Every June, children at the end of Year 4 in England take the Multiplication Tables Check — the MTC. It's a short online test of times tables recall, and because it's timed, it can sound scarier to parents than it feels to most children, who generally treat it as a quick computer game. Here's exactly how it works and how to prepare without pressure.
| Questions | 25, drawn from the 2× to 12× tables |
|---|---|
| Time per question | 6 seconds to answer |
| Between questions | A 3-second pause |
| Total time | Under 5 minutes |
| When | A two-week window in June (1–12 June in 2026) |
| How | On a school computer or tablet, typing the answers |
The MTC is scored out of 25. There is no pass mark — the government does not set a threshold, and results are not used to label your child. Schools use the scores to see which children need more support with recall before the demands of Year 5 and 6 maths, where instant times-table knowledge makes fractions, division and long multiplication far easier.
The time limit isn't there to create pressure — it's there to check recall rather than working-out. A child who knows 7 × 8 = 56 answers in two seconds; a child who counts up in sevens can't get there in six. Recall is the goal because it frees up thinking space for harder maths later. That's also why practice should focus on speed of retrieval, not just accuracy.
Schools run a practice area with the children beforehand, so the format won't be a surprise. Treat check day like any other: sleep, breakfast, and no fuss. Most children finish in under five minutes and are mildly disappointed it's over so quickly.