Help your child succeed in their SATs

What are Sats tests ?

Sats tests are taken by primary school children in at the end of KS1 ( year 2) and at the end of KS2 (year 6). The tests cover Maths and English and some schools also do a voluntary Science test. The sats tests focus on the current curriculum and children will not face questions which go beyond this. The tests show both how well schools have performed and how well individual children have learnt.

What are Sats tests used for ?

The results of the sats tests are used to help assess how well individual schools are performing and they also show how well individual children have performed while at primary school. For schools the sats test results are amalgamated into school performance tables and many secondary schools use a child’s performance in KS2 sats to help them to decide on their initial decisions on which ability sets
to put.

What are the dates for the Sats test ?

Ks2 Sats tests occur usually in the middle of May and last a whole week. Schools will communicate the dates to parents and will let them know what to expect. Children will also know what to expect and many will have been focussing on the tests for a while before the exam to ensure they are well prepared.

What is tested in Sats tests ?

Sats tests cover the current curriculum in Maths and English and occasionally science. Children sit a number of papers in each discipline and at KS2 level the tests will last a full week. The tests are set by the department of education and not by individual schools and they are marked externally.

What is the Multiplication Tables Check ?

The multiplication tables check is a test taken at the end of year four in primary schools and is designed to ensure the key building block of times tables has been properly acquired by children. The test is a computer based test. Children will get 25 questions to answer on their times tables and the questions will focus on the most difficult combinations. Children will be given six seconds
to answer each question and then there will be a three second delay before the next question appears. Many children who have focussed on their times tables will expect to get full marks. Many schools will conduct remedial work with children who have performed badly in the multiplication tables check.