MathsMission

The Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check explained

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a short on-screen check that children in Year 4 in England take in the summer term. This page explains the format, which tables are tested, what happens with the results, and how to build the kind of fluent recall that lasts well beyond the check.

Quick reference

When
June of Year 4, in a three-week window chosen by the school.
Who
All state-funded schools in England.
Format
25 multiplication questions, 6 seconds each, multiplication only, 2× to 12×.
Result
A score out of 25. There is no published pass mark.

The official guidance for schools is published by the Department for Education at gov.uk.

Which times tables are tested?

The check draws from every multiplication fact from 2× to 12×. In practice, the harder tables — 6×, 7×, 8× and 9× — tend to appear more often, because those are the facts schools most want children to have secure.

By the end of Year 4 children are expected to know all tables to 12×. Our times tables by year group guide shows how that builds from Reception to Year 6.

What is a good score?

There is no official pass mark for the MTC. Children receive a score out of 25, but this is not published as a grade or level. Schools use the score to see which tables need more work, and the data is reported to the Department for Education.

The best preparation is not a last-minute push, but months of short, accurate practice so the facts feel automatic by the time June arrives.

How to prepare

Fluent recall is built over months, not weeks. A little practice most days is far more effective than a long session the weekend before the check.

  1. Find the gaps first. A short untimed round across all tables shows which facts are missing. Most children have a handful, not dozens.
  2. Fix one table at a time. Five minutes of focused, untimed practice on a single table is usually enough for it to stick.
  3. Then add the clock. Once answers are reliable, practise at check pace so the six-second limit feels normal.
  4. Keep it low-key. It is a five-minute check, not an exam. Children perform better when nobody has told them it matters enormously.

Try the free 60-second taster

Our free Multiplication Tables Check taster is a 60-second speed challenge using the same tables as the real check. It is a quick way to see how recall feels under time pressure. No sign-up, nothing saved.

Try the 60-second taster

The full 25-question Check Mission inside MathsMission

The free taster is a sample. A full MathsMission subscription includes a dedicated Check Mission that mirrors the real MTC: 25 multiplication questions, 6 seconds per question, no time banking, with a debrief that shows exactly which facts were missed.

  • Check-pace missions. 25 questions in about 2.5 minutes, matching the real MTC timing.
  • Year-group table pools. Younger children practise the same format with only the tables they have been taught.
  • Progress tracking. See best score, latest score and attempts over time.
  • Mission debrief. Missed facts are highlighted and can be retried straight away.
  • Personal improvement, not competition. Every child races their own best scores.
Start 7-day family trial30-day school trial

For teachers

MathsMission shows the same gaps for a whole class, so you can see exactly which tables your Year 4 pupils need more work on before the check. Class-level practice settings let you set check-pace missions as homework, and the teacher dashboard tracks progress over time.

Start a 30-day school trial to see how it works for your class.