Changes to KS2 SATs in 2018 – What parents need to know
KS2 SATs were overhauled to be in line with the new national curriculum in May 2016. If your child will be sitting Y6 SATs in 2018, read on for the most up-to-date information for parents.
In the summer term of 2016, children in Year 2 and Year 6 were the first to take the new SATs papers. The new-style SATs for English and maths reflect the new national curriculum, and are more rigorous than previous years’ tests. There is also a completely new SATs marking scheme and grading system which has replaced national curriculum levels.
At the end of Year 6, children sit tests in:
These tests are both set and marked externally.
This information is to advise parents of how the SATs tests will be administered.
The timetable shows a list of tests and the dates they will be administered.
|
2018 test timetable Date |
Test |
|
Monday 14 May |
English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: questions English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: spelling |
|
Tuesday 15 May |
English Reading |
|
Wednesday 16 May |
Mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic Mathematics Paper 2: reasoning
|
|
Thursday 17 May |
Mathematics Paper 3: reasoning |
The tests will be administered in the order of the timetable and on the date shown.
Most children will sit the tests in the classrooms normally used each day for their learning. The children will be split into smaller groups in line with normal classroom practice. This is done so that the children are comfortable and familiar with their surroundings and so that they can be spaced out appropriately.
Each room will have enough staff to ensure the correct administration of the test and the staff involved will have been given training on test format and style, their role and what they may or may not read to a pupil in a particular test including any subject specific issues that might occur. During the Reading test, no part of the test may be read to a student.
Reading Test
The reading test is a single paper with questions based on three passages of text. Your child will have one hour, including reading time, to complete the test.
There will be a selection of question types, including:
The grammar, punctuation and spelling test consists of two parts: a grammar and punctuation paper requiring short answers, lasting 45 minutes, and an aural spelling test of 20 words, lasting around 15 minutes.
The grammar and punctuation test will include two sub-types of questions:
Maths
Children sit three papers in maths:
Paper 1: arithmetic, 30 minutes
Papers 2 and 3: reasoning, 40 minutes per paper
Paper 1 will consist of fixed response questions, where children have to give the correct answer to calculations, including long multiplication and division. Papers 2 and 3 will involve a number of question types, including:
Not all children in Year 6 will take science SATs. However, a number of schools will be required to take part in science sampling: a test administered to a selected sample of children thought to be representative of the population as a whole. We will provide more information if our school is chosen.
How will the results be reported?
You will be given your child’s raw score (the actual number of marks they get), alongside their scaled score and whether they have reached the expected standard set by the Department for Education (‘NS’ means that the expected standard was not achieved and ‘AS’ means the expected standard was achieved).
The range of scaled scores available for each KS2 test is:
80 (the lowest scaled score that can be awarded)
120 (the highest scaled score)
The expected standard for each test is a scaled score of 100 or more. If a child is awarded a scaled score of 99 or less they won’t have achieved the expected standard in the test.
As a school we support our children through the SATs. We want them to do the best that they can and we support them to do this in every way.
Are there any sample papers?
Yes - The Government produced sample papers with mark schemes in June 2015. You can have a look at them by clicking here.