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KS2 SATs

KS2 SATs (Key Stage 2 Standard Assessment Tests) are national tests taken by pupils in the final year of primary school (Year 6) in England. They assess what pupils have learned during primary school and help secondary schools understand their level as they move up.

What KS2 SATs cover

The tests focus on English and Maths:

English

  1. Reading Comprehension
    • Questions on stories, poems or non-fiction texts
    • Making inferences, finding the main idea and answering questions about the text
  2. Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar (SPaG)
    • Sentence structure, punctuation and grammar rules
    • A spelling test

Maths

  1. Arithmetic
    • Addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
    • Fractions, decimals and percentages
  2. Reasoning
    • Problem solving
    • Logical thinking and spotting patterns

Test dates and format

  • KS2 SATs take place in May.
  • The English and Maths tests are taken on paper.
  • Science is assessed by teachers; some schools also take part in sample science tests.

Scoring and results

  • KS2 SATs scores range from 80 to 120.
  • Pupils who score 100 or more are working at the "Expected Standard".
  • Results come out in July and give secondary school teachers information about each pupil's level.

Looking at questions from previous years is a great way to help children prepare for SATs.

The Department for Education's official website offers past Key Stage 2 SATs papers and mark schemes for free.

You can find the past papers here:

Key Stage 2 SATs past papers (gov.uk)

Why do SATs matter?

Together with the tests pupils take in secondary school, SATs results play an important part in setting target grades for GCSEs. These targets can affect the level of the subjects a pupil takes and their future academic direction. SATs results are also used as a reference when placing pupils into sets at secondary school.

For more on the set system, see this post.


Tips for preparing for KS2 SATs

Practise regularly - IXL and similar learning platforms are a great resource for preparing for KS2 SATs. IXL has a dedicated SATs test prep section.

Build reading skills – reading many different kinds of texts strengthens comprehension.

Work on time management – the tests are timed, so practise answering quickly and accurately.

Stay in touch with teachers – extra support can be arranged for topics your child finds difficult.