What the Key Stage 2 SATs actually test

In short: Year 6 SATs in May cover Maths (an arithmetic paper and two reasoning papers), Reading, and Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling. Results are scaled scores from 80 to 120, where 100 means your child is working at the expected standard.

Maths: three papers

• Paper 1, Arithmetic: 30 minutes of written calculations, like long division and fractions.
• Papers 2 and 3, Reasoning: 40 minutes each, with problem solving and questions in context.

Calculators aren't allowed in any paper, so quick, accurate mental and written methods matter.

English: two tests

• Reading: one hour to read texts and answer questions about them.
• Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling: a 45 minute grammar and punctuation paper, and a spelling test of 20 words.

Writing isn't a test. It's assessed by your child's teacher across the year.

Keep it calm. Children do their best when it feels normal.Mrs Bukky

What the scores mean

Each test gives a scaled score between 80 and 120. A score of 100 or more means your child is working at the expected standard for the end of Key Stage 2. Secondary schools use the results to help plan support in Year 7.

How to help at home

• Times tables and the arithmetic methods are quick wins.
• Read together and talk about what you've read: "Why do you think she did that?"
• Practise spelling by listening and writing, the way the test works.
• Keep it calm. Children do their best when it feels normal.