Key Stage 2 SATs testing

At the end of Key Stage 2 English, maths and science SATs are taken. Marked externally, children will receive a separate level for writing (this includes spelling), a level for reading and an overall level for English, one for maths and another for science. The majority of children will reach Level 4

English

Reading in Key Stage 2 English SATs look at the understanding of significant themes, ideas, characters, events and a child's ability to read ‘between the lines'. Questions will be asked to assess a range of reading skills, such as the ability to interpret information and comment on writers' use of language. Your child will also be asked to spell twenty words during a ten minute spelling test.

Whilst assessing children's writing, markers look for how well your child engages the reader, uses accurate punctuation and extends the range and sophistication of their vocabulary. They may have to write a story or some non-narrative form like a poem or a report. One recent task required children to write a page on the Tongo Lizard for an information book about endangered species. Also included was an explanation of the word ‘endangered' and a picture of the lizard. Possible areas for content development - habitat, eating habits, appearance and reasons for the creature's endangered status - were also suggested. To move on to Level 5 children needed to use amongst other things, expanded noun phrases to convey detailed information both economically and clearly. So the Lizard might eat ‘the fat juicy insects living in the jungle'; whereas for a Level 4 response it is more about including the relevant detail - so for instance, ‘people use its skin to make gloves'; ‘it lives in dry sandy places'.

Maths

There are three separate tests: two of forty five minutes with and without a calculator, and a twenty minute mental mathematics test. All questions require children to draw on their skills in using and applying maths and some marks are awarded for correct working out.

 These skills include:

• knowing all times tables and using them to divide and multiply
• using a protractor to measure angles
• calculating the perimeter and area of shapes that can be split into rectangles
• solving problems by collecting and using information in tables, graphs and charts
• solving problems involving ratio and proportion.

So for instance, a girl buys a pair of sandals for £12.75 and trainers for £34.99 - how much change does she have from a £50 note? If it is 130km from Exeter to Bristol, another 215km from Bristol to Derby and a further 106km to York, how far is it from Bristol to York? When solving problems that involve more than one step encourage your child to do it in steps, to persist and to check their answer is reasonable in the context of the problem.

Science

There are two separate tests, lasting forty five minutes each, to assess understanding of scientific ideas and the use of scientific evidence. Your child will be tested on many aspects of the science curriculum and may be asked to:

• name the major body organs and know where they are
• classify materials by their different properties
• comment on the design of a simple experiment
• make changes to and draw simple electrical circuits