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What is the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC)?
A plain-English, accurate guide to England's Year 4 check — what it tests, how the timing works, and how to help your child prepare calmly.
The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a statutory, on-screen check taken by children in Year 4 in England (ages 8–9), each June. It has 25 questions drawn from the 2 to 12 times tables, with 6 seconds to answer each one. It is a check of recall fluency, not a pass-or-fail exam — there is no published pass mark, and the results help schools support teaching.
Key takeaways
- Who: children in Year 4 in England (ages 8–9).
- When: a check window in June, taken in school on-screen.
- Format: 25 questions, 6 seconds each, ~5 minutes total.
- Content: the 2–12 tables, weighted toward 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12.
- No pass mark: it measures fluency, not pass/fail.
What the check actually involves
The MTC is administered on a computer or tablet. A child sees a single multiplication question on screen — for example 7 × 8 = ▢ — and types the answer. There are 25 questions in total. Each question allows 6 seconds to answer, followed by a 3-second pause before the next appears, so the full check takes roughly five minutes. There is a short practice section beforehand so children get used to the on-screen format.
The questions are drawn from the 2 to 12 times tables. To keep the check meaningful, it places more emphasis on the tables children tend to find hardest — the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 — and avoids over-using the easiest facts.
How it's scored
Each child receives a score out of 25. Crucially, the government does not set a pass mark: the MTC is a low-stakes check of how fluently a child can recall their tables, not an exam they pass or fail. Schools use the data to identify pupils who would benefit from more support. For families, the most useful takeaway is simply whether recall is fast and confident, or still effortful.
How to prepare without pressure
Because the check is timed, the skill it rewards is fast, automatic recall — not the ability to work an answer out. The best preparation is the same good practice you'd do anyway:
- Build accuracy first with single-table practice, especially the heavier-weighted 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 tables.
- Then add speed with the 60-second speed test, which mirrors the time pressure of the check.
- Mix it up with mixed practice so facts come out of order, just as they do in the MTC.
- Keep it light. Five calm minutes a day in the weeks before the check beats any last-minute cramming, and protects your child from anxiety.
A printable diploma can turn preparation into something to look forward to rather than dread.
Frequently asked questions
How many questions are in the Multiplication Tables Check?
The MTC has 25 questions. Each question gives the child 6 seconds to answer, with a 3-second gap before the next one, and the whole check is designed to take about 5 minutes. Practise against a clock with the speed test.
What tables are tested in the MTC, and is there a pass mark?
It tests multiplication facts from the 2 to 12 times tables, with more weight on the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 tables. There is no published pass mark — it is a check of fluency, not a pass-or-fail exam, and schools use the results to support teaching. Drill the heavier-weighted tables on the 7 and 8 times table pages.
When do children take the Multiplication Tables Check?
Children in England take it in Year 4 (ages 8–9), during a check window in June. It is taken on a computer or tablet, on-screen, in school. See our age-and-grade guide for how this fits the wider timeline.
Sources & basis: the format described here reflects the Standards & Testing Agency's published guidance for the statutory Multiplication Tables Check in England — 25 questions covering the 2–12 times tables, 6 seconds per question with a 3-second gap, taken on-screen in Year 4 during a June check window, with no set pass mark. TablesTrophy is an independent practice site and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Department for Education or the Standards & Testing Agency. Always check current official guidance for the exact year.
Last reviewed 2026-06-28