Your Complete Guide to KS1 and KS2 SATs 2023

Key Stage 1 and 2 SATs will go ahead in 2023. Key Stage 2 (KS2) SATs will take place in the week of 9th May 2023. Key Stage 1 (KS1) SATs will take place during the month of May although the precise dates may vary from school to school. However, this is the last year of KS1 SATs which will be replaced with the Reception Baseline Assessment from 2024.

This guide contains everything you need to know about both KS1 and KS2 SATs.

What are SATs?

SATs stands for Standard Assessment Tests. They are tests designed to measure a child’s educational achievement in Years 2 and 6. This in turn is designed to measure the school’s performance and achievement.

SATs are managed and administered by the Government’s Standards and Testing Agency. This is an Executive Agency of the Department for Education.

You can find out more about the Standards and Testing Agency at: Standards and Testing Agency - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

KS1 SATS

At KS1, children are tested in maths, reading, and English grammar, punctuation and spelling. However, English grammar, punctuation and spelling is optional, and schools can choose whether to test these areas. KS1 SATs are administered under informal exam conditions and are assessed by the school’s teachers.

The KS1 SATs consist of:

Who takes KS1 SATs?

Most pupils taking KS1 tests will be in Year 2 and will reach the age of seven by the end of the academic year. If a headteacher decides a pupil should not take one or more of the tests, they must report this decision to the pupil’s parents.

KS1 tests are intended to assess pupils’ abilities in a fair and comparable way. Most pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) can participate using the standard versions of the tests.

However, a small number of pupils may need additional arrangements including pupils:

with an education, health and care (EHC) plan
for whom provision is being made in school using the SEN Support system
whose learning difficulty or disability significantly affects their ability to access the tests
who have behavioural, emotional or social difficulties
with English as an additional language (EAL) and who have limited fluency in English.

Test conditions

Pupils sitting SATs should be given the opportunity to attempt each test paper. KS1 tests are not strictly timed. Teachers can use their discretion to decide if pupils need a rest break during any of the tests or whether, if appropriate, to stop a test early.

SATS RESULTS

As the papers at KS1 are marked internally by teachers in accordance with the mark scheme provided by the Standards and Testing Agency, it is up to schools to decide when and if they share the results.

Children are given what is called a scaled score. This means the number of marks they get is converted into a score. A score of 100 means the child is working at the expected standard. A score below 100 indicates that the child needs more support, and a score of above 100 suggests the child is working at a higher level than expected for their age.

The maximum score possible is 115, and the minimum is 85.

KS2 SATS

Children in Year 6 (those aged 10-11) will take tests in Maths, Reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling under formal exam conditions. Each exam is timed.

These papers are marked externally but with separate teacher assessments in writing and science. KS2 SATs are as follows:

SATs timetable

To take account of the King’s coronation in May this year, the KS2 SATs timetable will be as follows:

Who takes KS2 SATs?

The tests are designed for pupils who have completed the KS2 programmes of study and are working at the overall standard of the tests. Most pupils taking the KS2 tests will be in Year 6 and will reach the age of 11 by the end of the academic year.

Headteachers make the final decision about whether it is appropriate for a pupil to take the tests. In so deciding the headteacher should:

discuss the pupil’s circumstances and needs with their parents and teachers
consult, if appropriate, with their Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO), educational psychologist, medical professional or other specialist staff to consider access arrangements that might be appropriate to enable pupils to demonstrate their full abilities.

If a headteacher decides a pupil should not take one or more of the tests, they should report this decision to the pupil’s parents.

SATs results

KS2 tests are externally marked. However, in addition, there is a teacher assessed element at KS2 to establish a ‘writing’ score. The papers are sent back to be marked centrally with marks standardised around a score of 100.

Parents’ reports

The school must report to parents by the end of the summer term.

The report to parents should include:

a brief commentary, outlining an account of what the teacher assessments and national curriculum tests results show about the pupil's progress individually, and in relation to other pupils in the same year, which draws attention to any particular strengths and weaknesses of the pupil
the results of any National Curriculum tests taken, including the pupil’s scaled score and whether they met the expected standard (or a statement explaining why any National Curriculum test has not been taken)
comparative information about the attainment in the core subjects of pupils of the same age nationally.

Special Consideration for SATS

The following circumstances may make your child eligible for Special Consideration:

bereavement of a family member or close friend within 12 months of the tests
the pupil, or a close family member, has a diagnosed terminal illness at the time of the tests
the pupil or a close family member has suffered a severe or permanent injury or illness, or has undergone major surgery, in the 6 months prior to the tests
a serious domestic incident occurred within 2 weeks of the start of the tests
a longer term major incident that occurred in the 6 months before the tests is still having an impact on the pupil at the time of the test.

If you think you may be eligible for Special Consideration you must contact your school well in advance of the 9th May.

If any pupils cannot take the tests on the days specified in the statutory timetable, the school may apply for a timetable variation. An approved timetable variation allows an individual pupil or group of pupils to take the test up to 5 school days after the scheduled test day. If a pupil is absent and does not return within 5 school days of the scheduled test date, they should be recorded as ‘A’ (absent) on the test attendance register. Pupils who do not take all test papers for a subject will receive a score for the papers they have completed.

What do KS1 SATS papers look like?

KS1 Maths SATs:

The maths test comprises two components, presented to pupils as two test papers. The arithmetic element takes approximately 20 minutes. The reasoning element takes approximately 35 minutes. The paper includes a practice question and five aural questions. After the aural questions, the time allowed for the remainder of the paper is approximately 30 minutes.

KS1 Reading SATs:

There are two English reading papers. Both papers contain a selection of texts that are designed to increase in difficulty. They include a mixture of text types. Paper 1 consists of a combined reading prompt and answer booklet. The test takes approximately 30 minutes. Paper 2 consists of an answer booklet and a separate reading booklet. It contains more challenging texts than Paper 1 and takes approximately 40 minutes.

KS1 SPaG SATs:

Schools can choose whether to administer the optional English grammar, punctuation and spelling test. There are two papers. Paper 1 tests spelling and consists of a test transcript to be read by the test administrator and an answer booklet for pupils to write 20 spellings. The paper takes approximately 15 minutes. Paper 2 is a combined question and answer booklet focusing on pupils’ knowledge of grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. The paper takes approximately 20 minutes.

What do KS2 SATS papers look like?

The KS2 Reading SATs:

The English reading test focuses on comprehension and includes a mixture of text types. The test is designed so that the texts are presented in increasing level of difficulty. The test consists of a reading booklet and a separate answer booklet. Pupils will have one hour to read the three texts in the reading booklet and complete the questions, which are worth 50 marks in total.

The KS2 SPaG SATs:

Paper 1 of the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test is a combined question and answer booklet. Pupils will have 45 minutes to answer the questions, which are worth 50 marks in total. Paper 2 which tests spelling consists of a test transcript to be read by the test administrator and an answer booklet in which pupils write 20 spellings. The paper takes approximately 15 minutes but is not strictly timed. The spellings are worth 20 marks in total.

The KS2 Maths SATs:

The maths test comprises two components, arithmetic and reasoning, assessed via three papers. Paper 1 assesses arithmetic. Pupils will have 30 minutes to answer the questions and the assessment is worth 40 marks in total. Papers 2 and 3 assess reasoning and pupils have 40 minutes to answer the questions, which are worth 35 marks per paper.