What Is the Multiplication Tables Check — and How Do I Prepare My Child?

Every Year 4 child in England takes the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) in June. Here is what parents need to know.

What it is

The MTC is an online test of 25 multiplication questions. Each question appears on screen for 6 seconds. Questions are drawn from the 2 to 12 times tables. No division, no written methods — just rapid recall.

What it tests

The check tests whether children can recall times table facts quickly and automatically — not whether they can work them out by counting. A child who counts in 7s to reach 7 × 8 may get the answer eventually, but not within 6 seconds.

This is why consistent daily practice matters more than occasional long sessions.

How it's scored

25 questions, 1 mark each. There is no published pass mark — it is not a pass or fail test. Schools use it to identify which children need extra support before Year 5. A score of 20 or above is generally considered secure.

Which tables appear most

The ×6, ×7, ×8, ×9, ×11, and ×12 tables appear more frequently than ×2, ×5, and ×10. This is deliberate — they are the ones most children are less confident with.

How to practise at home

**Five minutes a day beats 30 minutes once a week.** Repeated short bursts build automaticity more effectively than infrequent long sessions.

**Practise randomly, not in order.** Many children can recite "7 × 1 = 7, 7 × 2 = 14..." perfectly but freeze at "7 × 8 = ?" in isolation. The check fires questions in random order.

**Identify specific weak facts.** Most children have 2–3 facts they genuinely don't know (often 6×7, 7×8, 8×9). Focus practice on those specifically.

**Use our free Times Tables Check Practice tool** at /tools/times-tables-check/ — it simulates the real test exactly and shows which tables are slowest.

What not to do

Don't create anxiety about it. For most children the MTC is a useful diagnostic, not a high-stakes exam. Present it as a quick game.