Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check
The purpose of the check is to determine whether your child can fuently recall their times tables up to 12, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will also help your child’s school to identify if your child may need additional support. The check is an on-screen check consisting of 25 times table questions. Your child will be able to answer 3 practice questions before taking the actual check. They will then have 6 seconds to answer each question. On average, the check should take no longer than 5 minutes to complete.
Multiplication tables check: information for parents - GOV.UK
Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC)
All primary school-aged children are expected to know their times tables up to 12 x 12 by heart and are expected to have mastered their times tables by the end of Year 4.
Until now, there has been no formal measure to judge whether children in England had learnt their times tables or not. From the 2019/20 academic year onwards, all state-funded maintained schools and academies (including free schools) in England will be required to administer an online multiplication tables check (MTC) to year 4 pupils.
The Multiplication Tables Check is to be taken towards the end of Year 4 to make sure children are meeting the benchmark of memorising their times tables up to 12 x 12 before moving up to Upper Key Stage 2.
The national curriculum specifies that pupils should be taught to recall the multiplication tables up to and including 12 × 12 by the end of year 4. The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently, which is essential for future success in mathematics. It will help schools to identify pupils who have not yet mastered their times tables, so that additional support can be provided.
Schools will have a 3-week window to administer the MTC. Teachers will have the flexibility to administer the check to individual pupils, small groups or a whole class at the same time.
The check window takes place in June.
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Information for Parents Multiplication Tables Check | [docx 353KB] |
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What is the format of the test?
The Multiplication Tables Check is described as “an online, on-screen digital assessment" – meaning the children will take the test on a desktop computer, laptop or ipad at school. The programme that the test runs on will automatically mark each child’s times tables test.
The times tables test will be timed, with the entire assessment lasting approximately 5 minutes in total. The children will be set a few practice questions to begin with, followed by the test itself which will comprise of 25 questions. All questions will be formatted, for example, as 2 x 5 = with the child required to input the correct answer.
Children will be given six seconds to answer each of the questions, with a three second gap between each question.
The questions will be randomly selected by the testing programme from 121 different options, ranging from 2 x 2 = up to 12 x 12. The test’s software has been programmed to show children more questions from the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 times tables, as these are trickier times tables focused on more in Years 3 and 4. (The 2s, 5s and 10s are more of a focus in Years 1 and 2.)
How will the times table test scores be reported?
Each child’s result will be passed on to their school, and the Deptment for Education will create a report on overall results across all schools in England to measure whether national times tables results improve over the coming years.
A school’s results will not be published in any public way, nor will they be used in informing any type of league or performance table.
What if my child performs badly in the multiplication check?
No child will fail the times tables test as no pass mark has been set. It is also important to note that children will only be tested on their times tables knowledge, with no problem solving skills being assessed and no division questions being asked.
Children in Year 4 will only be asked times tables questions, like 3 x 3 = 9
How can you help your child to practise their times tables?
We would recommend using a number of strategies to support your child in the run-up to and after the times tables test including:
- Times tables chanting: “6, 12, 18, 24…”;
- Times tables chanting in reverse order: “108, 99, 90, 81…”;
- Using times tables songs
- Using Times Table Rock Stars
- Using free online games
- Asking your child multiplication calculations out of order, like: “What is 4 x 7? What is 9 x 5? What is 6 x 11?”;
- Using pasta pieces or pebbles to show groups of numbers representing times tables, e.g. four groups of three pasta shells to show 3 x 4 = 12
Multiplication Times Table Game
Practise your times tables regularly. Use this online game. Click on the picture link to play the game.
You can change the difficulty by adjusting the time limit per question. After the test you can print the results.
Can you beat your previous score? How fast can you do it? Set yourself a challenge.