The grammar, punctuation and spelling test consists of two parts: a grammar and punctuation paper requiring short answers, lasting 45 minutes, and an aural spelling test of 20 words, lasting around 15 minutes.

The grammar and punctuation test will include two sub-types of questions:

• Selected response, e.g. ‘Identify the adjectives in the sentence below’
• Constructed response, e.g. ‘Correct/complete/rewrite the sentence below,’ or, ‘The sentence below has an apostrophe missing. Explain why it needs an apostrophe.’

The spelling test requires pupils to correctly spell 20 missing words read aloud within sentences. It tests statutory words and spelling patterns from the national curriculum.  Each word spelt correctly is worth 1 mark.  The test is marked out of 20.

• The test consists of 20 sentences read by the teacher. Each sentence has a missing word that the child fills in on their answer sheet.

• It covers tricky words, statutory vocabulary, and specific spelling rules (e.g., suffixes, prefixes, doubling consonants).

Children sit three papers in maths:

• Paper 1: arithmetic, 30 minutes
• Papers 2 and 3: reasoning, 40 minutes per paper

Paper 1 will consist of fixed response questions, where children have to give the correct answer to calculations, including long multiplication and division. Papers 2 and 3 will involve a number of question types, including:

• Multiple choice
• True or false
• Constrained questions, e.g. giving the answer to a calculation, drawing a shape or completing a table or chart
• Less constrained questions, where children will have to explain their approach for solving a problem

The results of the tests will be shared with schools in July, 2026 and passed on to parents as soon as possible. Before results are released, schools carefully check test scripts and confirm that scores are accurate. This process is usually completed promptly and ensures there is time for any papers to be reviewed or remarked if needed.

When results are shared, you will receive your child’s raw score (the total number of marks achieved), their scaled score, and confirmation of whether your child has met the expected standard, set by the Department for Education.

The range of scaled scores available for each KS2 test is:

• 80-99- working below the national Expected Standard
• 100- 110 working at the Expected Standard
• 111-120 exceeded the Expected Standard

On Monday 20th October, 2025, we held a SATs information meeting for parents and carers. If you were unable to join us, please take a look at the PowerPoint presentation attached, which shares the key information from the session.

If you have any questions or would like further support, please feel free to speak to your child’s class teacher or pop into the Pastoral Pitstop — we’re always happy to help.