Students in Year 6 are due to take their SATs this week. For many of us, it would’ve been years since we had to do them ourselves, so how well would you fare if you had to take them now? The SATS have been in the limelight as a point of contention, with many parents and teachers arguing that they should be scrapped.
Those against the tests say it adds unnecessary pressure to children as young as nine years old. However, those in favour of it say it’s a good indicator for educators to figure out what additional support a child would need. Now that the time has come for students to take the test again, find out how well you’d do if you had to do it again. Scroll down below and take our sample test to find out.
How do SATs work?
The SATs assess students’ aptitude in Maths and English, specifically reading, spelling, punctuation and grammar. The tests are not strictly timed and are taken in a ‘normal classroom environment’ to take pressure off students.
SATS are taken at the end of year two and then of year six.
At the end of year two, children are tested on the Maths and English syllabus for Key Stage One, so these are called KS1 SATS.
At the end of year six, children are tested on the Maths and English syllabus for Key Stage Two, so these are called KS2 SATS.
So would you pass the SATs if you took them today? Take the quiz below and find out. Can’t see the quiz? Click here.
How are they marked?
Students will be given scaled SATs scores. A 100 KS1 score means the student is working at an expected level. A score below 100 shows the child needs more support whereas above 100 suggests the child is working at a higher level than expected for their age. Maximum score possible is 115 and the minimum is 85.
Meanwhile, in KS2, the papers are marked externally. Pupils will only be given their scaled scores and told whether they’ve achieved the national standard.
Here are the potential outcome codes:
- AS – the expected standard has been achieved
- NS – the expected standard has not been achieved
- A – the child was absent from one or more of the test papers
- B – the child is working below the level assessed by KS2 SATs
- M – the child missed the test
- T – the child is working at the level of the tests but is unable to access them (because all or part of a test is not suitable for a pupil with particular special educational needs)
What happens if you don’t meet the national standard?
If a child doesn’t meet the expected standard on Key Stage 2 (KS2) SATs, it doesn’t necessarily mean they will repeat the tests or face immediate repercussions. The results are shared with their secondary school, and additional support may be offered to help them reach the expected standard