All about SATS
By Sean Callery
Your child will sit two lots of tests at primary school, called Standard Assessment Tasks (SATs). SATs take place at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2), around Easter time, and at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6), usually in May, and cover the three core subjects of English, maths and science.
Tests at Key Stage 1 - Year 2
Your child's teacher judges what level each child has reached, based on what they have done in class. The children then do short pieces of work to show their ability in maths and English (reading, writing and spelling), which are marked by the teacher. Science levels are decided by teacher assessment only.
Levels at KS1
- W: 'Working towards' level 1 - very weak
- Level 1: Below average
- Level 2c: Just about level 2
- Level 2b: A solid level 2
- Level 2a: Good skills
- Level 3: Excellent - likely to reach level 5 at KS2
- Level 4: Amazingly able (and extremely rare)
Tests at Key Stage 2 - Year 6
These are much more formal than the earlier SATs. Children sit exams in the three core subjects - English, maths and science. They are shown how many marks each question is worth: one, two or three. This should help them know how much effort to put into answering each one. For example a 'one mark' answer often only requires one word, while a 'three marker' may need two or three sentences. Papers are sent away to be marked. A score of just over half the available marks will usually achieve level four.
Levels
- U: Below level two
- Level 2: Well below the required standard
- Level 3: Below average
- Level 4: The expected level for most primary children
- Level 5: Very able
English
There are three papers:
- Reading
The children have 15 minutes to read a story or poem, and some information writing, all roughly based around a theme such as 'spiders' or 'bicycles'. They then have 45 minutes to answer questions about the texts. Some are tick-boxes and for others they need to write a few phrases to answer (it doesn't have to be in sentences).
The questions range from the literal (who does what, when) to the deductive (where, for example, they have to work out how someone is feeling from what they say). Your child will be encouraged to say which parts of the text told him the answer.
- Writing
Children will complete two tests: The Short Writing Test will last about 20 minutes and children will have to complete a piece of writing in that time.
The Long Writing Test will last about 45 minutes. Children will need to write a longer piece including spending up to 15 minutes planning.
Handwriting is now going to be assessed in the Writing Tests so children will need to write 'in neat' all the time.
- Spelling and handwriting
Your child will be given a sheet of writing with 20 gaps in it, and played a cassette tape on which the complete text is read. He will have to fill in the gaps. This paper is worth 15 of the 100 available marks - so poor spellers can still achieve level 4. Handwriting (previously assessed in this test) is now going to be assessed in the Writing Tests so children will need to write 'in neat' all the time.
Maths
This also involves three papers.
The first two cover lots of calculating skills, understanding of shapes, symmetry and reading charts.
- The first paper has a range of problems from straight sums to practical examples (like working out how many cakes fit on a tray).
- The second paper has a similar mix of problems, but this time the children are allowed to use calculators, so the numbers tend to be trickier - bigger, or decimal.
In both of these papers, children are encouraged to show how they got an answer, and can get marks for a sensible try at a question even if they get the answer wrong.
Children will also be expected to show an understanding of how to use and apply their mathematical knowledge in a variety of ways or 'to think like a mathematician'.
- The third paper is on mental skills. Children are played a tape of 20 questions, and given either five, 10 or 15 seconds to answer them on a prepared sheet.
Children with special needs who need questions read to them, or whose writing is hard to read (and need a helper to write it for them) can be given extra time in these tests.
Science
There are two science papers, each of 45 minutes, asking questions based on the science children are taught in KS2. In 2003 for the first time children will be assessed on how they manage and think about Scientific Enquiry. This will involve them thinking about an investigation or experiment and answering questions about the described activity.
Leaving primary school
On leaving primary school, your child will probably move onto (usually) bigger schools and the delights of Key Stage 3. If he coped with KS2, he'll have a good foundation to continue to learn. All children leave clutching a report which says what level they achieved in each of the three core subjects.
Sean Callery is a primary school teacher and writer from Oxfordshire. Additional information for this article was provided by Rising Stars.
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