If your child is in Year 4 in England, they'll sit the Multiplication Tables Check sometime in June. It's a national test, it's statutory, and it catches many parents off guard. Here's a straightforward guide to what the MTC is, how it works, and what you can do at home to help — without turning times tables into a source of stress.
The MTC is a short online test administered to all Year 4 pupils in state-funded schools in England. It was introduced by the Department for Education to ensure that children have fluent recall of their times tables up to 12 x 12 by the end of Year 4.
The word "check" is deliberate — the government frames it as a check on learning, not a high-stakes exam. Results are shared with parents but are not published in league tables. There's no pass or fail mark. That said, most parents still want their child to do well, and schools certainly track the results.
The format is simple:
The questions cover all tables from 2 to 12, but the test is weighted towards the harder facts. Roughly two-thirds of questions come from the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 times tables. The easier tables (2, 5, 10) appear less frequently because most children already know them.
The MTC takes place during a three-week window in June. Your child's school will choose the specific date within that window. Schools have some flexibility, but every eligible Year 4 pupil must sit it within the designated period.
The score is simply the number of correct answers out of 25. There's no scaled score, no standardised score, and no national "pass mark." Your child's school will share the result with you, typically alongside their end-of-year report. In the 2024/25 cycle, the national average was around 20 out of 25, with about 30% of pupils achieving full marks.
Year after year, the same facts trip children up:
If your child knows these five facts cold, they've tackled the hardest part of the test.
The good news is that times tables respond extremely well to regular, short practice. Here's what works:
Five minutes a day is far more effective than a 30-minute session once a week. Multiplication recall is built through spaced repetition — revisiting facts at increasing intervals until they're automatic. Think of it like learning to ride a bike: repetition builds muscle memory.
There's no point drilling 2 x 5 if your child already knows it. Identify the specific facts they struggle with (usually in the 6, 7, 8, and 12 times tables) and focus practice there. An app that adapts to your child's weaknesses is more efficient than working through every table sequentially.
The 6-second-per-question limit is the part that catches children out. Many know the answer but can't retrieve it fast enough. Introduce timed practice gradually — start with 10 seconds per question and work down to 6.
Not everything needs to be on a screen. Flash cards, times tables songs, chanting in the car, and verbal quizzing at dinner all work. The goal is automatic recall — your child should know 7 x 8 = 56 without thinking, the same way they know their own name.
The MTC is low-stakes by design. There's no consequence for a low score — no sets, no streaming, no impact on secondary school admissions. If your child senses that you're stressed about it, they'll absorb that stress. Frame it as a quick quiz, not a test. Celebrate improvement, not perfection.
Schools can apply access arrangements for children with specific needs. This might include additional time, a different input method, or a modified setting. Speak to your child's class teacher or SENCO if you think adjustments might be needed.
The MTC is a five-minute test of times tables recall. It's not something to lose sleep over, but it is worth preparing for — because fluent multiplication is a foundation that every area of maths builds on. Five minutes of daily practice, focused on the tricky facts, starting from Easter onwards, is all most children need. Keep it light, keep it short, and let the repetition do the work.