Changes to the 2016 SAT’s Assessments Key Stage 1
In the academic year 2014/15 a new curriculum framework was introduced for years 1, 3, 4 and 5. Years 2 and 6, due to statutory testing, continued to study the previous curriculum for one further year. These new more rigorous tests reflect the changes to the national curriculum and the new higher expectations.
At the end of Year 2, children will take SATs in:
Key Stage 1 Reading
The new reading test for Year 2 pupils will involve two separate papers:
Each paper is worth 50 per cent of the marks, and should take around 30 minutes, but children will not be strictly timed, as the tests are not intended to assess children’s ability to work at speed. The texts in the reading papers will cover a range of fiction, nonfiction and poetry, and will get progressively more difficult towards the end of the test.
Teachers will have the option to stop the test at any point that they feel is appropriate for a particular child.
There will be a variety of question types:
Key Stage 1 Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation
Children taking Key Stage 1 SATs will sit three separate papers in grammar, spelling and punctuation:
Key Stage 1 Maths
The new Key Stage 1 maths test will comprise two papers:
When will the KS1 SATs take place?
The new-style KS1 SATs are due to be administered in May 2018.
How will the tests be marked?
Although the tests are set externally, they will be marked by teachers within the school. Instead of the old national curriculum levels, children will be given a standardised score – although this may not be communicated to parents. Teacher assessments will also be used to build up a picture of your child’s learning and achievements.
Teachers will inform parents of the children’s working level at the end of Year 2 following completion of assessments/teacher judgements.