Most schools send home a kit list. Most kit lists are vague. Here's the specific version, based on what STA requires, what schools commonly ask for, and what actually gets used in the room.
What goes in the pencil case
The minimum kit for the maths and SPaG papers:
- Two HB pencils — already sharpened. Two, in case one breaks mid-paper. Not propelling pencils — STA marks them as unreliable on the reading paper grids
- A pencil sharpener with a built-in shaving collector — schools don't want pencil shavings on the floor of the exam hall
- An eraser — soft, white. The cheap blue-and-pink Staedtler is fine and probably already in the drawer
- A clear plastic ruler with cm and mm — for the maths reasoning papers. Markings must be visible. No bendy plastic rulers
- A black or blue pen for the reading paper. Schools differ — some ask for pencil only. Check with the school. If they say "either", use pen — easier to read
What stays at home
STA is specific about what's not allowed. Don't pack:
- Calculators — not permitted on any KS2 maths paper. Year 6 children sometimes try to sneak them in by habit. Make sure it's out of the bag
- Smartwatches — banned in exam conditions. Regular wristwatches are fine
- Phones — left in the bag in the cloakroom, off, no exceptions
- Stationery with text or images on it — clean, plain equipment only. Pencil cases with notes written on them get confiscated. So do branded rulers with formulas printed on the back
- Highlighters and coloured pens — not permitted on the answer paper
The water bottle
Specific because schools have specific rules. A water bottle is almost always allowed, but only if:
- Transparent — coloured plastic isn't allowed in some schools
- No labels — peel off the supermarket sticker
- Water only — not juice, squash or energy drinks
- Sports cap not pull-cap if possible — quieter when knocked over
The bag itself
Pack the night before. Same bag as a normal school day — this isn't a costume change. Put the pencil case in the front pocket. Put the water bottle upright. Put the school book bag in. The act of packing the night before is itself part of the calming ritual — your child sees the equipment ready and the unknown shrinks.
The one thing nearly every parent forgets: spare HB pencils. Pencils break, get borrowed, or roll under the desk. Two is the minimum. Three is sensible.
The morning of
Check the pencils are still sharp. Check the water bottle is full. Check the bag is the right bag. Don't add anything new on the morning of the paper — even a "good luck" card. Surprises spike adrenaline at exactly the wrong time.
If your child wears a uniform or PE kit, make sure it's already laid out from the night before. Mismatched socks on SATs morning is a 9-year-old level of catastrophe.
What schools will provide
Schools usually provide:
- The paper booklets and answer sheets
- Spare equipment if a child forgets — but don't rely on it
- A clock visible from each desk
- A board with the timing on it
If your school has sent a specific list that differs from anything here, follow the school's list. Your school knows the layout of their hall and the requirements better than any general guide can.
If you've forgotten anything on Monday morning
Don't panic. The school will lend equipment. They'd much rather your child walk in calm with a borrowed pencil than late and stressed with their own.
The one exception: water. Some schools won't have spare water bottles. If you've forgotten the bottle, an empty bottle in the bag at minimum — they can fill it at the school tap before the paper starts.
The kit list isn't long. The kit list is also one of the things you have total control over — which is rare in SATs week, and worth using. Packed bag = one less thing to worry about Monday morning. More on the night before here.
Sources: STA, "Key stage 2 test administrators' guide" (2024 and 2025 editions); individual school SATs guidance varies
Found this useful? Share it.