In our recent Sustaining Engagement webinar, we explored how schools can keep students motivated, confident, and practising regularly right up until the Multiplication Tables Check (MTC).
While the MTC itself is a short check, the preparation journey is much longer and sustaining engagement over time is key. Many of the principles we shared last year still stand, and continue to underpin effective MTC preparation.
The principles that still matter
From last year’s webinar, one message came through loud and clear: successful MTC preparation is about consistency, confidence, and clarity, not last-minute pressure.
These principles still apply:
- Regular, manageable practice is more effective than short bursts of intensive revision.- see the MTC schedule here
- students are more engaged when practice feels familiar and achievable, not high-stakes.
- Preparation should support long-term fluency, not just performance on one check.
Soundcheck was designed with these ideas in mind and now it’s even better at helping students build confidence and fluency for the MTC.
Helping students feel confident
For 2026, we’ve built on these foundations with some helpful improvements to Soundcheck, shaped directly by teacher feedback.
The best part? There’s nothing new to set up or manage. These updates simply enhance what already works.
Soundcheck has always focused on low-pressure, purposeful practice. For 2026, we’ve taken this a step further with the introduction of Soundcheck MTC Mode, helping students become familiar with the real MTC experience at the right time.
All the updates are summarised in this video…👇
New: Soundcheck MTC Mode
MTC Mode gives students a calm, realistic way to practise:
- A black-and-white screen and fixed keypad layout, matching the real MTC (with 1, 2 and 3 at the top).
- Correct answers are shown at the end, helping students stay focused without losing confidence part-way through.
- Access arrangements allow students to practise using the same format they’ll experience on the day.
- MTC Mode can be turned on or off for individual students, so you decide when each child is ready.
New: Live view of MTC readiness
Another new feature for 2026 is the MTC readiness view, giving teachers immediate insight into student progress:
- Identify students who need support early;
- See which students are already on track;
- Make informed teaching decisions without waiting for official MTC data
Paired with MTC Mode, this makes it easier than ever to target support and help students feel confident heading into the MTC.
A clearer picture across your class and year group
We’ve also refined how Soundcheck presents data, making it easier to spot trends and track progress:
- Date filtering lets you follow progress over weeks or terms.
- Improved headline statistics and averages give a clearer, more reliable overview.
Soundcheck doesn’t just show outcomes it helps explain them:
- Low fluency with low activity highlights students who may need more regular practice opportunities.
- High accuracy with very fast speeds can indicate students who need support slowing down and building consistency.
This helps teachers give timely, targeted support, rather than guessing.
What teachers told us
We love hearing how schools are using Soundcheck to support MTC preparation: