Information for parents: 2024 national curriculum tests at the end of key stage 2 (text only version)
Updated 11 March 2024
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1. What are key stage 2 tests?
If you have a child in year 6, at the end of key stage 2 (KS2) they will take national curriculum assessments in:
- English grammar, punctuation and spelling
- English reading
- mathematics
Some people refer to these tests as ‘SATs’.
The tests help measure the attainment of pupils in relation to the standards set out in the national curriculum, and help teachers and parents identify where pupils may need additional support in a certain subject area. The tests are also used to assess schools’ performance, and school-level results data is used to produce national and regional performance statistics.
Your child will sit the KS2 tests on scheduled dates set by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA). If your child is absent on a scheduled test day, they may be able to take any missed tests up to 5 school days afterwards. Your child’s school must apply for a timetable variation and receive approval from STA to allow for this.
For the academic year 2023 to 2024, the KS2 tests are scheduled to take place from Monday 13 May to Thursday 16 May 2024:
| Date | Subject | Test papers |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 13 May | English grammar, punctuation and spelling | Paper 1: Questions Paper 2: Spelling |
| Tuesday 14 May | English reading | English reading |
| Wednesday 15 May | Mathematics | Paper 1: Arithmetic Paper 2: Reasoning |
| Thursday 16 May | Mathematics | Paper 3: Reasoning |
2. Are there any other assessments?
There are no tests for English writing or science at the end of KS2, but performance in these subjects will be reported as a teacher assessment judgement. Your child’s teachers will make this judgement based on your child’s overall work and performance in the subject. As with the tests, this will help to indicate if your child needs more support in the subject.
Teacher assessment judgements in English writing may be externally moderated by the school’s local authority. This is a collaborative process between the school and local authority moderator, to ensure that judgements are consistent with national standards.
If your child is working below the standards of the national curriculum in one or more subjects, they may be assessed under an alternative teacher assessment – either the:
- pre-key stage standards for KS2, if they are engaged in subject-specific study, or
- engagement model, if they are not engaged in subject-specific study
Your child’s school will inform you if this is the case.
3. When will my child receive their results?
Schools can view KS2 test results online from Tuesday 9 July 2024.
Your child’s school will decide how they issue test results to pupils and parents, but you should receive the teacher assessment judgements and test results by the end of the summer term.
Your child’s school will also discuss your child’s overall performance at the end of KS2 with you before the summer holidays and give you the opportunity to raise any questions or concerns you may have about your child’s results.
Schools will review test papers and submit marking review applications if they believe the marking scheme has not been applied correctly. In the rare cases where revisions to results are necessary, they are made once the review process is complete at the end of the summer holidays.
The secondary school your child is moving to will also be able to access your child’s results. This helps them plan how best to support new pupils on entry.