How SATs Papers Are Marked
Understanding mark schemes helps you help your child pick up every mark they deserve.
Who Marks the Papers?
SATs papers are marked externally — not by your child’s teacher. After SATs week, all completed test papers are collected and sent to external markers who are recruited and trained by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA). These markers follow a detailed, standardised mark scheme for each paper, which the STA publishes alongside past papers on GOV.UK.
This external marking process is designed to be fair and consistent across the country. Every marker goes through training and standardisation exercises before marking any live papers, and a proportion of papers are checked by senior markers for quality assurance.
The one exception is the spelling paper, which is marked internally by the school. The mark scheme for spelling is very straightforward — each word is either correct or incorrect, with no partial marks — so internal marking is considered reliable.
How Mark Schemes Work
Each SATs question is worth a set number of marks: 1 mark, 2 marks, or occasionally 3 marks. The mark scheme specifies exactly which answers earn full marks, which earn partial marks, and which earn nothing. Understanding this system helps you coach your child on what markers are actually looking for.
1-Mark Questions
These are all-or-nothing: the answer is either correct and earns 1 mark, or incorrect and earns 0. Most arithmetic questions, GPS multiple-choice questions, and simple retrieval questions in reading are 1-mark questions. There is no partial credit. The mark scheme lists all acceptable answers — for example, in maths, both “0.5” and “½” would typically be accepted.
2-Mark Questions
These appear in maths reasoning and reading papers. For maths, a 2-mark question typically requires a correct answer and correct working out. If the final answer is wrong but the method is correct, the child may still earn 1 mark for showing appropriate working. For reading, 2-mark questions usually ask children to explain, compare, or justify — the mark scheme will specify the number of valid points needed for full marks.
3-Mark Questions
These are less common and usually appear in the reading paper or maths reasoning papers. In reading, a 3-mark question might ask a child to summarise a passage or explain a character’s motivation with evidence. In maths, a 3-mark question involves a multi-step problem where partial credit is available for correct working at each stage.
Maths Marking Rules
The maths mark schemes are more flexible than many parents expect. Here are the key rules:
- ✓Equivalent fractions are accepted. If the answer is ¾, then 6/8, 9/12, 75/100, and any other equivalent fraction will also earn the mark, unless the question specifically asks for a simplified fraction.
- ✓Units are usually not required. If the answer is “3.5 kg”, writing “3.5” alone will typically earn the mark, as long as the answer box or question makes the unit clear. However, if the question asks the child to circle or state the unit, it must be correct.
- ✓Follow-through marking applies. In multi-mark questions, if a child makes an error in step 1 but then correctly applies the method in step 2 using their wrong answer, they can still earn the method mark. This is why showing working is so important.
- ✓Working out matters. For 2- and 3-mark questions, children should always show their working. Even if the final answer is wrong, clear working can earn 1 or 2 marks. Working can be shown anywhere on the page, not just in the designated working box.
GPS Marking Rules
The grammar, punctuation and spelling papers are more strictly marked than maths:
- ✓Spelling must be correct. In the GPS Paper 1, if a question asks a child to write a word (e.g., “Write the plural of ‘leaf’”), the spelling must be correct to earn the mark. An answer of “leafs” would not earn the mark, even though it shows understanding of plurals.
- ✓Punctuation must be precise. If a question asks a child to insert a comma, it must be in the correct position. A comma placed one word too early or too late will not earn the mark.
- ✓No extra answers. If a question asks for one example and the child writes two, the marker looks at both. If one is correct and one is incorrect, the mark is not awarded. This is a common trap — teach your child to give exactly what is asked for.
Reading Marking Rules
Reading comprehension marking is the most nuanced, because many questions require written explanations. Here is what markers look for:
- ✓Evidence from the text. For inference and explanation questions, children must refer to or quote the text. An answer that offers a personal opinion without textual evidence will not earn marks, even if the opinion is reasonable.
- ✓Vocabulary questions need precise meanings. When asked what a word means in context, the child must give a meaning that fits the passage. A dictionary definition that does not match the way the word is used will not earn the mark.
- ✓Spelling is not penalised. Unlike GPS, spelling errors in reading answers do not lose marks, as long as the meaning is clear. This is important — children should not waste time worrying about perfect spelling in the reading paper.
- ✓Copying the whole text is not accepted. If a child copies an entire paragraph instead of selecting relevant evidence, the mark is not awarded. Children need to learn to pick out the specific words or phrases that answer the question.
Common Ways Children Lose Marks Unnecessarily
Many children lose marks not because they do not know the answer, but because of avoidable mistakes. Here are the most common ones:
- ✗Not showing working in maths. A wrong final answer with no working earns 0. A wrong final answer with correct working can earn 1 or 2 marks. Always show working.
- ✗Giving too many answers in GPS. If the question says “Circle one word” and the child circles two, the mark is lost — even if one of them is correct.
- ✗Not reading the question carefully. A question that says “Explain why…” requires a reason. A question that says “Find and copy…” requires an exact quote. Children who rush may answer a different question from the one asked.
- ✗Leaving questions blank. In maths, a guess might earn a method mark. In reading, a reasonable attempt might earn 1 out of 2 marks. A blank answer always earns 0.
- ✗Poor time management. Many children spend too long on early questions and rush or skip the later ones. Later questions are often worth more marks, so running out of time can be very costly.
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