• Key Stage 2 SATs • Scores
Your child’s KS2 SATs results are reported as scaled scores from 80 to 120. A score of 100 or more means they have met the expected standard. So what counts as a good score? This guide explains how the scores work, the marks needed for each score in 2026 and how pupils performed nationally.
On this page
The Quick Answer
- A scaled score of 100 or more means your child has met the expected standard in that test.
- A score of 110 or more is the higher standard. In 2026, 31% of pupils reached it in reading and 27% in maths.
- The national average in 2026 was 106 in reading, 105 in maths and 105 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.
- A good score is also a personal one. Progress from your child’s own starting point matters as much as the number.
How KS2 SATs Scores Work
At the end of Year 6, pupils sit three national curriculum tests: grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS), reading and maths. The papers are marked externally, not by your child’s teachers. Each subject gives a raw score (the number of marks) which is then converted into a scaled score.
| 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 tests are different every year, so some years are slightly harder than others. Scaled scores make results comparable from one year to the next. If a test is harder, fewer marks are needed to reach 100. If it is easier, more marks are needed. Read more in our guide to understanding scaled scores at Key Stage 2.
Marks Needed in 2026
The Standards and Testing Agency publishes the raw score needed for each scaled score every July. These were the marks for the 2026 tests:
| Test | Score of 100 | Score of 110 | Score of 120 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 25 out of 50 | 39 out of 50 | 47 out of 50 |
| Maths | 56 out of 110 | 94 out of 110 | 109 out of 110 |
| Grammar, punctuation and spelling | 34 out of 70 | 55 out of 70 | 66 out of 70 |
Pupils needed at least 3 marks in a test to be awarded the lowest scaled score of 80.
Remember: these marks apply to the 2026 tests only. If your child is practising with KS2 SATs practice papers from another year, use the conversion table for that year.
What Counts as a Good Score?
There is no pass or fail in KS2 SATs. Instead, each scaled score shows where your child is working compared with the expected standard for the end of primary school.
| Scaled score | Standard | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| 110 to 120 | Higher standard | Working well above the expected standard. 120 is the highest score possible. |
| 100 to 109 | Expected standard | Your child has met the expected standard in the test. |
| 80 to 99 | Expected standard not met | Your child may need more support to reach the expected standard. |
A score below 100 does not mean a child cannot read or do maths. The Department for Education points out that scores below the expected standard cover a wide range, with some pupils very close to it.
Tip: compare your child’s score with where they started, not just with 100. A score of 97 can be a real achievement for a child who found reading hard in Year 5 and a 112 is worth celebrating at any level.
How Pupils Did Nationally in 2026
These national figures for England help you see how your child’s results compare:
| Subject | Expected standard | Higher standard | Average score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading | 75% | 31% | 106 |
| Maths | 75% | 27% | 105 |
| Grammar, punctuation and spelling | 74% | 30% | 105 |
| Writing (teacher assessed) | 73% | 13% (greater depth) | No scaled score |
| Reading, writing and maths combined | 63% | 9% | No scaled score |
The share of pupils meeting the expected standard in all of reading, writing and maths rose from 62% in 2025 to 63% in 2026. It is still below the 65% recorded in 2019, before the pandemic.
Writing and Science
Writing and science are not tested in an exam. Your child’s teacher judges their work across the year against national frameworks, so there is no scaled score for these subjects.
- Writing: working towards the expected standard, working at the expected standard or working at greater depth within the expected standard.
- Science: has not met the expected standard or working at the expected standard.
Find out more in our guide: what does SATs teacher assessment mean?
What Your Child’s Results Will Show
Before the end of the summer term, your child’s school will send you a report that includes:
- a scaled score for reading, maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling
- whether your child met the expected standard in each test (schools see this as AS for achieved or NS for not achieved)
- the teacher assessment outcomes for writing and science
- how your child’s results compare with other pupils in the school and nationally
Results for the May 2027 tests will be released to schools on Tuesday 6 July 2027. Individual results are never published, although your child’s secondary school can view them. See when KS2 SATs results are released for more detail.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a pass mark for KS2 SATs?
There is no pass or fail. A scaled score of 100 or more means your child met the expected standard. In 2026 that needed 25 out of 50 in reading and 56 out of 110 in maths.
What is the highest SATs score?
The highest scaled score is 120 and the lowest is 80. In 2026 a score of 120 needed 47 out of 50 in reading.
Is 110 a good SATs score?
Yes. 110 is the higher standard. In 2026, 31% of pupils reached it in reading and 27% in maths.
What does a score below 100 mean?
Your child has not yet met the expected standard in that test. Their teachers and secondary school use the results to plan any extra support they need.
Do secondary schools see SATs results?
Yes. Secondary schools can access the KS2 results of pupils joining them in Year 7.
Related Guides
Help your child build confidence in maths and English
Monster Learning gives children curriculum-aligned maths and English activities, games and SATs-style practice papers, with instant feedback after every attempt.
Teacher or school leader? Start a free school trial.
Sources: Standards and Testing Agency, 2026 KS2 scaled score conversion tables, Understanding scaled scores at KS2 and 2027 KS2 assessment and reporting arrangements; Department for Education, Key stage 2 attainment 2025/26.
