Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC): everything you need to know

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a Year 4 statutory assessment introduced in 2020. It tests speed of recall on times tables up to 12×12, with 25 questions in 6 seconds each. The goal is fluency, not just knowledge.

Format

Children sit the check on a school computer in June of Year 4. Each question shows a multiplication question (e.g. 7 × 8 =) and the child types the answer within 6 seconds. There's a 3-second pause between questions.

Practising fluency

Speed comes from short, frequent practice — not long weekly sessions. The 'little and often' rule applies more here than anywhere in primary maths.

• 5 minutes daily beats 30 minutes once a week
• Mix tables (don't just do the 7s for a whole week)
• Verbal practice during everyday moments (in the car, brushing teeth)
• Apps that emulate the 6-second timer (Hit the Button, TT Rockstars)
• Focus on the 6s, 7s, 8s and 12s — these are the typical weak spots

If your child is struggling

Some children need a different angle — visual arrays, songs, finger-tricks for the 9s. A primary tutor can work out which approach clicks and build fluency more quickly than at-home drilling. Look out for our primary tutoring service if it's becoming a friction point at home.