Your Year 4 child still counts on their fingers for 7 x 8.
You've been doing flashcards every single night for weeks. Sometimes months. They get 6 x 7 right on Monday and then completely forget it by Wednesday. Nothing seems to stick, no matter what you try.
And now the Multiplication Tables Check is coming up in June 2026. Your child has 6 seconds per question. No fingers allowed. No working it out. Just instant recall.
You're starting to panic a bit. We get it.
Here's what's actually happening and what you can do about it.
First, let's talk about what this test actually involves, because understanding what your child is facing helps.
The MTC is a statutory test for all Year 4 pupils in England. Schools must give it between 1st June and 12th June 2026. So yes, it's coming up fairly soon.
Your child sits at a computer and answers 25 multiplication questions. They get 6 seconds per question with a 3-second pause between each one. The whole test takes less than 5 minutes, which sounds quick but feels like forever when you're the one sitting there.
Questions come from times tables 2 to 12. Here's the thing though: the harder tables (6, 7, 8, 9, and 12) appear more often. They're weighted that way deliberately. There are no division questions. No calculators. Just straight multiplication.
There's no official pass mark, which is good. Schools get the results to identify which children need extra support. Your child won't see their score flash up on the screen when they finish, but teachers will share results with you afterwards.
According to government statistics, 37% of Year 4 pupils got full marks in 2025. The national average was 21 out of 25. So if your child is struggling, they're definitely not alone in this.
Look, we know times tables can feel like pointless memorisation. Like, when will they ever need to know 7 x 8 in real life?
But here's the thing: quick recall isn't really about passing tests. It's about making all future maths so much easier.
Think about it this way. Children who know their times tables instantly have brain space available for problem solving. They're not using up all their mental energy working out 8 x 7 on their fingers. They can focus on the actual problem they're trying to solve.
Fractions, percentages, division, algebra. All of these build on times tables. Without fluent recall, every single topic becomes harder than it needs to be. Your child ends up struggling not because they can't understand the concept, but because they're stuck on the basic calculation part.
The National Centre for Excellence in Teaching Mathematics emphasises that instant recall frees up working memory for mathematical thinking. Basically, it clears the clutter so they can actually think mathematically.
Right, so if flashcards and endless practice haven't worked, there's usually a reason. Your child probably doesn't have the right foundation in place. Most times tables problems come from one of these issues.
They don't understand what multiplication actually means.
If your child thinks 3 x 4 is just random numbers they need to memorise rather than "3 groups of 4," they're essentially trying to learn 144 completely unrelated facts. That's nearly impossible for most children. Their brain has nothing to hang the information on.
They're trying to learn too many tables at once.
Throwing all the tables at them at the same time creates massive confusion. Their brain can't separate 6 x 7 from 7 x 6 from 8 x 6. Everything blurs together. They need to master one table completely before adding another into the mix.
They're skipping the easy tables.
Some parents jump straight to the 7s and 8s because those are the ones their child needs to know. But without solid 2s, 5s, and 10s, they miss all the patterns and connections that make learning the harder tables easier.
They have working memory difficulties.
Some children genuinely struggle to hold information in their head while processing it. Drilling more and more doesn't help if their brain literally can't store the information that way. They need a different approach entirely.
They're stressed and anxious.
Anxiety blocks memory. It's not that they're not trying. It's that stress shuts down the part of the brain that stores information. Timed pressure makes this worse, not better.
Here's something most parents don't know: you shouldn't learn times tables in order from 1 to 12. That's actually the worst way to do it.
Start with: 2, 5, 10
These three have really obvious patterns. Twos are just doubles. Fives always end in 0 or 5. Tens just add a zero to the number. Build confidence here first.
Then move to: 4, 3
Fours are literally double the twos (so 4 x 6 is just double of 2 x 6). Once they've got twos solid, fours come easily. Threes connect to adding groups, which they already understand.
Then tackle: 9, 6
Nines have brilliant tricks (like the finger method we'll explain later). Sixes are double the threes, so again, they're building on what they already know.
Finally, finish with: 7, 8, 12
These are genuinely the hardest. Save them for last when your child's confidence is high and they've already mastered most tables.
And here's the crucial part: learn one table completely before starting the next. "Completely" means they can answer any question from that table in under 3 seconds, in random order, and get it right consistently over several days.
This method builds understanding before memorisation. Yes, it takes a bit longer initially, but it creates permanent knowledge instead of temporary cramming.
Step 1: Make absolutely sure they understand what multiplication means
Get out real objects. Counters, toys, sweets, whatever works. Show them that 3 x 4 means "3 groups of 4." Make the groups physically. Count each group. Count the total. Repeat this with different numbers until the concept really clicks.
