KS2 Scaled Scores Explained
What the numbers actually mean, how raw marks convert, and why 100 is the magic number — explained in plain English.
What Is a Scaled Score?
A scaled score is the standardised number your child receives after sitting a KS2 SATs paper. It ranges from 80 at the lowest to 120 at the highest. The scaling exists because SATs papers vary slightly in difficulty from year to year. A raw mark of 28 on a harder paper might be worth the same scaled score as a raw mark of 32 on an easier one.
Think of it like converting currencies — the raw mark is the local price, and the scaled score is the universal value. This system, introduced by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) in 2016, ensures that a score of 100 means the same thing every year, regardless of how difficult the paper was.
Raw Marks vs Scaled Scores
When your child finishes a SATs paper, their answers are marked to produce a raw mark — the total number of marks they earned. Each paper has a different maximum: the arithmetic paper is worth 40 marks, the two reasoning papers are each worth 35 marks, the reading paper is worth 50 marks, and the grammar, punctuation, and spelling paper is worth 70 marks (50 for grammar and 20 for spelling).
After marking, the STA applies a conversion table to turn each raw mark into a scaled score between 80 and 120. This conversion table is different every year because it accounts for the difficulty of that year’s specific paper. The table is not published until after results day in July.
For a detailed look at past conversion tables, see our score converter guide. If you want to understand how marks are awarded on each paper, our mark schemes guide breaks it down question by question.
The Expected Standard: What 100 Really Means
A scaled score of 100 is the threshold for meeting the “expected standard” in each subject. This means the government considers that a child scoring 100 or above has demonstrated a secure understanding of the Key Stage 2 curriculum in that subject.
It is important to understand that 100 is not an average — it is a fixed benchmark. In most years, roughly 70–80% of children nationally meet the expected standard in maths, and a similar proportion in reading and GPS. According to the DfE KS2 attainment statistics, in 2024, 73% of children met the expected standard in reading, writing, and maths combined.
A score below 100 does not mean your child has failed. It means they have not yet demonstrated the full expected standard at this point. Many children who score in the mid-90s are very close and catch up quickly at secondary school.
Greater Depth: Scoring 110 and Above
A scaled score of 110 or above is classified as working at “greater depth” (sometimes called “higher standard”). This indicates that a child has a particularly strong grasp of the curriculum and can apply their knowledge in more challenging contexts.
Nationally, around 20–30% of children achieve greater depth in individual subjects. In 2024, 24% of pupils reached the higher standard in reading and 22% in maths. Achieving greater depth is excellent, but it is not a requirement for secondary school success.
Some secondary schools use greater depth scores to identify children for gifted and talented programmes or top sets, but this varies enormously between schools. If your child is comfortably scoring above 110 in practice papers, they are in a very strong position. Our secondary school guide explains how different schools use these scores.
Subject-by-Subject Thresholds
The raw mark needed to reach a scaled score of 100 varies by subject and year. Here are the approximate thresholds from recent years to give you a sense of what your child needs:
| Subject | Max Raw | ~Raw for 100 | ~Raw for 110 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arithmetic | 40 | 22–26 | 33–36 |
| Maths Reasoning (each) | 35 | Combined with arithmetic | |
| Reading | 50 | 22–28 | 36–40 |
| GPS | 70 | 36–42 | 55–60 |
These are approximate ranges based on 2019–2024 papers. Exact thresholds change annually. For maths, the arithmetic and both reasoning papers are combined into a single scaled score.
How the Conversion Actually Works
After all papers are marked nationally, the STA convenes a panel of education experts who review the papers and decide how difficult they were compared to previous years. This process is called “standard setting” and is overseen by Ofqual.
The panel identifies the raw mark that represents the boundary of the expected standard for each subject. This boundary mark becomes a scaled score of 100. Every other raw mark is then mapped proportionally across the 80–120 range.
