The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC): What Every Parent Needs to Know
- Year 4, June — statutory for all state-funded schools in England since 2022
- 25 questions, each with a 6-second time limit, taken online in school
- Questions from 2×2 to 12×12, weighted towards the harder tables (6, 7, 8, 9, 12)
- Tests recall speed — facts must be automatic, not counted or derived
- No pass/fail — results reported as a score out of 25
- Does not affect school reports, league tables, or secondary school places
- Preparation should start in Year 3 for best results
What Is the MTC?
The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a statutory online assessment taken by all Year 4 children in state-funded schools in England. It was introduced as a mandatory check in 2022 (following a pilot in 2019 and a pause during COVID).
The check is administered by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), the same body that runs KS1 and KS2 SATs. Its purpose is to determine whether Year 4 pupils can fluently recall their multiplication tables up to 12×12 — a requirement of the national curriculum.
The MTC takes place during a two-week check window in June. Schools choose when within this window to administer it. The check itself takes only a few minutes — it is not a long exam.
How the Check Works (Step by Step)
- Setup: Children sit at a computer or tablet in school. The check is accessed through a secure online platform provided by the STA
- Practice questions: Before the real check begins, children are given 3 practice questions to familiarise themselves with the interface. These do not count towards the score
- 25 questions: Each question appears on screen in the format “7 × 8 = ”. The child types their answer and presses Enter (or waits for the timer to expire)
- 6-second timer: Each question has a 6-second time limit, displayed as a countdown on screen. If the child does not answer within 6 seconds, it is marked as unanswered and the next question appears automatically
- No going back: Once a question is answered (or times out), the child cannot return to it. Each question appears once
- 3-second gap: There is a 3-second pause between questions, giving children a moment to reset
- Total time: The entire check takes approximately 5 minutes (including the practice questions and pauses between questions)
Question Weighting: Which Tables Are Tested Most?
Not all tables are tested equally. The STA's published framework specifies that questions are drawn from across the 2–12 times tables, but with a deliberate weighting towards the harder tables:
This means a child who knows their 2s, 5s, and 10s but struggles with 7s and 8s will face those harder facts more often in the check — not less. Preparation should focus on the harder tables, not just the ones a child already knows.
Questions are also balanced so that each factor (2–12) appears a similar number of times across the check. No table is entirely excluded.
Source: MTC assessment framework, Standards and Testing Agency
What the Results Mean
Children receive a score out of 25. There is no official pass mark — the MTC is a diagnostic tool, not a pass/fail test.
However, for context:
- In 2023, the national average score was approximately 20 out of 25
- Around 27% of pupils scored the maximum 25/25
- The government has indicated that a score of 25 out of 25 = all facts fluently recalled — but there is no “expected standard” threshold like KS2 SATs
Results are shared with parents, usually through the school report. They are not published in league tables and do not appear on any formal records used by secondary schools.
The primary purpose is to help schools identify children who need additional times tables support before they move into Upper KS2 (Years 5 and 6), where multiplication fluency underpins topics like fractions, long division, ratio, and algebra.
How to Prepare Your Child
The MTC tests recall speed, not calculation. A child who can work out 7 × 8 by counting in 7s may get the right answer — but with a 6-second limit, they need the answer to be automatic. This requires consistent practice over months, not last-minute cramming.
Effective strategies
- 5 minutes daily: Short, frequent practice is far more effective than longer sessions. Five minutes every day builds the neural pathways that make recall instant
- Random order: Always practise in random order. Reciting “1×7, 2×7, 3×7...” builds sequence memory, not fact recall. The MTC presents questions randomly — practice should mirror this
- Focus on weak facts: Don't drill the 2s and 10s if those are already secure. Identify the specific facts that are still slow or uncertain and focus there
- Include division: Practising the inverse (56 ÷ 7 = 8) reinforces the multiplication fact and prepares for division-heavy KS2 topics
- Build speed gradually: Start with accuracy (getting the right answer), then build speed. Don't introduce timed pressure before the facts are known
- Use the STA's try-it-out site: The DfE provides an official try-it-out version so children can experience the exact format before the real check. Do this at least once before June
Learning strategies for the facts themselves
- Doubling: ×4 = double ×2; ×8 = double ×4; ×6 = double ×3
- 9× tricks: Digits always sum to 9; tens digit is one less than the multiplier
- ×12 shortcut: 12 × n = (10 × n) + (2 × n)
- Commutativity: If you know 8 × 7 = 56, you automatically know 7 × 8 = 56. Half the grid is a mirror image
For a full breakdown of learning strategies, read our dedicated guide: The Best Strategies for Learning Times Tables.
