10 real-format sample questions
These are typical of what appears on the MTC — the 'harder' tables are deliberately over-represented, just as they are on the real check.
- 7 × 8 = ?
- 6 × 9 = ?
- 12 × 4 = ?
- 11 × 7 = ?
- 8 × 8 = ?
- 9 × 6 = ?
- 4 × 12 = ?
- 7 × 6 = ?
- 12 × 12 = ?
- 9 × 9 = ?
The 15 questions most kids miss
Analysis of thousands of MTC mock papers puts the same handful of facts at the top of the 'missed most' list every year:
- 7 × 8 = 56 — the most-missed fact on the entire check.
- 6 × 8 = 48
- 7 × 9 = 63
- 8 × 9 = 72
- 6 × 7 = 42
- 8 × 12 = 96
- 7 × 12 = 84
- 11 × 12 = 132
If your child is drilling for the MTC, front-load practice on these facts. Ten minutes a day for a fortnight is usually enough to move any of these from 'guess' to 'automatic'.
The format you won't see
- No word problems. "If Sarah has 6 boxes of 8 pencils…" doesn't appear.
- No division. 56 ÷ 7 isn't asked.
- No addition. The whole check is multiplication.
- No 1× table. Excluded as trivial.
- No multiple choice. Every answer is typed.
Practise these in 6-second mode
MathStar's Soundcheck runs these exact question types with the real MTC timer. You can even set it to bias practice toward the 'most missed' facts above. Free on the App Store.