KS1/KS2 SATs - What are SATs, 5 Ways To Help Your Child With SATS Revision

KS1/KS2 SATs - (Standard Assessment Tests)

SATs Assessments take place every year at school.

Key Stage 1 (KS1) and Key Stage 2 (KS2) SATs (Statutory Assessment Tests) are standardised assessments that primary school children take to measure their progress and attainment in. The assessments are designed to check children's understanding of the national curriculum and to provide information about their academic performance.

In a primary school this will be at the end of year 2 (children aged 6-7) and year 6 (children aged 10-11). Some schools use optional tests in years 3, 4 and 5 to track progress. These are based on and marked in the same way as SATS tests.

The tests show if your child is working above, in line with or below the target level for their age.

KS1 SATs

Subjects Tested:

• English: Reading and Writing
• Mathematics: Arithmetic and Reasoning
• Science: Teacher assessment based on classroom observations

Assessment Format:

• Tests are taken in May of Year 2 (ages 6-7).
• The English tests include reading and a grammar, punctuation, and spelling (GPS) assessment.
• The mathematics tests cover arithmetic and reasoning.

Teacher Assessment:

• Science is assessed by teachers based on classroom work and observations throughout the year.

Purpose:

• KS1 SATs provide information on a child's progress and whether they have reached the expected level of attainment for their age.

The tests are not all taken in one go and will usually take place in May. Teachers try to work them into the school routine. The results are based on the performance of the child in several tasks and tests, the class teacher will mark the tests. Most children at the end of year 2 are expected to achieve a Level 2. The teacher assessment is moderated by the local authority to ensure consistency.

KS2 SATs

These are much more formal and taken under test conditions i.e. set time allowed, scripted instructions given etc. The tests are taken on set days (usually in May) and completed over the space of 1 week. They are then sent off and marked externally, with the results being given to parents before the child leaves primary school.

Subjects Tested:

• English: Reading, Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling (GPS), and Writing
• Mathematics: Arithmetic and Reasoning
• Science: Teacher assessment based on classroom observations

Assessment Format:

• Tests are taken in May of Year 6 (ages 10-11).
• The English tests include reading and a combined GPS assessment.
• The mathematics tests include arithmetic and reasoning.
  

Teacher Assessment:

• Science is assessed by teachers based on classroom work and observations.

Purpose:

• KS2 SATs provide a measure of a child's academic performance at the end of primary school.
• Results are used to track school performance through the Progress 8 measure.
• They also help inform secondary school placement and are used for government accountability purposes.

Changes in Assessment:

In recent years, there has been a shift towards a more challenging curriculum and assessments to raise academic standards.

The KS2 SATs are based on the content of the national curriculum, reflecting the knowledge and skills expected at the end of primary education.

What Level Is Expected In All The Other Years?

Teacher assessments are carried out on a regular basis in schools, normally at the end of each term. This helps the teacher track each child's progress and informs their planning for the following term.

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Assessment Levels

Children are given a level in Maths and English to show if they are working at the age expected level.
Schools will share levels with parents when children have completed the sats tests, some schools will share children's levels with their parents on a regular basis (every term or every year), to give parents an idea as to how their child is progressing at school.

In a primary school these levels will range from Level W to Level 5. Each level can be broken down into bands A, B, and C, to show the range within a level, with C being the lowest band with a level and A being the highest e.g. level 2A is higher than 2B. Children in Foundation 2, aged 4-5, are assessed differently.

This summary gives you an idea of the level a child should be achieving at a given age.

Level W - Working towards level 1

Level 1 - average for a 5 year old

Level 2 - average for a 7 year old

Level 3 - average for a 9 year old

Level 4 - average for an 11 year old

Level 5 - average for a 13 year old.

If your child achieves a level 5 at the end of year 6 in their SATs, they have done extremely well.

SATs Revision Tips

5 Ways To Help Your Child With SAT's Revision

• Don't worry or panic your child.
  
  
• Give them practice papers to complete, so that they get used to the type of questions they will be asked.
  
  
• Practise the basics with them e.g. times tables, adding/taking away in their head.
  
  
• Give them the chance to write for different purposes e.g. a letter, an information page about something that interests them (space, lions, etc) instructions for making a sandwich, a story.
  
  
• Encourage your child to check their work e.g. read through what they have just written or show their 'working out' for maths questions.
  

Teach My Kids creates learning packs to help children brush up on their maths and english skills.
Revision packs include: Spellings, Grammar, Times Tables Tests, Decimal Numbers, Fractions and Percentages and many more.
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