Year 4 Times Tables Check

Information

The Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) explained

A formal test of multiplication skills takes place in the summer term of Year 4.

The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) was officially announced by the Department for Education (DfE) in September 2017. It has been compulsory for children in Year 4 since the summer term of 2022.

Times tables test / multiplication tables check: the basics

Primary-school children are expected to know all their times tables up to 12x12. Under the current National Curriculum, children are supposed to know their times tables by the end of Year 4, but until now they were not formally tested on them other than through multiplication questions in the Year 6 maths SATs.

Which children will sit the multiplication check?

The times tables test is in English schools only. It is taken by children in Year 4, in the summer term (during a three-week period in June; schools will decide which day to administer the check).

Children with special educational needs will be provided for when taking the MTC.

How will the children be tested?

Children will be tested using an on-screen check (on a computer or a tablet), where they will have to answer multiplication questions against the clock.

This was the first test that was computerised in primary schools. Calculators and wall displays that could provide children with answers will be removed from the room the MTC is taking place in.

The test will last no longer than 5 minutes and is similar to other tests already used by primary schools. Their answers will be marked instantly.

Children will have 6 seconds to answer each question in a series of 25. Each question will be worth one mark and be presented to the child in this format:

n1 x n2 = ____

Questions will be selected from the 121 number facts that make up the multiplication tables from 2 to 12, with a particular focus on the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 times tables as they are considered to be the most challenging. Each question will only appear once in any 25-question series, and children won't be asked to answer reversals of a question as part of the check (so if they've already answered 3 x 4 they won't be asked about 4 x 3).

Once the child has inputted their answer on the computer / device they are using, there will be a three-second pause before the next question appears. Children will be given the opportunity to practise answering questions in this format before the official check begins.

The six-second time limit per question has been decided on by the DfE because it should allow children enough time to demonstrate their recall of times tables without giving them the time to work out the answers to each question.

Information taken from:

https://www.theschoolrun.com/year-4-multiplication-tables-check-mtc-explained

How will the multiplication tables check results be reported?

Pupils' individual results will be made available to schools. It's unlikely that children will be told their individual score, but schools will be required to report the results to parents or carers.

School-level results won't be made publicly available or be used in league / performance tables - https://www.theschoolrun.com/year-4-multiplication-tables-check-mtc-explained