• Key Stage 1 • Year 2 SATs Papers
Free KS1 SATs papers and mark schemes for Year 2. Download the optional end of Key Stage 1 tests in maths, reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling below, with the administration guides teachers need to run them. You will also find the timings, marks and how scaled scores work.
On this page
The Quick Answer
- KS1 SATs have been optional since 2023/24, but the Standards and Testing Agency still publishes new papers each year.
- Each subject has two papers: maths, reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling.
- None of the papers is strictly timed. Teachers read some questions aloud using the administration guides.
- Raw marks convert to a scaled score from 85 to 115, where 100 is the expected standard.
KS1 Maths SATs Papers
Paper 1 is arithmetic. Paper 2 is reasoning and starts with questions read aloud by the teacher.
| Year | Test papers | Administering guides | Mark schemes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Paper 1: arithmetic Paper 2: reasoning | Paper 1 Paper 2 | Mark schemes |
| 2025 | Paper 1: arithmetic Paper 2: reasoning | Paper 1 Paper 2 | Mark schemes |
| 2024 | Paper 1: arithmetic Paper 2: reasoning | Paper 1 Paper 2 | Mark schemes |
KS1 Reading SATs Papers
Paper 1 combines short texts and questions in one booklet. Paper 2 has a separate reading booklet and answer booklet.
KS1 Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Papers
Paper 1 is a spelling test read out by the teacher. Paper 2 has the grammar and punctuation questions.
| Year | Test papers | Administering guides | Mark schemes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Paper 1: spelling Paper 2: questions | Paper 1 Paper 2 | Mark schemes |
| 2025 | Paper 1: spelling Paper 2: questions | Paper 1 Paper 2 | Mark schemes |
| 2024 | Paper 1: spelling Paper 2: questions | Paper 1 Paper 2 | Mark schemes |
Please note: the KS1 papers on this page are the optional tests published since KS1 tests stopped being statutory. New papers are due on Tuesday 1 June 2027 and we will add them here.
Test Timings and Marks
The papers are not strictly timed. These are the approximate times from the Standards and Testing Agency’s test administration guidance:
| Paper | Approximate time | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Maths Paper 1: arithmetic | 20 minutes | 25 |
| Maths Paper 2: reasoning | 35 minutes | 35 |
| Reading Paper 1 | 30 minutes, plus about 15 minutes for practice questions | 20 |
| Reading Paper 2 | 40 minutes | 20 |
| GPS Paper 1: spelling | 15 minutes | 20 |
| GPS Paper 2: questions | 20 minutes | 20 |
Calculators and number apparatus, such as base ten materials or number squares, are not allowed in the maths papers.
KS1 Scaled Scores
Add the marks from both papers to get the raw score for each subject: 60 for maths and 40 each for reading and GPS. The raw score converts to a scaled score from 85 to 115. A scaled score of 100 or more means the pupil has met the expected standard. The marks needed change each year, so use the conversion table for the year of the paper.
Pupils who do not reach the lowest scaled score have not shown enough understanding of the KS1 curriculum in that subject. Schools can assess them using the pre-key stage standards.
Using KS1 Papers in School
- Decide your purpose first. The tests are optional, so schools can use them under test conditions or more flexibly.
- Read the administering guide before each paper. It has the script for the questions read aloud.
- Use the results with teacher assessment. Teachers can take test performance into account when making their own judgements.
- Plan for Year 3. Question-level analysis shows which gaps to close as pupils move into Key Stage 2.
Read more about why KS1 SATs are now optional.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are KS1 SATs still happening?
KS1 SATs have been optional since 2023/24. Schools can choose whether to use the tests. New papers are still published each year.
Where can I download KS1 SATs papers?
The 2024, 2025 and 2026 KS1 papers, administering guides and mark schemes are all free to download from this page.
What is a good KS1 SATs score?
A scaled score of 100 or more means a pupil has met the expected standard. Scores range from 85 to 115.
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Sources: Standards and Testing Agency, national curriculum assessments: past test materials, optional KS1 test administration guidance and understanding scaled scores at key stage 1. Contains material developed by the Standards and Testing Agency for national curriculum assessments and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
