What Are KS2 SATs?
What the Year 6 national tests cover, how they work and what the results mean for your child.
What Are SATs?
I have four children, and the first SATs letter from school did not arrive with a glossary. The short version: children in Year 6 sit national tests at the end of Key Stage 2. The Standards and Testing Agency (STA), part of the Department for Education, sets the papers.
Every state primary school in England is required to administer SATs. The tests assess how well children have grasped the national curriculum in three core areas: reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS). Teacher assessments in writing and science are also submitted, but these are not tested through formal examinations.
SATs have been part of the English education system since 1991, with the current format introduced in 2016 following curriculum reforms.
What Do SATs Test?
The KS2 SATs assess three subjects through six test papers. Here is what each one covers:
Maths (3 papers)
Arithmetic (Paper 1) tests calculation skills across addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals, and percentages. Reasoning (Papers 2 & 3) tests problem-solving, logic, and the ability to apply mathematical knowledge to real-world situations. Children have 30 minutes for arithmetic and 40 minutes for each reasoning paper.
Reading (1 paper)
The reading paper presents three passages — typically fiction, non-fiction, and poetry — followed by comprehension questions. Children have 60 minutes to read the texts and answer approximately 38 questions testing retrieval, inference, vocabulary, and summarising skills. See our reading practice page for more.
Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling (2 papers)
Paper 1 (45 minutes) covers grammar and punctuation with short-answer and multiple-choice questions. Paper 2 is a separate spelling test lasting around 15 minutes, where children write 20 words read aloud in context sentences. Together these are often called the “GPS” or “SPaG” paper. Explore our GPS practice area.
When Do SATs Take Place?
KS2 SATs take place during a single week in May each year. The exact dates are set nationally by the Department for Education and are usually confirmed during the preceding autumn term. All schools must administer the tests on the same days.
For 2027, SATs week is the week commencing 10 May 2027 (confirmed by the DfE). For the exact paper dates and the day-by-day timetable, see our KS2 SATs dates guide.
How Are SATs Scored?
Each SATs paper produces a raw score — simply the number of marks your child achieved. This raw score is then converted into a scaled score between 80 and 120 using a conversion table published after marking is complete.
A scaled score of 100 or above means a child has met the “expected standard” for their age. A score of 110 or above reaches the higher standard in reading, maths and GPS. “Greater depth” is the term used for teacher-assessed writing.
The conversion from raw to scaled score changes slightly each year depending on the difficulty of the papers. This means a child might need a different raw score to reach 100 from one year to the next. For more detail, read our SATs scoring explained guide.
Do SATs Affect Secondary School?
For the vast majority of children, SATs results do not determine which secondary school they attend. School admissions in England are based on criteria like catchment area, sibling priority, and distance — not SATs scores.
However, some grammar schools in selective areas use the 11+ entrance exam (which is a separate test, not SATs) for admissions. A small number of secondary schools may also use SATs data for initial setting or streaming into ability groups.
The primary purpose of SATs is to measure school performance and track national standards. They help the government and Ofsted evaluate how well schools are teaching the curriculum. For your child, they provide a useful snapshot of their attainment, but they are just one part of a much bigger picture.
How Can I Help My Child Prepare?
Start with the school’s advice and what your child is already doing in class. If you want a practical home plan, read our how to prepare for SATs guide. If SATs are becoming a source of worry, our tips for dealing with SATs anxiety may also help.
Choose a Subject to Practise
SATs Arcade has curriculum-aligned questions across maths, reading and GPS, with completed practice shown in the parent dashboard.
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