023
TW 3:55 – 9 Aug 2023
FS 4:02 – 24 Mar 2021 (3:00 PB?)
CRD 4:31 – 10 Aug 2023
MC 5:32 PB! – 19 Jun 2021 |
12x12
Grid, in order: |
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Best student = HK 2:27 – 30 Jul 2024
2nd student = RL 2:58 – 22 May 2020
3rd student = LP 3:27 – 4 May 2023
4th student = SL 4:38 – 5 Jun 2020
5th student = LM 4:56 – 31 May 2023
HK 2:42 – 20 Aug 2024 (2:26 PB)
RL 3:53 – 22 Mar 2023 (2:58 PB)
LM 5:05 – 18 Oct 2023 (4:56 PB) |
10x10
Integer Subtraction Grid: |
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Best attempt = AK 8:06, 99% – 6 May 2020 |
To be placed in the top student lists, grids must be 100% correct and unambiguous.
Weekly times do not need to be 100% correct.
Numeracy
As well as having good basic literacy skills, it's important for people to have good basic numeracy skills, including
arithmetic and multiplication. Being proficient with these has a flow-on
effect to other maths where it helps solve problems faster, leading
to less frustration and a better sense of achievement, and more self confidence with maths.
Being able to quickly recall one's times tables (in any order as required) means attempts to
tackle problems are not bogged down with working out the numbers
rather than working out how to solve it. It saves a huge amount
of time in exams.
Multiplication grids
A
great way to practice times tables is to fill in a multiplication
grid and time yourself (or get someone to time you). Try to improve
your time each day.
For older primary school students and intermediate school students I recommend the 10 x 10 sized grid with the 1x and 10x tables replaced with the 11x and 12x tables instead. An example is shown in the image to the right.
Each grid has the numbers along the top and down the side
in random order. This is to encourage the ability to recall the
times tables in any order – as required in everyday problems. The numbers are down both sides so either hand can be used to write without covering the numbers.
A good time is under 2 minutes 30 seconds, a time which should be achievable for any intermediate school aged student with a bit of practice. An excellent time is under two minutes.
A simpler 10 x 10 grid just has the 1x to 10x tables and may be more suitable for mid primary school students.
Using a random 12 x 12 sized grid isn't really any harder than the 10 x 10 sized 2x-12x grid, but because there are 44% more numbers to be written it takes longer. Good is under four minutes, excellent is under three minutes. There's probably not much point in doing this grid – if you want to build up stamina* just do two standard grids in a row (even if you're slow, it'll still help).
A 12 x 12 sized grid with the numbers in order. This one is useful for students wanting to practice the full times tables and to help the student recognise the patterns in each series.
* Many people are initially slower in the second half of a grid than in the first half – brain fade. It can be avoided by a good amount of practice to build up endurance.
Tips for improving times
Even doing just a couple of grids a day, it's not unusual to see your times plummet. Practice pays off!
The best times are achieved by filling in the grid systematically. The two competing methods are rows and columns. (They hold the first and second fastest times, respectively.) See which one you find most comfortable.
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Filling in a row at a time, left to right, is most similar to how we write, and so the least amount of time will be wasted moving the pen or pencil without doing any writing.
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Filling in a column at a time, top to bottom, uses less vertical eye movement and more lateral (sideways) eye movement, which we are more used to from reading.
The present leading student fills in the grid by columns. The next fastest couple of students use rows.
Another important technique is looking ahead at the next multiplication while still writing the previous one. Overlapping the tasks can save a huge amount of time.
Multiplication grids downloads
PDFs of the multiplication grids.
Most of the
PDFs have a total of 14 pages with two grids per page.
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Multiplication grids
10x10, 2x-12x (PDF, 40 KB). This is the recommended/standard grid. Random order. |
Updated
27 May 2021
(just new numbers) |
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Multiplication grids
10x10 (PDF, 40 KB). Simpler grid for younger students, random order.
Best time = 1:50 (JD, 13 Aug 2011 & 11 Feb 2012),
3rd best time = 2:02 (JD, 6 Aug 2011). |
Updated
27 May 2021
(just new numbers) |
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Multiplication grids
12x12 (PDF, 42 KB). Bigger grid, random order. Not actually much need for this. |
Updated
27 May 2021
(just new numbers) |
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Multiplication grids
12x12 in order (PDF, 20 KB). This is a bigger grid with the numbers in order. 2 pages only because they're all the same but it helps to have a pair for double sided printing. |
Updated
21 February 2020 |
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Decimals multiplication grids (PDF, 54 KB). A multiplication grid for decimals. The second grid on each page has the answers to make it easier to check – fold it behind before filling in the grid. |
Updated
27 May 2021
(just new numbers) |
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Multiplication evil grids (PDF, 58 KB). For experts only. A multiplication grid including negative numbers and decimals. The second grid on each page has the answers to make it easier to check – fold it behind before filling in the grid. |
Updated
27 May 2021
(just new numbers) |
OpenOffice spreadsheets with random numbers each time opened.
These grids were created in OpenOffice using a Calc spreadsheet that
automatically generates the random numbers for the grids. New random
numbers are generated every time the file is opened. The file works fine with Excel, although you may have to allow editing for the automatic random number generation to work.
WARNING: Most of these spreadsheet files are set up for 14 pages with two grids per page, but they have customised margins. Do check with a print-preview screen before printing that things look like they should for all the pages. Your printer's page margins may be different from mine.
Practise
If you're having trouble with just one particular number in your times tables you can practice just that times table with these files. Each times table (up to 12x) has its own page, so you can print out the ones you need the most practice with.
The spreadsheet numbers are randomised every time the file is opened or changed.
These files updated 11 September 2012.
Other grids – addition and subtraction
Times tables are not the only maths skill that can be practiced with
maths grids. Arithmetic can also be practiced using addition and subtraction
grids. The random numbers in these grids also include negative numbers (integers).
With the grids where one number is subtracted from another, the number along the top of the grid is the first number. Where two numbers are added together (even if one or both of the numbers is negative) it doesn't actually matter which number is first.
Think of the first number as the starting point on a number line. The operator and the sign of the second number tell you which direction to move on the number line. The absolute value (its value ignoring its sign) of the second number tells you how far to move on the number line.
For each of the addition and subtraction grids in the PDF the second grid on each page is the answers – fold behind when filling in the grid, but when getting started refer to it as often as you like.
14 grids are in the PDF. For more grids use the Open Office file. Every time the file is opened new random numbers are generated.
These files updated 9 December 2019.
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