The Multiplication Tables Check: What Every Parent Needs to Know

Since 2022, all Year 4 children in England have sat the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) — an online assessment designed to test whether pupils can recall times tables quickly and accurately. If your child is in Year 4 (or heading into Year 4), here is everything you need to know.

What Is the MTC?

The Multiplication Tables Check is a short, online assessment taken in school in June of Year 4. It is administered by the school using government-approved software and takes only a few minutes to complete.

The check consists of 25 questions, each displayed on screen one at a time. Children type their answer and press Enter. There is a 6-second time limit per question.

Questions are drawn from the 2 to 12 times tables, with a focus on the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 times tables — those that children tend to find most difficult.

What Does the MTC Test?

The MTC specifically tests recall speed, not problem-solving. A child who can work out 7 × 8 in their head by counting up in 7s may get the right answer — but with a 6-second limit, they need to recall it instantly.

This is why consistent, short practice over several months matters much more than cramming in the weeks before the check. The goal is to move times tables from calculated to automatic.

Does It Count Towards Anything?

The MTC is not used to set or rank children and does not affect school reports or secondary school places. It is a diagnostic tool — the results help schools identify children who may need extra support with times tables before they move into Upper KS2.

Parents receive their child's score (out of 25) but it is not published in league tables. There is no pass or fail mark.

How to Prepare Your Child

The most effective preparation is regular, short practice starting as early as possible in Year 3 or early Year 4:

• Start with the easier tables: 2, 5, and 10 first, then 3 and 4, then 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12
• Use the doubling strategy: The 4 times table is double the 2s; the 8 times table is double the 4s
• Practise in random order: Many children learn tables in sequence but freeze on questions presented out of order — mix it up
• Time the practice: Build speed gradually. If your child can answer correctly but slowly, keep practising — the speed will come
• Celebrate progress: Focus on improvement rather than perfect scores

The Trickiest Tables

Research and teacher experience consistently point to the same culprits:

• 7 × 8 = 56 — the most commonly missed fact. A memory hook: 5, 6, 7, 8 → 56 = 7 × 8
• 6 × 7 = 42 and 6 × 8 = 48 — these trip up many children
• 9 × table — useful trick: the digits always add up to 9 (e.g. 9 × 7 = 63, 6 + 3 = 9)
• 12 × table — can be broken down as (10 × n) + (2 × n)