Speed Drills: Number Bonds and Times Tables
Number bonds and times tables are the addition and subtraction pairs to 10, 20 and 100, and the multiplication and division facts up to 12 x 12, that a child should be able to recall instantly rather than work out. This speed drill trains rapid, accurate recall of those facts under a strict time limit, since dozens of small 11+ calculations depend on them as building blocks, freeing up time and working memory for harder multi-step questions.
Method
- Learn number bonds to 10 first, such as 4 + 6 and 7 + 3, then extend the same pairs to bonds to 20 and to 100 by adding a zero or scaling.
- Learn times tables in order of difficulty, securing 2, 5 and 10 first, then 3, 4 and 6, then the harder 7, 8, 9, 11 and 12 facts.
- Practise division facts as the 'opposite' of a times table fact you already know, for example use 7 x 9 = 63 to answer 63 / 9 instantly.
- Time yourself on short bursts, one to two minutes, of mixed bonds and tables questions, and track how many you get correct in the time, not just whether you finish.
- When a fact is not instant, do not skip it: say the matching times-table sentence in full, such as 'seven eights are fifty-six', several times until it becomes automatic.
- In the real test, use secure facts to derive nearby ones quickly, for example use 8 x 8 = 64 to work out 8 x 9 by adding another 8.
Worked example
Without a written method, work out 8 x 9, then use that answer to find 720 / 8.
- Recall the times-table fact: 8 x 9 = 72.
- Now use 72 as a stepping stone for 720 / 8: notice 720 is 72 with an extra zero, that is, 72 x 10.
- Since 72 / 8 = 9, the fact just recalled, 720 / 8 = 9 x 10 = 90.
- The final answer is 90.
Practice questions
Type your answer and press Check to be marked straight away, or reveal the answer and mark yourself.
Q1What is 6 + 7?Show answer
Answer: 13
Q2What number bond to 20 pairs with 14?Show answer
Answer: 6, since 14 + 6 = 20
Q3What is 9 x 6?Show answer
Answer: 54
Q4What is 88 / 11?Show answer
Answer: 8
Q5What is 12 x 12?Show answer
Answer: 144
Q6What number bond to 100 pairs with 65?Show answer
Answer: 35, since 65 + 35 = 100
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a 11+ exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
A speed drill question: 'What is 7 x 8, and what is 56 / 7?' Give both answers.
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A box holds 12 eggs. A shop has 9 full boxes and no loose eggs. How many eggs does the shop have in total? Then, if the eggs are repacked into boxes of 6, how many boxes of 6 are needed?
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Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the speed drills: number bonds and times tables worksheet pack - 17 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
This topic is chapter 3 of 11+ Maths Workbook 1, the whole course as one free printable PDF.
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