What Is a Good Score in the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check?

Published 2025-07-10

If your child is in Year 4, you've probably heard about the Multiplication Tables Check — and you're wondering what counts as a good score. Here's the honest answer, and what it does (and doesn't) mean for your child.

What Score Is Considered Good in the MTC?

The Multiplication Tables Check is scored out of 25. There is no official pass mark — the government has deliberately not set one. However, in practice: a score of 25/25 is full marks, and roughly a quarter of children achieve it. A score of 20 or above is generally considered strong, showing solid fluency across most tables. Anything around the national average of 20–21 means your child is performing right where expected.

If your child scores below 15, it's a useful signal that some tables need more practice — not a cause for panic, just a clear next step.

Is There a Pass or Fail?

No. This is the single most important thing to understand: the MTC is not a pass-or-fail test. Your child cannot "fail" it. There are no consequences for a low score — children don't get held back, and it doesn't appear on any permanent record that follows them. It's a diagnostic tool for schools, not a judgement on your child.

Why the Score Matters Less Than You Think

The score is a snapshot of times tables recall on one particular day. A nervous child who knows their tables can score lower than the number suggests. A confident guesser can score higher. What actually matters is genuine fluency — knowing that 7 × 8 = 56 instantly, without counting — because that fluency is the foundation for all the maths that comes later in KS2 and secondary school.

So rather than fixating on hitting 25, focus on building real, lasting recall. The score takes care of itself when the fluency is there.

How to Help Your Child Improve Their Score

Short, daily practice beats long weekly sessions every time. Five minutes a day of mixed, random questions across the harder tables — 6, 7, 8, 9 and 12 — builds the recall the check is testing. Practising in test-style format (25 questions, timed) also removes the anxiety of the real thing.

You can try our free MTC practice tool — it mirrors the exact format, 25 questions with DfE-weighted difficulty, no login needed. For deeper practice, the full game turns daily times tables into something your child actually wants to do.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good score in the Year 4 multiplication check?

There is no official pass mark, but a score of 20 or above is considered strong and around 25 is full marks. The national average is roughly 20 to 21 out of 25.

Can my child fail the multiplication tables check?

No. The MTC is not a pass-or-fail test. There are no consequences for a low score, and it does not appear on any record that follows your child.

How many children get full marks in the MTC?

Roughly a quarter of children score full marks (25 out of 25), though this varies year to year and between schools.

How can I help my child prepare for the MTC?

Short daily practice of five to ten minutes, focusing on the harder tables (6, 7, 8, 9 and 12), in a timed test-style format works best. Free tools that mirror the real format are ideal.