SATs Raw Score to Scaled Score Converter
How raw marks translate to scaled scores, what the thresholds are, and what your child's score really means.
How the Conversion System Works
When your child sits a SATs paper, they earn a raw score — simply the total number of marks they achieved out of the maximum available. This raw score is then converted to a scaled score between 80 and 120.
The purpose of scaled scores is to make results comparable across different years. Since some papers are slightly harder or easier than others, the conversion adjusts for this. A scaled score of 100 always means the same thing — the child has met the expected standard — regardless of whether the paper was particularly hard or easy that year.
The exact conversion tables are published by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) after marking is complete each year. Until then, we can only use previous years’ tables as a guide. The thresholds below are based on recent years and give a good approximation of what to expect.
Maths: Approximate Thresholds
The maths scaled score combines all three papers (arithmetic + reasoning papers 2 and 3) into a single total raw score out of 110. The approximate thresholds based on recent years:
| Scaled Score | Approx. Raw Score (out of 110) | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 3–5 | Minimum scaled score |
| 90 | 20–25 | Below expected standard |
| 100 | 55–60 | Expected standard (pass) |
| 110 | 85–90 | Greater depth / higher standard |
| 120 | 108–110 | Maximum scaled score |
Note: These are approximate thresholds based on 2023–2025 conversion tables. Actual thresholds vary slightly each year depending on paper difficulty.
Reading: Approximate Thresholds
The reading paper is a single test worth 50 marks total:
| Scaled Score | Approx. Raw Score (out of 50) | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 3–5 | Minimum scaled score |
| 90 | 12–15 | Below expected standard |
| 100 | 22–26 | Expected standard (pass) |
| 110 | 36–40 | Greater depth / higher standard |
| 120 | 49–50 | Maximum scaled score |
Note: Reading thresholds tend to vary more than maths from year to year, as the difficulty of the reading passages changes significantly.
GPS: Approximate Thresholds
The GPS scaled score combines Paper 1 (grammar and punctuation, 50 marks) and Paper 2 (spelling, 20 marks) for a total of 70 marks:
| Scaled Score | Approx. Raw Score (out of 70) | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| 80 | 3–5 | Minimum scaled score |
| 90 | 18–22 | Below expected standard |
| 100 | 36–40 | Expected standard (pass) |
| 110 | 55–58 | Greater depth / higher standard |
| 120 | 69–70 | Maximum scaled score |
Note: GPS thresholds have been relatively consistent across recent years compared to reading and maths.
What Each Score Band Means
Understanding the score bands helps you interpret your child’s results in context:
80–99: Below Expected Standard
Your child has not yet met the national expected standard in this subject. This does not mean they have “failed” — there is no pass or fail in SATs. It means they may need additional support in this area at secondary school. Their secondary school will be aware of this and will plan accordingly. Many children who score in this range make excellent progress in Year 7 with the right support.
100–109: Expected Standard
Your child has met the national expected standard. This is the benchmark that the government considers appropriate for the end of Key Stage 2. Nationally, around 60–75% of children achieve this level (the exact percentage varies by subject and year). A score in this range is a solid achievement and indicates your child is well prepared for secondary school work.
110–120: Greater Depth (Higher Standard)
Your child is working at greater depth — above and beyond the expected standard. Nationally, around 20–30% of children achieve a score of 110 or above (depending on the subject). This indicates strong mastery of the KS2 curriculum and suggests your child is ready for more challenging work at secondary school. It is an excellent achievement worth celebrating.
Try Our Interactive Score Calculator
Want to convert a specific raw score? Use our free interactive tool to enter your child’s raw marks and see the approximate scaled score instantly. It covers all three subjects and includes historical data from recent years.
Open Score Calculator →Important Things to Remember
- ✓Thresholds change every year. The raw score needed for a scaled score of 100 shifts depending on how hard or easy the papers were. The figures above are approximations based on recent trends, not guarantees.
- ✓Official tables are published in July. The STA releases the definitive conversion tables each year after external marking is complete. Until then, any conversion is an estimate.
- ✓One mark can make a big difference. Near the 100 threshold, a single raw mark can sometimes change the scaled score by 1 or 2 points. This is why attention to detail — showing working, reading questions carefully — matters. See our mark schemes guide for tips on picking up every available mark.
- ✓Scaled scores are not percentages. A scaled score of 100 does not mean 100%. It is an arbitrary threshold set by the STA that represents the expected standard. Think of it as a benchmark, not a percentage.
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