Key Stage 2 SATS

 

The Key Stages

Between the ages of 5 and 16 there are four Key Stages.  There are exams at the end of each of these, (ages 7, 11, 14 and 16)

Our children undertake SATS at the end of Year 2 and Year 6.

By law, every state school in England has to take part in the SATs.

Levels of Attainment

There are 10 levels of attainment in the English National Curriculum.

Children starting Primary School begin at Level 1 and are expected to be working towards Level 5 by the age of 11.

The English ‘national target level’ at age 11 is Level 4 in the tests.

This is a rough guide to what the levels mean when leaving Year 6

Level

Implications for your child when they leave primary school :

1 or 2

Your child’s results are well below average.

3

Your child has not gained the national target in one (or more) of the subjects tested. Your child may have just missed getting Level 4, in which case it could just be a matter of your child needing to settle down and work a bit harder! If your child is only just working above Level 2  the problem is more serious.

4

Your child should not have any serious difficulties with the work set in Year 7. They need to keep working well to maintain their high standards.

5

This is a very high standard. Few children reach this upper level at the end of primary school. (In Hamilton a number of children reach this level every year.)

The Tests

During one week in May there are a series of tests which cover the following :  

English

4 tests

Writing

35%

Reading for Understanding

50%

Spelling 

10%

Handwriting

5%

Mathematics

3 tests

Paper A (no calculator)

Paper B (with calculator)

Mental Maths Test

Science (until May 2009)

2 tests

Papers A and B

These test ALL of the science work covered in Years 5 and 6.

 

These tests are sent away to be marked.   

 

The tests vary in length and difficulty. 

If you would like to see examples of questions from the SATs the children did in  May 2001, click on one of the following buttons.  

 HOME          ENGLISH           MATHS

Preparing for the Tests

The School -

·         Prepares the children for the types of questions they will see in the SATs.

 

·         Uses texts that are designed to revise and extend the knowledge required for the tests.

The children need to play their part in this preparation, (they don’t get much choice for most of it!). The vital message is always ‘Do Your Best’. We are just as pleased when a child manages to work hard and gain a Level 3, as a child who finds the work more easy gains the target Level 4.

They need to do their homework.  

How you can help.

Some parents wish to purchase additional practice books - these are available at the main book shops.

The BBC produce a good set of books called ‘Revise Wise’ - there are several other equally good books. Hint - take the answers out of the book, (most are designed to be detached), and talk with your child about the work they complete while you mark it.

CD-ROMs and computer disks - these are quite good, but not really as good as the books. However, most children will prefer to use this method of study.

If you want to find out more try this internet site. It is put together by the BBC and has examples of questions, quizzes and work the children should be doing in preparation for the SATs

 BBC Sats page. Click here.

 

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