Does keyboard speed affect MTC results?

The MTC is a digital test — children type their answers on a device. That means the score reflects two things at once: how well a child recalls each fact, and how quickly they can find and press the right keys.

What the research says

The MTC assessment framework specifies a 6-second window per question covering the full cycle: reading the question, recalling the answer, and entering a response. The framework does not prescribe how that time is divided — recall and keyboard entry share the same window, and the check measures the two together.

We haven’t found published data isolating how much of the 6 seconds children typically spend on keyboard entry versus recall; the point here is an observation about how the check is built, not a measured result.

What this means in practice

If your child practises by voice or on paper, they’re training recall in isolation — which is useful for building it. On test day the task is different: recall plus keyboard entry, together. Practising in the format the test uses closes that gap.

Try this

• Ask your school which device will be used for the MTC and, if possible, practise on the same type.
• If keyboard speed is a concern, build in some keyboard-entry practice in the weeks before the test — not as the main practice method, but as test familiarisation.
• Voice practice is the most efficient way to build recall speed; keyboard practice is useful specifically for test preparation. They’re different tasks, and both have their place.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-01