Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check: A Parent's Guide

If your child is in Year 4 in England, they'll take the Multiplication Tables Check in June. It's short (around five minutes), but because it's timed, some children (and parents) worry about it. Knowing exactly what happens takes most of the worry away. Here's what the check involves and how to help your child prepare without stress.

What is the Multiplication Tables Check?

The MTC is a national check, introduced in England in 2022, to find out whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently by the end of Year 4, which is what the national curriculum expects. All state-funded primary schools must run it. It is taken on a computer or tablet at school.

What happens in the check?

• 25 questions, such as 7 × 8 = ?
• 6 seconds to type each answer, then a 3-second pause before the next.
• Questions come from the 2 to 12 times tables. The harder tables (6, 7, 8, 9 and 12) appear more often.
• Only multiplication, no division questions.
• A few practice questions first, so children know what to expect.

When is the check in 2026?

Schools can run the check at any time between 1 and 12 June 2026. Pupils who are absent can take it in the following week, 15 to 19 June. Your child's school will choose the exact day.

Is there a pass mark, and what happens with the results?

There's no pass mark and nobody "fails". Each child gets a score out of 25, which is shared with the school, and schools often pass it on to parents. It's used to spot children who need more support with times tables before Year 5, when multiplication gets bigger.

What if my child has special educational needs?

The check has access arrangements, such as adjusted colours and fonts, audio versions of the questions or an input assistant, depending on need. Talk to your child's teacher or SENCo well before June. Some children may be judged not ready to take it at all.

How can I help my child prepare?

1. Start early. A few minutes a day from the autumn of Year 4 is far better than cramming in May. Our 4-week preparation plan works for the MTC too.
2. Find the weak facts. Smart practice tracks every fact and brings back the ones your child gets wrong.
3. Practise out of order. The check mixes tables, so reciting in order isn't enough.
4. Add gentle timing later. Turn on Timer Mode in My Player for 6 seconds a question, or use times table practice, but only once facts are accurate.
5. Practise typing numbers. The check is on screen, so answering on a keypad matters too.
6. Keep it low-key. Children who panic slow down. See maths anxiety in children.

Which facts should we focus on?

The most commonly missed facts in Year 4 are in the 6, 7, 8 and 12 tables: 6 × 8, 7 × 8, 8 × 7, 12 × 7 and so on. Our guides to the 7, 8 and 12 times tables have tricks for each. A printable times tables test is also handy for a paper practice run.