This means that in a year with a particularly hard reading paper, a child might need only 22 raw marks for a scaled score of 100, whereas in an easier year they might need 28. The child’s scaled score is what matters — it is comparable across years, whereas raw marks are not.
Historical Context: Why Scaled Scores Replaced Levels
Before 2016, KS2 SATs used the old National Curriculum levels system (Level 3, 4, 5, and so on). Level 4 was the expected standard, and Level 5 was considered above average. The government scrapped levels as part of a broader curriculum reform, arguing that they encouraged “teaching to the level” rather than deep understanding.
The new scaled score system was introduced alongside the more challenging 2014 National Curriculum. The first cohort to sit the new-style SATs was in May 2016. If you sat SATs yourself as a child, you almost certainly experienced the old levels system — which is why the current system can feel unfamiliar.
For a full history of how SATs have evolved, our What Are SATs guide covers the timeline from their introduction in 1991 to the present day.
What Scaled Scores Mean for Secondary School
Secondary schools receive your child’s scaled scores before September. Most use them for one primary purpose: initial setting in Year 7. A child scoring 105+ in maths is likely to be placed in a higher set than one scoring 95, though this is not guaranteed — many schools also run their own baseline tests in the first weeks.
Crucially, scaled scores do not determine which secondary school your child attends. State school admissions are based on catchment areas, distance, and sibling priority. The only exception is selective grammar schools, which use the 11+ exam — a completely separate assessment.
Secondary schools also use KS2 scores to calculate “Progress 8” — the measure of how much progress each pupil makes between Year 6 and their GCSEs. This is a school accountability measure, not something that directly affects your child. For more on the Year 6 to Year 7 transition, see our guide to SATs and Year 7 sets.
Common Misconceptions
Scaled scores generate more confusion than almost any other aspect of SATs. Here are the myths we hear most often:
- ✗“100 is average.” It is not. 100 is the expected standard threshold, not the average score. The national average scaled score is typically around 104–106, depending on the subject and year.
- ✗“My child needs 50% to pass.” There is no fixed percentage. Because the conversion changes each year, the raw mark needed for 100 varies. In some years, scoring around 55% of the raw marks is enough; in others, it might be 60% or more.
- ✗“A score of 99 means my child has failed.” Officially, 99 is below the expected standard. Practically, a child scoring 99 is one mark away from 100 and has a strong foundation. Secondary schools will not treat a 99 dramatically differently from a 100.
- ✗“Scaled scores are like percentages.” They are not. A scaled score of 110 does not mean 110%. The scale runs from 80 to 120, and each point represents a standardised level of attainment, not a proportion of marks.
- ✗“You can predict the scaled score from practice papers.” You can estimate, but not precisely. Practice paper mark schemes from previous years use that year’s conversion table. The actual 2026 thresholds will not be set until after the tests are marked nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the highest possible scaled score?
The maximum scaled score is 120. To achieve this, a child would need to score at or very near full marks on the paper. The minimum score reported is 80 — children scoring below this threshold receive “N” (not awarded a scaled score) rather than a number.
Do all three maths papers produce separate scores?
No. The raw marks from the arithmetic paper and both reasoning papers are added together, and this combined total is converted into a single maths scaled score. Your child’s results letter will show one maths score, not three.
When do we find out the conversion tables?
The STA publishes the official conversion tables on results day in July, at the same time schools receive the results. They are not available during the revision period or immediately after the tests.
Can I appeal my child’s scaled score?
You cannot appeal the scaled score directly, but schools can request a re-mark of the papers. If the raw mark changes after a re-mark, the scaled score is recalculated accordingly. Speak to your child’s school if you believe there has been a marking error.
What about the writing assessment?
Writing is assessed by teacher judgement, not a test, so it does not receive a scaled score. Teachers assess writing against a framework and report whether the child is working towards, at, or above the expected standard. For more on how all subjects are assessed, see our scoring guide.
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