• Key Stage 2 SATs • Results Codes
KS2 SATs results and end of year reports often include short codes such as AS, NS, EXS and GDS. This guide explains what every code means, using the official definitions from the Standards and Testing Agency, so you can read your child’s results with confidence.
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The Quick Answer
- AS means your child achieved the expected standard in a test. NS means they have not yet reached it.
- EXS means working at the expected standard, WTS working towards it and GDS working at greater depth. These are used for writing.
- HNM means has not met the expected standard and is used for science.
- Codes such as PK1 to PK6 and EM show a pupil was assessed in a different way because they are working below the standard of the tests.
Codes for Reading, Maths and GPS Tests
Each test result includes a scaled score from 80 to 120 and one of these outcomes:
| Code | Meaning | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| AS | Expected standard achieved | Your child scored 100 or more in the test |
| NS | Expected standard not achieved | Your child scored 99 or less, or too few marks for a scaled score |
| N | No scaled score | Shown in the scaled score field when a pupil scores too few marks to reach 80. The outcome is NS |
A result of NS does not mean your child cannot read or do maths. It means they have not yet reached the expected standard for the end of Year 6 in that test. Find out what each score means in what is a good KS2 SATs score?
Codes for Writing
Writing is assessed by your child’s teacher rather than tested. The teacher assessment codes are:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| GDS | Working at greater depth |
| EXS | Working at the expected standard |
| WTS | Working towards the expected standard |
EXS and GDS both count as meeting the expected standard in writing. In 2026, 73% of pupils met the expected standard in writing and 13% were working at greater depth. Read more in what does SATs teacher assessment mean?
Codes for Science
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| EXS | Working at the expected standard |
| HNM | Has not met the expected standard |
Codes for Pupils Working Below the Standard
Some pupils are working below the standard of the tests or have not completed the Key Stage 2 curriculum. They are assessed in a different way:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| PK1 to PK6 | Pre-key stage standards 1 to 6, for pupils working below the standard and engaged in subject-specific study |
| EM | Working below the level of the national curriculum and not yet engaged in subject-specific study (the engagement model) |
If one of these codes applies to your child, the school will explain it and talk to you about their progress.
Other Codes You Might See
Schools also use codes when a pupil does not take a test or receive a judgement:
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| A | Absent, or not enough information to give a judgement |
| B | Working below the overall standard of the test, so the test was not taken |
| U | Working at the standard of the test but unable to access it, even with access arrangements |
| J | Just arrived at the school, so there was not enough time to assess them |
| L | Pupil has left the school |
| F | Pupil will complete the key stage in a future year |
| P | Pupil completed the key stage in a previous year |
Where You Will See These Codes
You should receive your child’s results by the end of the summer term. The report must include their scaled scores, whether they met the expected standard in each test and their teacher assessment outcomes for writing and science. Schools decide how to present this, so some use the codes and others write the meaning in full. See when are KS2 SATs results released?
Frequently Asked Questions
What does NS mean on SATs results?
NS means the expected standard was not achieved. Your child scored below 100 in that test, or too few marks to receive a scaled score.
What does AS mean on SATs results?
AS means the expected standard was achieved. Your child scored 100 or more in that test.
What does EXS mean in SATs?
EXS means working at the expected standard. It is a teacher assessment judgement used for writing and science.
What is the difference between WTS and GDS?
WTS means working towards the expected standard in writing. GDS means working at greater depth, the highest writing judgement.
Related Guides
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Sources: Standards and Testing Agency, Understanding scaled scores at KS2, KS2 teacher assessment guidance 2027 (teacher assessment codes), KS2 tests: registering pupils for the tests and 2027 KS2 assessment and reporting arrangements; Department for Education, Key stage 2 attainment 2025/26.
