Updated 29 October 2026

The Year 4 multiplication tables check

How England's times tables check works, what the score means, and whether it applies to children at British schools in the UAE.

25 questions, 6 seconds each, on a computer or tablet, taken in June of Year 4 in England. The score is out of 25.

There is no pass mark. In 2025 the average was 21.0 and 37% of pupils got full marks. Only state-funded schools in England take part, so schools in the UAE do not run the official check.

What the check is for

The national curriculum expects children to know their multiplication tables up to and including 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4. The multiplication tables check (MTC) tests whether they can recall those facts quickly, so schools can spot who needs more help before Years 5 and 6, when times tables underpin long multiplication, fractions and much more. See maths, Year 1 to Year 6.

How it works

On screen. Children answer on a computer or tablet using a keyboard, touchscreen or mouse.
25 questions, each written as a multiplication such as 7 × 8 =. Each is worth 1 mark, and they are not in order of difficulty.
6 seconds per question, starting when the question appears, then a 3-second pause.
Different children get different sets of questions, chosen at random from equivalent versions.
Tables 2 to 12, with most questions from the harder 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 tables. The 1 times table is not in the scored questions.
No division questions. Every question is a multiplication.

Results and what the score means

Schools get a score out of 25 for each child at the end of June, and teachers share it with parents. There is no pass mark and no 'expected standard'. Results for the whole country are published each November.

England, 2025	Figure
Average score	21.0 out of 25
Pupils scoring full marks (25)	37%
Eligible Year 4 pupils who took the check	96%

The 2026 national results are due to be published in November 2026.

When it happens

In a two-week window in June, chosen by each school. In 2026 it ran from 1 to 12 June; in 2027 it runs for two weeks from Monday 7 June. It comes after the Year 6 SATs in May, around the same time as the Year 1 phonics screening check.

The MTC and schools in the UAE

The check is statutory for Year 4 pupils at state-funded schools in England: maintained schools, academies, free schools and special schools. The Standards and Testing Agency says independent schools cannot take part, so British schools in the UAE cannot run the official MTC. What does carry over is the target: the national curriculum your school follows still expects every times table to 12 × 12 to be known by the end of Year 4.

The UK government said in November 2025 that the timed format matters to the check's purpose, and it will work with the Standards and Testing Agency to reduce any unintended effects. Arrangements for the 2026 to 2027 school year are unchanged.

Questions parents ask

What is the pass mark for the multiplication tables check?

There is no pass mark. The Standards and Testing Agency says there is no expected standard threshold for the MTC. Each child gets a score out of 25, and teachers use it to decide whether the child needs more help with times tables.

How long do children get for each question?

6 seconds. The timer starts as soon as the question appears. After an answer there is a 3-second pause before the next question. The whole check of 25 questions takes only a few minutes.

Which times tables are in the check?

The 2 to 12 times tables. The 1 times table is not included in the scored questions. There is extra weight on the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 times tables, which the Standards and Testing Agency judged the hardest, and only 3 to 7 questions come from the 2, 5 and 10 times tables.

What is a good MTC score?

In 2025 the average score in England was 21.0 out of 25, and 37% of pupils scored full marks. A score in the low 20s is typical; 25 shows fluent recall of every table tested.

When is the multiplication tables check in 2027?

Schools in England must give the check during the two weeks starting Monday 7 June 2027.

Do schools in the UAE do the multiplication tables check?

Not the official one. The MTC is statutory for Year 4 pupils at state-funded schools in England, and the Standards and Testing Agency says independent schools cannot take part, even in England. Schools in the UAE can still check times tables their own way, and the expectation behind the check (all tables to 12 × 12 by the end of Year 4) is part of the national curriculum they follow.

Can children practise for the MTC?

Schools in England can give pupils a 'try it out' version with 3 practice questions followed by 25 questions, as many times as they like, before the real check. Outside England there is no official practice version, but the content is simply quick recall of the 2 to 12 times tables, with most questions from the 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 tables.

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