At Education Matters
KS2 SATs papers explained
All Year 6 children are required to take externally-set assessments in English and maths. The standard papers cover levels 3-5, with level 4 being the expected national average at the end of primary school. Children sit the following tests:
Year 6 English SATs
Year 6 maths SATs
When are the 2014 KS2 SATs tests?KS2 SATs will be held in the week beginning 12 May 2014. The tests will follow this timetable:
Monday 12 May
Levels 3-5 English reading
Level 6 English reading
Tuesday 13 May
Levels 3-5 English grammar, punctuation and spelling
Level 6 English grammar, punctuation and spelling
Wednesday 14 May
Levels 3-5 mental mathematicsLevels 3-5 mathematics Paper 1
Thursday 15 May
Levels 3-5 mathematics Paper 2
Level 6 mathematics Paper 1
Level 6 mathematics Paper 2
Pupils who are ill on the day of a KS2 SATs test will be able to sit it within a week (until 2012 they were asked to sit the test within two days).
Science sampling: what’s it all about?
The biggest change for KS2 SATs for 2014 is that although there are no formal science SATs for all, ‘science sampling’ is being reintroduced. Under this system, 9,500 children – five children from 1,500 schools – will be randomly selected to take a science test. Schools that are selected will be notified by mid-May, and are legally obliged to participate if chosen.
The science sampling test will comprise three papers, each of no more than 25 minutes, to be taken within a two-week period from Monday 2 June 2014. Results will only be published at a national level; neither schools nor parents will be given their children’s individual results, and they won’t be used in league tables. Science sampling will take place every two years.
Other changes to SATs in 2014
Teacher assessment in the KS2 SATs
All Year 6 children are required to take externally-set assessments in English and maths. The standard papers cover levels 3-5, with level 4 being the expected national average at the end of primary school. Children sit the following tests:
Year 6 English SATs
- English grammar, punctuation and spelling – Paper 1 comprises 40 to 50 short-answer questions covering grammar, punctuation and vocabulary; Paper 2 is a spelling test with 20 questions.
- English reading – one paper based on reading comprehension of three to four texts, with a total of 35 to 40 questions.
Year 6 maths SATs
- Mathematics – Papers 1 and 2, each lasting 45 minutes, and Paper 3, a 20-minute mental maths test.
When are the 2014 KS2 SATs tests?KS2 SATs will be held in the week beginning 12 May 2014. The tests will follow this timetable:
Monday 12 May
Levels 3-5 English reading
Level 6 English reading
Tuesday 13 May
Levels 3-5 English grammar, punctuation and spelling
Level 6 English grammar, punctuation and spelling
Wednesday 14 May
Levels 3-5 mental mathematicsLevels 3-5 mathematics Paper 1
Thursday 15 May
Levels 3-5 mathematics Paper 2
Level 6 mathematics Paper 1
Level 6 mathematics Paper 2
Pupils who are ill on the day of a KS2 SATs test will be able to sit it within a week (until 2012 they were asked to sit the test within two days).
Science sampling: what’s it all about?
The biggest change for KS2 SATs for 2014 is that although there are no formal science SATs for all, ‘science sampling’ is being reintroduced. Under this system, 9,500 children – five children from 1,500 schools – will be randomly selected to take a science test. Schools that are selected will be notified by mid-May, and are legally obliged to participate if chosen.
The science sampling test will comprise three papers, each of no more than 25 minutes, to be taken within a two-week period from Monday 2 June 2014. Results will only be published at a national level; neither schools nor parents will be given their children’s individual results, and they won’t be used in league tables. Science sampling will take place every two years.
Other changes to SATs in 2014
- A new format and timing (one hour) for the level 3-5 English reading test
- A ban on calculators in the level 3-5 maths tests
- The percentage of children achieving level 6 will be shown in school league tables for the first time
- Teachers will be able to request extra time for children with special educational needs based on their own observations, rather than having to provide evidence from a specialist professional
Teacher assessment in the KS2 SATs
- Other subjects, including English speaking and listening, are assessed by teachers rather than by children taking a formal written test. This assessment data is then submitted to the DfE, and is subject to moderation.
- Replacing the writing test given previously, your child’s teacher will assess their writing composition, so your child’s result for English writing will be a judgement of their work across year 6. Your child's grammar, punctuation and spelling skills will be assessed as part of their writing, but their creativity and writing style will also be evaluated.
- Children’s progress, as well as their achievement, will be measured and reported on in school performance tables.
- Teacher assessments will be passed on to secondary schools so they can be used in planning for year 7 teaching.
- The following subjects will continue to be teacher assessed: speaking and listening.
- Maths and reading tests will continue to be marked externally.
