KS2 SATs explained for parents: the papers, timings and scores

What the SATs are

KS2 SATs are national tests that children in England take in May of Year 6. They check reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling. Writing is assessed by your child's teacher during the year, so there is no writing test.

The dates are set nationally each year. Check GOV.UK or ask your child's school for this year's timetable.

The papers

• Maths Paper 1: arithmetic, 30 minutes. Calculations only, with no calculator.
• Maths Papers 2 and 3: reasoning, 40 minutes each. Word problems and number puzzles.
• Reading: one paper of 1 hour, with questions about a few different texts.
• Grammar and punctuation: one paper of 45 minutes.
• Spelling: 20 words read aloud by the teacher, which your child writes into sentences.

What the scores mean

Results are given as scaled scores from 80 to 120. A score of 100 or more means your child has met the expected standard. Schools usually share results with parents before the end of the summer term.

SATs measure how well children have learned the primary curriculum. They are not pass or fail tests for your child, and secondary school places do not depend on them.

How PrepAcer helps

PrepAcer SATs has practice for maths, grammar, punctuation and spelling, and reading, one topic at a time, with an explanation after every answer. Practice papers follow the order and timing of the real ones, so the format feels familiar.

All questions are original practice questions written for PrepAcer, not real SATs papers, and practice scores are not SATs scaled scores.