Parents' guide to SATs tests 2024

If your child is in primary school you're likely to be aware of the Standard Assessment Tests or SATs that they'll be expected to take at certain times in their primary school life.

Pupils in Year 2 and Year 6 sit regulated tests to investigate their understanding of core English and Maths. The guide below should be able to answer your SAT-related questions:

Key stage 1 SATs for Year 2 students will take place during May 2024, with the specific dates decided by each school.

As of the 2023-2024 academic year, schools were given the choice whether the administer KS1 SATs to their pupils. If a pupil’s school opts to carry out KS1 SATs, these will be marked by the school and results will be released to parents via the class teacher. The assessments will test pupils’ levels of maths and English, in addition to a grammar, punctuation and spelling test.

The Key Stage 1 maths tests will check skills on arithmetic and reasoning.

The arithmetic test will test skills on things like adding and subtracting, using fractions, decimals, and percentages.

The reasoning test is all about showing your child's understanding of how to work things out - like algebra, volumes and simplifying fractions.

These national curriculum assessments are not strictly timed, and many pupils will not realise they are taking them as many teachers incorporate them into their normal lessons.

KS1 SATs are used by teachers to help them determine the performance of pupils and detect what they might need as they progress into KS2.

BBC Bitesize has resources to help your child with their Maths and English revision:

Maths arithmetic

Maths reasoning

Maths KS1

English KS1 - Grammar, punctuation and spelling

The KS2 SATs dates for 2024 are Monday, 13 May to Thursday, 16 May. Have a look at the table below for the dates of each test.

If your child attends a state school, KS2 SATs will continue to be required. The assessments are used to help measure the progress pupils have made in KS2 and also detect any additional support they may need as they proceed into KS3.

At KS2, the tests are more strictly timed. Although most pupils will complete the test without a break, teachers are able to give pupils breaks if they feel it is necessary. Pupils with additional needs may have access to personal arrangements during the SATs assessments.

Use these Bitesize resources with your child to help ready them for their SATs:

SATs English Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar resources

KS2 English Reading resources

SATs Maths Paper 1 (Arithmetic) resources

SATs Maths Paper 2 (Reasoning) resources