Pupils in Year 4 have continued to improve in the multiplication tables check (MTC), according to government data published today.

The Department for Education statistics show that average attainment in 2024-25 has risen for the fourth year in a row.

The national average attainment score was 21.0, a rise of 0.4 percentage points from 2023-24. The average score was 19.8 in 2021-22.

The test examines whether pupils can fluently recall their times tables up to 12 times 12.

More pupils also achieved full marks compared with a year ago. Last year, 34 per cent achieved full marks in the MTC, rising to 37 per cent of children this year.

Boys outperformed girls in multiplication tables check

London was the highest-performing region, with an average score of 21.7. Meanwhile, the South East and East of England were the lowest performing regions, at 20.7.

For the fourth year in a row, boys outperformed girls with an average score of 21.2 compared with 20.7 for girls, but both increased by 0.3 percentage points from last year.

A larger proportion of girls (97 per cent) completed the MTC than boys (95 per cent).

The attainment gap between disadvantaged pupils and their peers remained at 2.4 percentage points, but the average attainment score of disadvantaged pupils who took the MTC increased by 0.4 points, from 18.9 to 19.3.

The test became a statutory requirement in schools in 2022, and the results have continued to improve year-on-year.

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