When to Start Preparing
The national curriculum introduces times tables progressively:
- Year 2: ×2, ×5, ×10
- Year 3: ×3, ×4, ×8 (plus recall of Year 2 tables)
- Year 4: All tables to 12×12 should be fluent by the end of the year
Ideally, start structured daily practice in Year 3 — building the easier tables first and adding harder ones progressively. By the start of Year 4, most children should have reasonable recall of most tables, with the hardest facts (6s, 7s, 8s, 12s) needing continued reinforcement through the year.
If you're starting later (spring of Year 4), focus immediately on the harder tables (6, 7, 8, 9, 12) — these carry the most weight in the check and are the ones most likely to be unknown.
The Hardest Facts in the MTC
Data from the MTC and decades of educational research consistently highlight the same cluster of facts as the most frequently missed:
The strategy is clear: identify which of these facts your child still hesitates on, then drill those specific facts daily until they become instant. Don't waste time practising facts that are already secure.
Access Arrangements (SEND)
Children with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) may be eligible for access arrangements during the MTC. These can include:
- Additional time: Some children may be allowed more than 6 seconds per question
- Rest breaks: The check can be paused to allow breaks
- Alternative input methods: For children who cannot use a keyboard
- Reader or translator: Questions can be read aloud for children with specific reading difficulties
Schools must apply for access arrangements through the STA. If your child has an EHCP, is on the SEND register, or you think they may need adjustments, speak to the SENCo (Special Educational Needs Coordinator) well before June.
The MTC tests one specific skill — rapid times tables recall. It does not measure mathematical ability, problem-solving, reasoning, or creativity. A child who scores 15/25 on the MTC may still be an excellent mathematical thinker. However, building fluent recall of multiplication facts genuinely does help with almost every other area of maths — fractions, long multiplication, division, area, ratio, and algebra all rely on it. The investment made in Years 3 and 4 pays dividends all the way through secondary school.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MTC compulsory?
Yes, for all Year 4 children in state-funded schools in England. Academies and free schools are also required to administer it. Independent schools are not required to, though some choose to. Schools have a two-week window in June to administer the check.
What happens if my child scores poorly?
Nothing formal. There is no pass or fail, no consequences for the child, and the results are not published. The school will use a low score as a signal to provide additional times tables support in Year 5. That's it. The MTC is designed as a diagnostic tool to help schools, not a judgement on children.
Can my child practise the exact format?
Yes. The DfE provides a free “try it out” version that mirrors the exact interface, timing, and question format. Schools usually give children access to this before the real check. If your school hasn't, you can access it via the MTC parent information page on GOV.UK.
Does the MTC affect SATs in Year 6?
Not directly. The MTC score is not used in KS2 SATs. However, children who have fluent times tables by the end of Year 4 find the maths curriculum in Years 5 and 6 significantly easier — which indirectly supports better SATs performance.
My child knows the facts but panics under the timer. What should I do?
This is common. The 6-second timer can feel pressurising. Gradually introduce timed practice at home — start with a generous timer (10 seconds), then reduce to 8, then 6. Using the official try-it-out version also helps, as children become familiar with the countdown animation. If anxiety is significant, speak to the school about the possibility of access arrangements.
What is the national average score?
In 2023, the national average was approximately 20 out of 25, with around 27% of pupils achieving the maximum score of 25/25. National statistics are published on the DfE Explore Education Statistics site.