Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) 2026 & 2027
Official guide to the statutory Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) in England for 2026 and 2027. Covers the 2-week June administration window, 25-question digital format, the strict 6-second timer per question, times table weightings (6, 7, 8, 9, 12), and fluency score benchmarks.
Key Takeaways for UK Families
- 2026 Testing Window: Monday 1 June to Friday 12 June 2026 (two-week administration window for Year 4 pupils).
- 2027 Testing Window: Monday 7 June to Friday 18 June 2027.
- Digital Format: 25 questions delivered on an on-screen digital device (iPad, tablet, or desktop PC) taking approximately 5 minutes in total.
- Strict 6-Second Timer: Pupils are allocated exactly 6 seconds to input and submit their answer per question, with a 3-second pause before the next question.
- Heavy Weighting on Complex Tables: Questions are not evenly distributed; the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 times tables are guaranteed to appear with higher frequency (minimum 2 questions each).
- No Published Fail Mark: The DfE does not publish an official pass threshold, but 25/25 is recognized as full mathematical fluency; national mean score is approximately 20/25.
1. Statutory Testing Dates for 2026 and 2027
The Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) is a statutory digital assessment administered to all Year 4 pupils in England across maintained schools, academies, and special schools. The assessment takes place within an official two-week testing window established annually by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA). For the 2025/26 academic year, the check takes place from Monday 1 June to Friday 12 June 2026. For 2026/27, the window runs from Monday 7 June to Friday 18 June 2027. Schools possess full operational autonomy to timetable pupil check sessions across this 10-day period, allowing teachers to test pupils individually or in small clusters.
If a child is unwell or absent during the scheduled testing sessions, schools have until the final Friday of the administration window to ensure the pupil completes the check.
2. Digital Test Format & The Strict 6-Second Timer
The assessment is taken using an online portal accessed via a tablet, touchscreen computer, or desktop with a physical keyboard. The check comprises 25 randomly generated multiplication questions spanning tables from 2×2 up to 12×12. For each question, pupils have exactly 6 seconds to read the question, calculate the product, type their answer, and hit enter or press the green checkmark. Between each question, there is an automatic 3-second resting pause before the next question appears on screen. The entire assessment concludes in under five minutes.
The 6-second threshold is designed strictly to measure automaticity and instant recall. Pupils who attempt to finger-count or construct manual addition grids frequently run out of time before entering both digits.
3. Question Weighting: Which Times Tables Appear Most?
While any multiplication calculation between 2×2 and 12×12 can appear, the STA algorithms do not select questions with equal probability. Simpler tables (such as 2×, 5×, and 10×) are capped at a maximum of 1 or 2 appearances. In contrast, the most cognitively demanding tables—specifically the 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 times tables—are heavily weighted. Under official STA specifications, at least 15 of the 25 questions are drawn from these harder multiplication families, with calculations like 7×8, 6×9, 8×12, and 9×7 appearing almost universally.
4. Scoring Benchmarks: Is There an Official Pass Mark?
Unlike the Year 1 Phonics Screening Check (which requires an exact 32/40 threshold) or KS2 SATs (which convert raw marks into a scaled score benchmarked at 100), the Department for Education does not define an official statutory pass mark for the Multiplication Tables Check. However, primary schools benchmark full fluency as achieving 25 out of 25. National data indicates that the average score across English primary schools is approximately 20 out of 25, with roughly 30% of Year 4 pupils attaining full marks (25/25). Headteachers receive full school and pupil diagnostic breakdowns in late June, and individual pupil scores must be reported to parents alongside end-of-year summer reports in July.
5. Access Arrangements, SEN Adjustments & Practice Modes
Schools can enable specific access arrangements for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) via the DfE Primary Assessment Gateway. Standard adjustments include an extended pause between questions, high-contrast visual display schemes, larger font sizes, and input assistance for pupils with physical motor difficulties. Furthermore, every school has access to the official DfE "Try It Out" practice area during May, enabling pupils to familiarize themselves with the digital interface, number pad layout, and pacing before the live assessment window begins.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check in 2026 and 2027?
In 2026, the Year 4 MTC administration window runs from Monday 1 June to Friday 12 June 2026. In 2027, the two-week testing period runs from Monday 7 June to Friday 18 June 2027.
What is a good score on the Year 4 times table check?
While the DfE does not publish an official pass or fail threshold, a score of 25 out of 25 represents expected age-related mastery of multiplication tables. The national average score across England is approximately 20 out of 25.
Can pupils use scrap paper or pencils during the test?
No. Pupils are not permitted to use paper, pencils, calculators, or any physical multiplication grids during the check. The test evaluates instant mental recall directly into the digital keypad.
What happens if a child does not score 25 out of 25 on the MTC?
There is no statutory requirement to retake the MTC in Year 5. However, primary schools use the diagnostic breakdown to identify specific table weaknesses and provide targeted maths interventions ahead of Key Stage 2 SATs in Year 6.
Can parents withdraw their child from the multiplication check?
The Multiplication Tables Check is a statutory national assessment under the National Curriculum for all maintained schools and academies. Headteachers can only withdraw a pupil if they are working significantly below the national curriculum standard or cannot access the test even with adjustments.