Standard Assessment Tests
Year 2 SATSFor more information and free downloadable previous practice SATs papers go to
https://www.sats-papers.co.uk/
Useful websites can be found on the following – Useful websites and weblinks-for-sats-practice
When do SATs take place?
In 2024, Key Stage 1 SATs are no longer compulsory national tests.
However, KS1 SATs have been ‘replaced’ by optional KS1 SATs tests. These optional SATs tests will continue to be authored, published, printed and distributed by the STA. It is likely (following STA recommendation) that all schools across England will continue to administer these tests in the same fashion as past KS1 SATs tests.
Do bear in mind that schools will choose whether they will administer these optional KS1 SATs, not individual parents.
Key Stage 1 SATs Tests
How are SATs marked?
KS1 SATs are marked by a child’s teacher and KS2 SATs are marked by external examiners.
SATs tests are marked and a child’s exam mark (e.g. 25/36 or 42/60) is called their ‘raw score’. This raw score is then converted to a ‘scaled score’ using a scaled score conversion chart.
Raw Scores? Scaled Scores?
A child’s raw score (or raw marks) is simply the total number of marks that pupil has scored on a test.
By using a conversion chart, the child’s raw scores are transformed into age standardised test scores or simply ‘scaled scores’.
Broadly speaking, scaled scores give a much easier indication of how a pupil is performing relative to the national sample of pupils of the same age group. The average score is always 100, hence a higher score is above average and a lower score is below average.
For SATs, scaled scores range between 80 and 120.
If a child’s scaled score is:
below 100, they have not reached the expected standard.
between 100 and 109, they have reached the expected standard.
110 or over, they have exceeded the expected standard and are judged as working at greater depth.
What is the purpose of SATs?
SATs measure children’s academic ability at a particular point in time against the expectations set out in the national curriculum.
Hence, SATs are very useful as they allow teachers to measure an individual child’s attainment and progress over time (between Year 2 and Year 6).
When individual results are grouped together across an entire school, city or region, SATs results allow local authorities and the government to make important comparisons.
Making easy comparisons helps the Department for Education (DfE) ensure that schools can be held to account for the attainment of their students and the progress they make.
Should I help prepare my child prepare?
Yes! SATs are likely your child’s first experience of a test and it’s important that they have a good experience.
If parents think their children could suffer a little exam-related anxiety, it only seems a good idea to help them through it, right?!
Providing a positive learning and test environment at home seems far more constructive attitude than ignoring any stress or weaknesses and hoping the tests get cancelled.
It needn’t take much time either, just a little bit of home learning here and there can work wonders for their schoolwork while tackling stress and boosting confidence. We would firmly recommend using past SATs papers or SATs practice papers.