SATs preparation and tutoring

Key Stage 2 SATs tuition

Key Stage 2 SATs formally test your child's maths and English abilities with multiple papers...

  • One English reading paper

  • Three mathematics papers

  • Two English spelling, grammar and punctuation papers

An Explore Learning tutor sat at a desk with a child writing in a workbook.

How are Key Stage 2 SATs tests conducted?

Unlike the Key Stage 1 SATs tests, the KS2 tests are conducted under formal exam conditions. The KS2 SATs tests are held on the same dates across primary schools in the country in May for all children in Year 6.

Because of the formal exam conditions, KS2 SATs are timed more strictly than at KS1. The tests can last up to 45 minutes, which can seem like quite a lot for some children. Thankfully there are SATs stress relief activities that can help your child through the process.

We help children see their KS2 SATs exams in a less daunting light by preparing their exam skills...

  • Prepare their knowledge in English and maths to improve confidence

  • Develop exam based skills and an understanding of exam etiquette

  • Encourage children to practise regularly as part of their revision

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What's covered in the Year 6 SATs papers?

The Year 6 SATs exams consist of six papers that test children's ability in maths and English before they finish primary school, and to assess them ahead of secondary school.

English reading - one paper

Children will complete comprehension questions based on three different genres of text provided in a reading booklet.

English spelling, punctuation and grammar - two papers

Paper one tests children's English grammar, punctuation and spelling with a series of questions and spelling tests that require short answers.

Paper two is a spelling based test on a section of text with 20 missing words. An invigilator will read out the text and children will need to correctly spell each missing word.

Maths - three papers

Paper one is an arithmetic test. Children will cover addition and subtraction with whole numbers, decimals and fractions, as well as long division and multiplication.

Papers two and three assess your child's fluency maths fluency and use of mathematical reasoning with multiple choice, true or false and constrained questions where the answer may involve drawing a shape or completing a table/chart.

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Key Stage 2 SATs example questions

Our experts have created a range of practice papers for the Key Stage 2 assessments to help children become familiar with the types of questions and build their core skills in maths and English.

Here is an example question:

Which sentence below uses past progressive tense?

  1. Alex found her homework too easy

  2. Before dad went to work, he had a nap

  3. Ross showed me his new car

  4. Rachel was learning a dance for the competition

Answer: 4

Explore learning tutor high fiving a child in a centre

Year 6 SATs preparation: our approach

Year 6 SATs will likely be your child’s first experience with formal national testing. We’re here to help prepare them for these exams and beyond.

  • Mapped to the National Curriculum: Every tuition session will support your child towards their exams

  • A tailored approach: every child learns differently, and we'll take an approach to your child's learning that works for them on an individual level

  • Go beyond the SATs: we're committed to ensuring your child takes on the challenge of secondary school with confidence.

SATs tuition from £114 / month

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Year 6 SATs FAQs

When do schools and teachers receive KS2 SATs results?

Results are usually returned to schools in July. Around this time, you may see head teachers taking to social media to share the news of how their pupils have done in the recent tests and many parents then receive information about their child’s results over the coming weeks.

How are KS2 SATs marked?

Children will 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 year.

When will I know my child's KS2 SATs results?

Each individual school will decide how they give pupils’ results to parents. Many schools send a sheet of results home with the child’s end of term school report. Each child will receive confirmation of whether they achieved the national standard. 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.

Will the KS2 SATs results be used by secondary schools?

Secondary school teachers will be told their incoming pupils’ 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.

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