SATs Week: What Happens Day by Day
Everything you need to know about SATs week — the timetable, what to pack, and how to keep things calm at home.
What Is SATs Week?
SATs week is a single week in May when all Year 6 children in state primary schools across England sit their Key Stage 2 national tests. The tests run from Monday to Thursday, with Friday kept free. All schools administer the papers at the same time on the same days — there is no flexibility on scheduling.
For 2026, SATs week begins on Monday 11 May. The timetable follows the same pattern every year, so even if the specific dates shift, the order of papers remains the same. Check our SATs Dates 2026 guide for confirmed dates.
The Day-by-Day Timetable
Monday — GPS & Spelling
Paper 1: Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling (45 minutes, 50 marks). This paper includes short-answer and multiple-choice questions covering word classes, sentence structure, punctuation rules, verb tenses, and more.
Paper 2: Spelling (approximately 15 minutes, 20 marks). The teacher reads 20 sentences aloud, each containing a missing word. Children write the correct spelling in their answer booklet. The words test a range of spelling patterns from the Year 3–6 curriculum.
Tuesday — Reading
English Reading (60 minutes, 50 marks). Children receive a reading booklet containing three texts — usually a mix of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. They answer questions in a separate answer booklet. Questions test retrieval, inference, vocabulary in context, summarising, and comparison. This is often considered the most challenging paper because of the time pressure: children must read all three passages and answer around 38 questions within the hour.
Wednesday — Maths Papers 1 & 2
Paper 1: Arithmetic (30 minutes, 40 marks). Straightforward calculation questions covering the four operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, and order of operations. No word problems — just pure number work.
Paper 2: Reasoning (40 minutes, 35 marks). A mix of word problems, multi-step questions, data interpretation, and questions that require children to explain their mathematical thinking. This paper is taken after a break following the arithmetic paper.
Thursday — Maths Paper 3
Paper 3: Reasoning (40 minutes, 35 marks). Similar in format to Paper 2, with different questions. This second reasoning paper often includes slightly more challenging problems, including geometry, statistics, and algebra. After this paper, SATs are complete.
Friday — Free Day
No tests on Friday. Most schools celebrate with a fun day, party, or special activity to reward children for their hard work. Some schools hold a “SATs breakfast” on Friday morning or organise a class trip.
What to Pack for SATs Week
Schools provide the test papers and answer booklets, but your child will need a few essentials. Most schools will send a letter home before SATs week with specific requirements, but here is a general checklist:
- ✓Two sharp HB pencils and a good rubber (eraser). Answers must be written in pencil, not pen.
- ✓A ruler (30cm, marked in centimetres and millimetres) for the maths papers.
- ✓An angle measurer or protractor for the maths reasoning papers.
- ✓A water bottle — staying hydrated helps concentration.
- ✓No calculators. Calculators are not allowed in any KS2 SATs paper.
Breakfast Tips & Morning Routine
What your child eats and how they feel on the morning of each test matters more than any last-minute revision. Here are some practical tips:
- ✓A proper breakfast. Porridge, toast, eggs, or cereal — something filling that releases energy slowly. Avoid sugary cereals or pastries that cause an energy crash mid-test.
- ✓Keep the morning normal. Avoid changing the routine dramatically. If your child usually walks to school, let them walk. If they usually listen to music, let them listen.
- ✓No last-minute cramming. Resist the urge to quiz your child over breakfast. By SATs week, the preparation is done. A calm, confident start to the day is far more valuable than five extra minutes of revision.
- ✓Early bedtimes. Aim for at least 10 hours of sleep each night during SATs week. Tired children make careless mistakes.
Many schools run a “SATs breakfast” each morning of SATs week, offering toast, fruit, and juice before the tests begin. If your child’s school does this, it can be a lovely way to start the day with friends in a relaxed atmosphere.
What Teachers Do During SATs Week
Teachers follow strict rules during SATs. They cannot help children with answers, give hints, or clarify questions beyond reading the instructions aloud. The tests must be administered exactly as specified in the test administration guidance from the STA.
However, teachers do everything they can to make SATs week feel comfortable and supportive. Most Year 6 teachers have spent months preparing their class, and they genuinely want every child to show what they know. Expect a calm, encouraging atmosphere in the classroom.
After the tests each day, normal lessons usually resume — often with lighter, more enjoyable activities. Some schools plan creative or active afternoons during SATs week to help children decompress.
What If My Child Is Ill During SATs Week?
If your child is unwell on a test day, contact the school immediately. There is a short “timetable variation” window (usually up to five school days after SATs week) during which children who missed tests due to illness can sit them, provided the school applies to the STA for permission.
If your child misses all the tests, the school will simply record them as absent. There is no penalty for the child. Teacher assessments in writing and science will still be submitted, and the secondary school will use their own assessments to set your child appropriately.
Do not send your child to school if they are genuinely unwell. A child sitting a test while feeling poorly will not perform to their ability, and it is not fair to put them through that. Their health always comes first.
Keeping Things Calm at Home
Your child will pick up on your energy. If you are stressed about SATs, they will be too. Here are some ways to keep the atmosphere positive:
- ✓Avoid asking “How did it go?” immediately. Let your child decompress after school before discussing the test. They might want to talk about it, or they might not — follow their lead.
- ✓Plan something enjoyable each evening. A favourite meal, a film, time with friends, or an hour of gaming. Give them something to look forward to after each day.
- ✓Remind them it is nearly over. By Thursday afternoon, SATs are done. The end is always in sight, and that can be very reassuring.
- ✓Celebrate the effort. Regardless of how the tests went, your child has worked hard. A small treat or outing at the end of the week shows that you are proud of their effort, not just their score.
For more advice on managing test anxiety, read our SATs anxiety guide.
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