Multiplication tables check
Information and guidance about the multiplication tables check.
Following the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report and the associated government response in November 2025, future assessment arrangements are under review in line with the relevant recommendations. Assessment arrangements for the academic year 2026 to 2027 will remain unchanged.
Overview of the multiplication tables check
The multiplication tables check (MTC) is statutory for all year 4 pupils registered at state-funded maintained schools, special schools or academies, including free schools, in England. Schools must provide a reason for any pupils who do not participate in the check.
The purpose of the MTC is to determine whether pupils can recall their times tables fluently up to 12, through a set of 25 timed questions. This skill is essential for future success in mathematics, and the check will help schools identify pupils who have not yet mastered this and provide additional support.
Schools must administer the MTC during a scheduled 2-week period in June and can access their pupils’ results later on in June. In November, the Department for Education also publishes a statistical release covering national MTC attainment.
You will find more information for administering the MTC in the collection of guidance on this page.
MTC service and pupil application
Schools can access the MTC service from late April to prepare for the check, using DfE Sign-in.
Schools must generate a school password and individual pupil PINs within the MTC service before pupils are able to sign in to access the check in June, using the pupil application.
Contact us
If you have a question about the MTC and you can’t find the answer in the guidance below, you can:
- visit our MTC help centre
- use our virtual assistant
- contact us directly
If you are still unable to get the information you need, you can contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013, selecting the option for MTC.
Assessment and reporting arrangements
Check administration
Information for parents
Privacy notice
Updates to this page
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Removed date references which described the previous academic year. Removed a link to the MTC framework, as this is intended for test developers who can access a separate collection of guidance which includes all national curriculum assessment frameworks, including for the MTC.
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Updated dates for the academic year 2025 to 2026.
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Added additional support methods if you need help with the MTC.
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Added link to DfE's published statistics on MTC attainment
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Updated dates for the academic year 2024 to 2025.
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Updated dates for the academic year 2023 to 2024.
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Dates updated for 2023
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Updating for the statutory academic year
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Updated for the 2021/22 academic year.
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Multiplication tables check administration guidance added to Guidance.
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First published.