Guidance

2026 optional key stage 1 tests guidance

Updated 29 September 2025

1. About this guidance

This guidance sets out how schools can access and use the optional end of key stage 1 (KS1) national curriculum tests for the academic year 2025 to 2026.

While the tests are optional, this guidance provides information about how schools can use the tests, including when they will be available and how to get the most out of them.

This guidance is for:

• all staff who would like to use the optional KS1 tests
• headteachers and senior leadership teams

2. Changes for the academic year 2025 to 2026

2.1 New Test Operations Services provider

From September 2025, Pearson Education Limited (Pearson) will provide the Test Operations Service, supporting national curriculum assessments on behalf of the Standards and Testing Agency (STA).

You can find more information about this in the New Test Operations Service provider: information for schools and local authorities.

2.2 National Curriculum Assessments Portal

The Primary Assessment Gateway has been replaced by the National Curriculum Assessments Portal (NCA Portal), developed by Pearson.

The NCA Portal uses multifactor authentication (MFA) to help protect pupil data and ensure secure access. On the first sign in of each day, users will need to enter a unique 6-digit verification code, which will be sent to their registered email address.

Schools can use the NCA Portal to:

• order modified versions of the optional KS1 test materials
• download standard and modified large print (MLP) versions of the optional KS1 test materials, including mark schemes (but not braille versions)
• download raw score to scaled score conversion tables and compensatory marks for spelling

For full instructions and support on how to access the system and manage user accounts, please refer to the guidance on how to access the NCA Portal.

2.3 National curriculum assessments customer service

The national curriculum assessments helpline, which will now be operated by Pearson, will remain open with the same contact details:

• telephone: 0300 303 3013 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5pm)
• email: assessments@education.gov.uk

During September, when activities for the previous and current academic years are still ongoing, arrangements will be in place to ensure that the most appropriate agents are available to answer your queries. When you make a call, there will be recorded instructions to ensure your query is directed appropriately.

NCA Portal users can now also submit helpdesk requests directly via the ‘Support’ section within the NCA Portal. Requests submitted by telephone or email will appear within the user’s NCA Portal account, allowing them to track progress, receive updates and respond to queries securely within the system.

3. Important dates

These dates are subject to change. If any changes are needed due to circumstances beyond our control, we will inform schools at the appropriate time in our assessment updates and on GOV.UK.

3.1 Important dates for 2025

Date	Action
September	Optional KS1 teacher assessment (TA) guidance published
October	Optional KS1 tests access arrangements guidance published
Monday 13 October to Friday 14 November	Form available on the NCA Portal for all schools to order modified versions of the optional KS1 tests

3.2 Important dates for 2026

Date	Action
March	Optional KS1 test administration guidance published
Monday 27 April to Friday 1 May	Schools receive optional KS1 modified test materials
Throughout May	Recommended optional KS1 test administration window
Friday 1 May	Optional KS1 test materials and mark schemes available to download from the NCA Portal – see Ordering and downloading test materials
Friday 1 May	Raw score to scaled score conversion tables and compensatory marks for spelling available to download from the NCA Portal
Monday 1 June	Optional KS1 test materials and raw score to scaled score conversion tables available on GOV.UK

4. Optional key stage 1 tests

4.1 Overview of tests

The optional KS1 tests are designed to assess pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the KS1 programmes of study, as set out in the KS1 test frameworks. Schools can choose to use these to support their measurement of pupil attainment.

The optional KS1 tests consist of:

• English reading Paper 1: combined reading prompt and answer booklet
• English reading Paper 2: reading booklet and reading answer booklet
• mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic
• mathematics Paper 2: reasoning
• English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: spelling
• English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: questions

The optional KS1 tests are not designed to be strictly timed. We recommend that teachers use their discretion to give pupils a rest break during any test, or to stop a test early, if appropriate.

English reading test

There are 2 English reading papers. Both papers contain a selection of texts that are designed to increase in difficulty. They include a mixture of text types.

Paper 1 consists of a combined reading prompt and answer booklet. The test takes approximately 30 minutes.