Step 2: Use arrays to help them visualise
Draw dot grids. For 3 x 4, draw 3 rows with 4 dots in each row. This helps them see what multiplication looks like visually. Arrays also show them that 3 x 4 equals 4 x 3 (just turn the grid sideways). This effectively cuts their learning in half.
Step 3: Connect multiplication to addition
Show how multiplication is just repeated addition done faster. So 3 x 4 is the same as 4 + 4 + 4. Let them add it up the long way. Then show how multiplication gets the same answer instantly. This builds the bridge between what they already know (addition) and what they're learning (multiplication).
Step 4: Focus on one single table at a time
Pick the 2 times table to start. Spend several days working on just that table using multiple methods:
Step 5: Point out patterns and tricks
Every table has patterns. Make sure you point them out:
Step 6: Test randomly, not just in sequence
This is really important. Once they can recite a table in order, test random questions. Knowing "6, 12, 18, 24..." is different from instantly answering "what's 4 x 6?" Make sure they can do both.
Step 7: Keep practice sessions short but daily
Honestly, 10 minutes every single day beats a painful one-hour session on Sunday. Daily practice builds long-term memory. Marathon sessions just create frustration and forgetting.
Bring in real-life multiplication
Cook together. "We need 4 eggs per cake and we're making 3 cakes. How many eggs total?" Shopping, gardening, setting the table. Maths in real context sticks so much better than abstract numbers on flashcards.
Use games instead of drilling
Play multiplication war with normal playing cards. Flip two cards, multiply them together, highest answer wins the round. Times Tables Rock Stars online. Any board games that use multiplication. Make it competitive and fun instead of tedious.
Say the full equation out loud
When practising, get them to say "7 times 8 equals 56" instead of just "56." Hearing the complete equation strengthens the connection in their brain.
Try the finger trick for 9s
This is brilliant. Hold up all 10 fingers. To work out 9 x 4, put down the 4th finger from the left. Now count: fingers left of the gap (3) are tens. Fingers right of the gap (6) are ones. Answer: 36. This works all the way up to 9 x 10.
Teach them the commutative property
Just show them that 3 x 4 gives the same answer as 4 x 3. You don't need to use the fancy term "commutative property" but the concept is gold. It literally halves what they need to memorise.
Drilling without understanding first
Starting with flashcards before your child grasps what multiplication actually means just creates anxiety and confusion. Understanding has to come first.
Learning too many tables at once
Master one completely before adding another. Mixing them up causes mistakes and makes everything blur together.
Only testing in sequence
Make sure they can answer random questions, not just recite "2, 4, 6, 8, 10..." in order. Random recall is what the MTC tests.
Making it stressful and pressure-filled
Keep practice relaxed. Mistakes are normal and they're learning opportunities, not failures. Shouting times tables questions at them in the car just creates pressure.
Comparing them to siblings or friends
Every child learns differently. Some pick up times tables in a few weeks. Others need several months. Comparison just creates shame and resistance.
Look, most children do learn times tables with consistent practice at home. But some genuinely need additional support, and that's completely fine.
Consider getting professional help if your child:
If your child is struggling with maths more generally, times tables difficulties might be part of a bigger picture. Gaps in understanding place value, number bonds, or basic addition will make times tables pretty much impossible.
Small group maths tuition can help children who need more time building understanding with concrete materials, systematic work through each table at their own pace without rushing, and confidence building in a properly supportive environment.
Our Year 3/4 maths tuition clubs use mastery methods with a maximum of 5 children per group. UK qualified teachers work through times tables systematically, using the methods that actually work, without the pressure of a whole classroom watching.
Times Tables Rock Stars - Gamified practice that children genuinely enjoy. It tracks progress and adapts difficulty.
Hit the Button - Completely free online game for quick recall practice.
Timestables.co.uk - Free MTC practice tests so your child gets familiar with the actual test format.
NumBots - Particularly good for younger children who are just learning multiplication concepts.
Just remember: don't rely solely on apps. They're useful practice tools, not teaching tools. Make sure understanding comes first, then use apps for practice.
Times tables don't stick because your child is working really hard memorising what seem like random facts instead of understanding what multiplication actually means.
You need to build the foundation first. Make sure they understand multiplication as groups of things. Use visual arrays. Connect it to what they already know. Then, and only then, start the systematic practice.
Learn tables in the right order (easy ones first). Master one completely before adding another. Keep practice short, daily, and as enjoyable as possible.
Yes, the Multiplication Tables Check matters. But it's not actually the goal. The goal is fluent recall that makes all future maths easier. And that comes from understanding, not from drilling.
If your child has been struggling for months despite your best efforts and daily practice, they probably need a different approach or some extra support. Don't wait until June to sort this out. Get help now while there's still time.
