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The 3 times table, and two ways to learn it

The 3s are usually the first row children learn after the 2s, 5s and 10s. They have no tidy last-digit pattern, so they feel harder at first, but each fact is just one group more than a 2s fact your child already knows.

Here's the full row:

The 3 times table

• 3 × 1 = 3
• 3 × 2 = 6
• 3 × 3 = 9
• 3 × 4 = 12
• 3 × 5 = 15
• 3 × 6 = 18
• 3 × 7 = 21
• 3 × 8 = 24
• 3 × 9 = 27
• 3 × 10 = 30
• 3 × 11 = 33
• 3 × 12 = 36

Two ways to work out the 3s

• Skip count. 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 21. Counting up seven 3s gives 3 × 7 = 21. This is fine to start with, but slow later on.
• Double, plus one more. Three groups is two groups plus one more: 3 × 7 = 2 × 7 + 7 = 21, and 3 × 8 = 16 + 8 = 24.
• Check with the digits. In every 3s answer the digits add to 3, 6 or 9. For 3 × 8 = 24, 2 plus 4 makes 6.

8 questions on the 3 times table

Tips for parents

• Practice the facts out of order once your child can skip count the row.
• The tricky ones are usually 3 × 6, 3 × 7 and 3 × 8.
• Pair each fact with its turnaround: three 7s is the same as seven 3s.