Paper 2 consists of an answer booklet and a separate reading booklet. It contains more challenging texts than Paper 1 and takes approximately 40 minutes.

Mathematics test

The mathematics test comprises 2 components, presented to pupils as 2 test papers.

Paper 1: arithmetic consists of a single test paper and takes approximately 20 minutes.

Paper 2: reasoning consists of a single test paper and takes approximately 35 minutes. This paper includes an aural practice question and 5 aural questions. After the aural questions, the remainder of the paper should take approximately 30 minutes.

English grammar, punctuation and spelling test

The English grammar, punctuation and spelling test includes 2 papers.

Paper 1: spelling consists of a test transcript, to be read by the test administrator, and an answer booklet for pupils to write 20 spellings. This test takes approximately 15 minutes.

Paper 2: questions consists of a combined question and answer booklet focusing on pupils’ knowledge of grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. This test takes approximately 20 minutes.

4.2 Past test materials

Past test materials are available to use alongside, or help teachers prepare for, the optional KS1 tests. These include past standard and MLP versions of the tests, test administration instructions and mark schemes.

You can request past versions of the braille papers from the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or by emailing MTH@iwanttoconnect.co.uk.

4.3 Test frameworks

We continue to use the test frameworks to develop the optional KS1 tests. There is one available for each test. Although written for test developers, these may also be of interest to schools.

Teachers should not use the test frameworks to guide teaching and learning. They do not provide information on how schools should teach the national curriculum.

4.4 Ordering and downloading test materials

All schools can order modified versions of the 2025 optional KS1 tests on the NCA Portal from Monday 13 October to Friday 14 November.

All schools will be able to access and download standard and MLP versions of the optional KS1 test papers and mark schemes from the ‘Download KS1 test materials’ form within the ‘Activities’ section of the NCA Portal from Friday 1 May.

4.5 Test materials

Standard versions of the test materials are A4 (297mm x 210mm) with multi-tonal diagrams and illustrations. Standard materials use an STA-developed font called ‘Key Stage 1’ at 15 point. We also develop modified versions of the tests, which are primarily designed for pupils with significant visual impairments, although they may be suitable for pupils with other needs. The MLP papers use ‘Arial Bold’ at 18 point, with ‘Arial Bold’ at 24 point used for emphasis (replacing the use of bold in standard materials). Modified papers may be appropriate even where a pupil may not necessarily have an identified special educational need or disability.

The modified tests available are:

• MLP versions, which are A4 but with more white space than the standard versions – some diagrams are substituted for a high-contrast design or require the use of physical models
• braille versions, available in uncontracted (Grade 1) Unified English Braille (UEB) only, which are A4 – diagrams are produced in tactile formats or as physical models, and a larger booklet (297mm x 275mm) is produced for the English reading prompt and answer booklet

All schools can order modified versions of the tests on the NCA Portal until Friday 14 November.

Schools can contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or by emailing MTH@iwanttoconnect.co.uk to:

• make late orders for modified materials after Friday 14 November, until Friday 1 May – for example, where a pupil arrives in school after the initial deadline or if a pupil’s needs change
• ask for further advice about which modified materials may be suitable
• request hard copies of braille tests from previous years

4.6 Delivery of modified test materials

Schools will receive optional modified test materials in the week beginning Monday 27 April.

Schools should contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 if:

• modified test materials have not arrived by Friday 1 May
• materials arrive unsealed or damaged
• anything is missing from the delivery

Delivery and collection locations

Modified test materials will be delivered to school addresses taken from Get Information about Schools (GIAS). Schools that order modified test materials must ensure their details are up to date and sign in to GIAS using DfE Sign-in to make changes.

Where schools operate across multiple sites, the headteacher should securely transport test materials between them, if this is practical. However, some schools have very dispersed sites and others may move to a temporary site part way through the academic year. If you would like to discuss alternative delivery arrangements, contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013.

4.7 Security of test materials

To help maintain the integrity of the optional KS1 tests for schools that choose to administer them under test conditions, we ask that all schools treat all test materials as confidential from when they are received or downloaded until Monday 1 June, and follow the guidance on keeping materials secure in the test administration guidance.

