Times Tables Check Year 4: What Parents Need to Know

My daughter did the times tables check last year. She came home and said it was "easy but really fast". She got full marks. I still do not know my 7 times table.

The multiplication tables check (MTC) is a short online test for Year 4 children. It checks whether they can recall times tables quickly. It's not high-stakes. It's just a check.

What Is the Multiplication Tables Check?

The MTC is a timed online test. Children answer 25 times tables questions (e.g., 7 × 8, 4 × 9) on a computer or tablet.

They get 6 seconds to answer each question. The answer appears in a box. They type the answer and press enter. The next question appears immediately.

It's administered one-to-one or in small groups, with an adult supervising. The whole thing takes about 5 minutes.

When Does It Happen?

The MTC happens in June, during a three-week window set by the Standards and Testing Agency. In 2027, the window will run from Monday 2nd June to Friday 20th June.

Schools choose exactly when within that window. Your child might do it in week one or week three. You will not be told the exact date in advance.

You'll get a letter in May or early June explaining what the check is.

What Times Tables Are Tested?

All times tables from 2 to 12. Each table appears at least once, but some appear more than once.

Questions are randomly generated, so every child gets a different set of 25 questions.

The 1 times table is not tested (too easy). The 13 times table and above are not tested (not in the national curriculum).

How Is It Marked?

Each correct answer gets 1 mark. The maximum score is 25.

There is no pass mark. The government does not publish a threshold. It's just a snapshot of whether children can recall times tables quickly.

Results are reported to parents at the end of the summer term, usually in the end-of-year report. You'll see your child's score out of 25.

Why 6 Seconds?

Because the aim is to test instant recall, not problem-solving. If children know their times tables fluently, 6 seconds is plenty. If they're still counting on their fingers, it's not enough.

The government's rationale (from the DfE guidance) is that fluent recall frees up working memory for more complex maths later.

How to Help Your Child Practise

The best way to learn times tables is repetition. Little and often.

What works:

• Times Tables Rock Stars. Most schools use this. It's a game-based app that drills times tables in a timed format. Children love it because it's competitive.
• Hit the Button. Free online game (Topmarks). Quick-fire times tables practice.
• Flashcards. Old-fashioned but effective. Show the question (7 × 8), child says the answer, flip the card to check.
• Verbal practice. Just ask them times tables questions randomly. In the car. At breakfast. Walking to school.
• Songs and videos. Numberblocks (BBC) has times tables episodes. Some children learn better with music.

Start with 2, 5, and 10 (easiest). Then 3, 4, and 8. Then 6, 7, 9, 11, and 12 (hardest).

How Much Practice Is Enough?

10 minutes a day from Year 3 onwards is usually enough. By the time they reach Year 4, most children know most of their times tables.

If your child is still struggling in Year 4, focus on the ones they find hardest (usually 6, 7, 8, and 9). Do not try to cram all of them the week before the check.

Do You Need to Worry About the MTC?

No. It's not a high-stakes test. It does not affect secondary school admissions. It does not determine your child's maths set (though knowing times tables does help with maths generally).

If your child gets a low score, it just means they need more practice. The school will usually provide extra support.

What If Your Child Has SEND?

Children with an EHCP or specific learning difficulties can apply for access arrangements (extra time, a scribe, a reader). Speak to the SENCo if you think your child needs adjustments.

Keeping Track of School Information

The MTC letter comes home in May, usually buried in a pile of other letters about sports day, trips, and the summer fair.

I built My School Agent to solve exactly this problem. It scans school emails, extracts event and deadline information, and sends me a daily briefing so I know what's happening without manually checking my inbox every day.