Year 2 KS1 and Year 6 KS2 SATs scores explained

Many parents will be receiving information about their child’s SATs results over the coming weeks, so we’ve put together a handy guide to understanding the KS1 and KS2 SATs scores and answering your SATs results queries!

What do SATs results mean?

The purpose of SATs is to ensure that schools are accountable for children’s progress.

SATs are taken in year 2 (KS1) and year 6 (KS2) and scored on a scale of 80-100.

What does SATs stand for?

SATs is an acronym for Standard Assessment Tests. SATs are Standard Assessment Tests designed to find out if children are on track to meet the expected standards in English and maths as set out by the government. 

KS1 results explained (Year 2 SATs results)

Although the KS1 tests are set externally, they are marked by teachers within the school. This year, children’s raw scores (the actual number of marks they get) will be translated into a scaled score. A test score of 100 or more means a child is working at the government expected standard, and a score below 100 indicates that a child hasn’t met the expected standard. The maximum score possible is 115, and the minimum is 85.

Teachers are given conversion tables to translate their pupils’ raw scores into scaled scores, which they’ll then use to inform their teacher assessment. This means the score that your child is given may not be just the result they achieved in their SATs but a score based on SATs results, classwork and the teacher’s observations.

To meet government expectations, pupils must achieve 100 in their scaled scores. But this equates to different marks for each paper (maths; reading; grammar, punctuation and spelling) and can change each year.

KS2 SATs results explained (Year 6 SATs results)

All papers children take for Key Stage 2 SATs are marked externally and the results are used to measure the school’s performance.

From 2016, National Curriculum levels were abolished and instead children will now receive a scaled score. Their raw score (the actual number of marks they get) will be translated into a scaled score. Tests are set each year to the same specification, but because questions must be different, the difficulty of tests may vary slightly each year. For this reason, raw scores are converted into scaled scores to ensure accurate comparisons of pupil performance over time.

A scaled score of 100 or more means a child is working at the expected standard – termed ‘AS’, while a score below 100 indicates that a child hasn’t reached the government expected standard – termed ‘NS’. The maximum score possible is 120, and the minimum is 80.

To meet government expectations, pupils must achieve 100 in their scaled scores. However, this equates to different marks for each paper (maths; reading; grammar, punctuation and spelling) and can change each school year.

What is a good SATs score: UK?

A ‘good’ score in the SATs is entirely down to the individual student and their goals and abilities. A good result will look different for everyone.

The highest score achievable for KS1 is 115, and for KS2 it is 120. If your child has achieved anything above 100, it means they have exceeded expectations.

What score is a pass in SATs?

The SATS pass mark or expected standard is 100. If a child scores below 85 (KS1) or 80 (KS2), it means they have not reached the expected standard.

When do the 2026 SATs results come out?

KS1 SATs results are usually ready by the end of July. However, you will have to ask the school for the results.

KS2 provisional SATs results are received by the school by the end of July and are usually included in the end-of-term report. This year, your child will receive their results on Thursday, 16 July 2026.

How do you find 2026 SATs results?

Each school will decide how they give pupils’ results to parents.

For key stage 1 SATs, it is unlikely that you’ll receive your child’s actual SATs scores unless you ask for them, but you will be told whether your child is working at the expected standard as part of their end-of-KS1 report.

For key stage 2, many schools send a results sheet home with the child’s end-of-term school report. Each child will receive confirmation of whether they achieved the national standard. (‘NS’ means the expected standard was not achieved; ‘AS’ means the expected standard was achieved). As a parent, you might be given your child’s scaled score or a code, but you are unlikely to be told your child’s raw score.

Do secondary schools use SATs results?

Secondary school teachers will be told the incoming pupils’ SATs scaled scores. The way these scores will be used will vary between schools; some will use scaled scores to set year 7 pupils in maths and English, others may use a combination of SATs results and year 7 CATs (Cognitive Ability Tests) or their own internal tests at the start of secondary school.

SATs results are only one part of the picture. With the right support over the summer, your child can start Year 7 ready to thrive. Book a free trial to see how we can support their transition to secondary school.

SATs results glossary

Not sure what the codes on your child's SATs results mean? Use this glossary to understand the abbreviations you'll see on their results.

• AS – Achieved expected standard

• NS – Not achieved expected standard

• A – Absent from test

• M – Missing from test

• GDS – Working at greater depth within the expected standard (writing)

• EXS – Working at the expected standard

• WTS – Working towards the expected standard

• HNM- Not met the expected standard (reading and maths assessments)

• PKG – Pre-key stage, growing development of the expected standard. Working at a level lower than expected

• PKF – Pre-key stage, foundations for the expected standard. Working at a level that is significantly lower than the expected

• BLW: Working below the pre-key stage standards (lowest level of attainment)

SATs and league tables

SATs results contribute to primary school performance measures and league tables, but they're only one part of the picture. Schools are assessed using a combination of pupils' attainment and progress in reading, writing and maths, rather than the results of an individual child alone.

While your child's SATs results form part of the data used to calculate these measures, they won't determine a school's position in the league tables on their own. For parents, SATs results are most useful as an indication of how their child is progressing and whether they may benefit from additional support before starting secondary school.

SATs Format

Understanding the format of the SATs can help make sense of your child's results. The Year 6 tests include the following papers:

• English grammar, punctuation and spelling

  • Paper 1: Questions

  • Paper 2: Spelling

• English reading

  • Reading comprehension

• Maths

  • Paper 1: Arithmetic

  • Paper 2: Reasoning

  • Paper 3: Reasoning

Help your child start Year 7 with confidence

Now that SATs are over, the summer holidays are the perfect opportunity to prepare for the move to secondary school. Building confidence in maths and English before September can help your child settle into Year 7 feeling ready for new challenges.

At Explore Learning, we create personalised learning programmes that help every child progress at their own pace. Whether your child wants to strengthen key skills, build confidence or get ahead before secondary school, our expert tutors are here to support them every step of the way.

Book a free trial to discover how our award-winning maths and English tuition can help your child make a confident start to Year 7. With both online and in-centre tuition available, we're here to help every child thrive from day one.