5. Test participation

5.1 Participating pupils

The tests have been designed for pupils in year 2 who will:

• have reached the age of 7 by the end of the academic year 2025 to 2026
• have completed the relevant KS1 programmes of study
• be moving on to KS2 at the end of the academic year 2025 to 2026

The optional KS1 tests have not been designed for pupils who are working below the standard of the national curriculum tests. We recommend that schools consider using the pre-key stage 1 standards or engagement model to assess these pupils at the end of KS1, as appropriate.

5.2 Access arrangements

The optional KS1 tests are intended to assess pupils’ abilities in a fair and comparable way. They are designed so that most pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) can participate using the standard versions. However, a small number of pupils may need additional arrangements.

Access arrangements are adjustments that schools can make to support specific pupils. If the school chooses to administer the tests under test conditions, the support provided should be primarily based on normal classroom practice.

6. Test administration

6.1 Administering the tests

The optional tests are intended to support classroom practice, and there are no requirements for how these should be administered. Schools may choose to use the materials in a way that best suits their pupils. However, schools should be aware that the materials have been carefully developed in line with the provided test administration instructions and mark schemes, to maintain consistency. To maximise the value of the tests and administer them in line with previous years, schools can follow the test administration guidance , which will be published in March. We will also provide test administration instructions alongside the optional KS1 tests.

The tests are designed to be taken at the end of the KS1 programmes of study. We suggest that schools administer the tests during May, to help inform how schools can support pupils with their transition to KS2 ahead of time.

6.2 Marking the tests

Schools can mark the optional KS1 tests using the mark schemes available on the NCA Portal from Friday 1 May. We recommend that tests are marked by a member of staff familiar with the pupil, as marking requires professional judgement about which responses are correct.

6.3 Using test results

The purpose of the optional tests is to support the evaluation of pupil achievement and to help schools understand where pupils need additional support as they transition to KS2.

Raw score to scaled score conversion tables and compensatory marks for spelling will be available for schools to download from the NCA Portal on Friday 1 May. We will also publish them in the GOV.UK collection of past test materials on Monday 1 June.

Teachers can use the tables to convert pupils’ raw scores into scaled scores, to see whether each pupil has met the expected standard in the tests. The use of scaled scores enables accurate comparisons of pupil performance over time.

Schools are not required to report results to parents or local authorities, and they will not be used for school accountability purposes.

7. Teacher assessment

Teacher assessment is also optional at the end of KS1, but schools are encouraged to continue using the non-statutory end of KS1 teacher assessment frameworks to support classroom practice. The optional KS1 teacher assessment guidance can support schools with this.

8. Reporting to parents

8.1 Annual reports

Headteachers of maintained schools, including maintained special schools, must prepare annual reports for every pupil’s parents. Details of this are outlined in the ‘Reporting to parents’ section of the phonics screening check assessment and reporting arrangements.

Schools are encouraged to provide additional information to parents at the end of KS1, as their child transitions to KS2. Schools may wish to include results of the optional tests and teacher assessments in their annual reports to parents, as part of the information on the pupil’s achievements and general progress. Reporting these outcomes will help parents understand where they may be able to support their child.

Academies’ requirements are set out in their funding agreements.

You can find more information relating to data handling in the ‘Keeping and maintaining records’ section of the phonics screening check assessment and reporting arrangements.

9. Help and support

9.1 Useful websites and links

• NCA Portal
• How to access the NCA Portal
• GIAS
• Collection of optional KS1 tests guidance, including test administration guidance and access arrangements guidance
• Collection of past test materials, including mark schemes and scaled score conversion tables

9.2 General enquiries

For general enquiries about the optional KS1 tests, contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or at assessments@education.gov.uk.

9.3 Modified tests

Schools can discuss the suitability, or make late orders for braille and MLP versions (between Friday 14 November and Friday 1 May), of the optional KS1 tests by contacting the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or by emailing MTH@iwanttoconnect.co.uk.