This experimental investigation has been carried out to examine the effects of temperature and duration on Malaysian kaolin to form highly reactive metakaolin. Metakaolin has been produced through the calcination process at temperatures 600-800 °C (1112-1472 °F) for the duration from 1 to 5 h. X-ray diffraction and loss on ignition are the usual process to identify the optimum temperature and duration of calcination required. In this study, to confirm the reactivity of metakaolin, compressive strength, splitting tensile and flexural strength of concrete at the age of 7, 28, 56 and 90 days have been investigated using locally produced metakaolin as cement replacing material. It was found that locally produced metakaolin enhance the mechanical properties of concrete and compressive strength is about 5 higher than silica fume concrete at the age of 28 days. This study divulges that calcination at 800 °C (1472 °F) for 3 h is the most suitable condition to convert kaolin into highly reactive metakaolin. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.