• Key Stage 2 SATs • The Basics
SATs is the name most people use for the national curriculum tests that primary pupils in England take at the end of Key Stage 2 in Year 6. This guide explains what the tests are, when they happen, how they are marked and how they fit alongside the other checks your child will take at primary school.
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The Quick Answer
- SATs are the national curriculum tests taken at the end of Year 6 in May.
- Pupils sit tests in reading, maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling. Writing and science are assessed by teachers.
- Results are reported as scaled scores from 80 to 120. A score of 100 or more means a pupil has met the expected standard.
- SATs at the end of Year 2 (KS1) have been optional since 2023/24.
What Are SATs?
The official name for SATs is “national curriculum assessments”. The tests are set by the Standards and Testing Agency, part of the Department for Education. They show how pupils are doing against the standards in the national curriculum and help teachers and parents see where a child may need extra support.
KS2 test results are also used to report on school performance through the government’s Compare School and College Performance service and to produce national and regional statistics. Your child’s individual results are never published.
The KS2 SATs in Year 6
Pupils take three tests, made up of six papers:
| Test | Papers | Total marks |
|---|---|---|
| Grammar, punctuation and spelling | Paper 1: questions (50 marks) Paper 2: spelling (20 marks) | 70 |
| Reading | One reading paper (50 marks) | 50 |
| Maths | Paper 1: arithmetic (40 marks) Papers 2 and 3: reasoning (35 marks each) | 110 |
The papers are sent away and marked externally, not by your child’s teachers. In 2027 the tests take place from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May. See our guide to KS2 SATs dates for the full timetable.
Writing and Science
There is no SATs test for writing or science. Instead, your child’s teacher judges their work across the year against national frameworks. For writing, pupils are assessed as working towards the expected standard, working at the expected standard or working at greater depth. Read more in what SATs teacher assessment means.
Are There SATs in Year 2?
Key Stage 1 SATs in Year 2 have been optional since 2023/24. Schools can still use the tests in reading, maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling to check how pupils are doing, usually in May, but there is no requirement to report the results to parents. Find out more in our guide: are KS1 SATs optional?
Other Primary Assessments
SATs are not the only national assessments at primary school. These are the statutory checks for 2026 to 2027:
| Assessment | Year group | When |
|---|---|---|
| Reception baseline assessment | Reception | Within the first 6 weeks of starting reception |
| Early years foundation stage profile | Reception | Between April and June |
| Phonics screening check | Year 1 | The week from Monday 14 June 2027 |
| Multiplication tables check | Year 4 | The 2 weeks from Monday 7 June 2027 |
| KS2 SATs | Year 6 | Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027 |
How SATs Are Scored
Each test gives a raw score (the number of marks) which is converted into a scaled score from 80 to 120. A score of 100 or more means your child has met the expected standard. In 2026, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading and 75% in maths. See what is a good KS2 SATs score? for the marks needed and what each score means.
SATs Jargon Explained
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Expected standard | The standard pupils are expected to reach by the end of Year 6. In the tests, it means a scaled score of 100 or more. |
| Higher standard | A scaled score of 110 or more in a test. |
| Raw score | The number of marks your child scored in a test. |
| Scaled score | The raw score converted to a score from 80 to 120 so results can be compared from year to year. |
| GPS (or SPaG) | The grammar, punctuation and spelling test. |
| Teacher assessment | Your child’s teacher’s judgement of their work in writing and science. |
| STA | The Standards and Testing Agency, which develops and runs the tests. |
Are SATs Compulsory?
Yes, for most pupils. All Year 6 pupils at maintained schools, academies and special schools must be registered for the KS2 tests. Independent schools can choose whether to take part.
In some situations the headteacher may decide a pupil should not sit the tests, for example if they are working below the standard of the tests or cannot access them even with support. The school should discuss this with you first.
Are SATs Changing?
The government’s response to the Curriculum and Assessment Review, published in November 2025, confirmed there are no plans to radically change primary assessment. The arrangements for 2026 to 2027 are unchanged. Longer term, the grammar, punctuation and spelling test will be amended to focus more on using grammar in writing and the writing assessment will be improved. A revised national curriculum is due to be taught from September 2028 and test changes will follow once pupils have learned the new content.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the official name for SATs?
National curriculum assessments. The government’s own guidance notes that most people refer to them as SATs.
What age are children when they take SATs?
KS2 SATs are taken in May of Year 6, when most children are 10 or 11.
Can you fail SATs?
No. There is no pass or fail. A scaled score below 100 means your child has not yet met the expected standard and may need more support.
Can my child’s secondary school see their SATs results?
Yes. Secondary schools can access the KS2 results of pupils joining them, which helps them plan how best to support new pupils.
Related Guides
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Sources: Standards and Testing Agency, 2027 KS2 national curriculum tests: information for parents and Primary assessments: future dates; Department for Education, Key stage 2 attainment 2025/26 and Curriculum and Assessment Review: government response.
