KS2 SATs: what parents need to know
TutorAura guide · Updated
KS2 SATs are the national curriculum tests children in England take in May of Year 6, at the end of key stage 2. They cover English grammar, punctuation and spelling, English reading and maths. Results are reported as scaled scores from 80 to 120, where 100 or more means your child has met the expected standard (Standards and Testing Agency).
They're mainly used to measure schools, not to select pupils, so there's no pass or fail for your child's future.
Key takeaways
- Taken in May of Year 6.
- Three subjects: grammar, punctuation and spelling; reading; maths.
- Scaled scores run from 80 to 120; 100 is the expected standard.
- Writing is assessed by teachers, not a test.
The papers
| Subject | Paper | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar, punctuation and spelling | Paper 1: questions | 50 |
| Paper 2: spelling | 20 | |
| Reading | Reading paper | 50 |
| Maths | Paper 1: arithmetic | 40 |
| Paper 2: reasoning | 35 | |
| Paper 3: reasoning | 35 |
Marks from the Standards and Testing Agency's guidance on scaled scores. The arithmetic paper tests written methods such as long multiplication, long division and fractions; the reasoning papers test problem solving.
How scaled scores work
Your child's raw mark (for example, 80 out of 110 in maths) is converted to a scaled score. Because each year's test is slightly different in difficulty, the number of marks needed for 100 changes from year to year. The scale runs from 80 (the lowest score awarded) to 120. A score of 100 or more means the expected standard was met; 99 or less means it wasn't.
Other primary checks
- Phonics screening check in Year 1.
- Multiplication tables check in Year 4: an on-screen check of times tables up to 12 × 12 (STA guidance). Practise with our times tables quiz, which has a 6-second mode.
- Writing at the end of Year 6 is teacher assessed.
- Some schools are selected for science sampling tests.
How to help at home
- Read together and talk about the book: "Why do you think she did that?" Inference questions are a big part of the reading paper. See how to help your child with reading.
- Keep arithmetic fluent: times tables, number bonds and written methods. See how to help your child with maths at home.
- Practise spellings little and often. See how to help your child with spelling.
- Keep it calm. The tests are mostly about schools; your child shouldn't feel their future depends on them.
Results
Schools receive results in July, and you'll get your child's scores in their end-of-year report. Secondary schools receive the results too and may use them to help with setting, alongside their own assessments.
What the maths papers cover
The arithmetic paper is a list of calculations with no context: written addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, fractions, decimals and percentages. Practice here pays off quickly, because the question types are predictable.
The reasoning papers use the same skills in problems: measures, time, money, shape, statistics, ratio and early algebra, often in several steps. Encourage your child to draw a diagram, show their working and check that the answer makes sense. Fluent times tables help with both.
Frequently asked questions
Can I see past KS2 SATs papers?
Yes. The Standards and Testing Agency publishes past test materials, with mark schemes and scaled score conversion tables, on GOV.UK.
What is a good KS2 SATs score?
A scaled score of 100 or more means your child met the expected standard. Scores run from 80 to 120, so anything above 100 is above the expected standard.
Can my child fail their SATs?
Not in the sense of failing a year. A score below 100 means they haven't yet met the expected standard in that subject, which helps secondary schools plan support.
Do secondary schools use KS2 SATs results?
They receive them, and many use them with their own tests to plan support and sets. They aren't used for grammar school entry, which uses the 11+.
Sources
- Understanding scaled scores at key stage 2. Standards and Testing Agency.
- Multiplication tables check: administration guidance. Standards and Testing Agency.
- National curriculum in England: mathematics programmes of study. Department for Education.
- National curriculum in England: English programmes of study. Department for Education.
Keep reading
Times tables quiz: practise 2 to 12 times tables online
Twenty questions from the tables you choose, a 6-second timed mode, and extra practice on mistakes.
How to help your child with reading at home
Read together, support phonics, talk about stories and build vocabulary, while keeping it enjoyable.
How to help your child with math at home
What to say when they're stuck, how to learn the school's methods, everyday maths by age, and handling maths anxiety.
An AI tutor for elementary school: patient help for grades 1 to 5
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