SATs 2021: Complete Guide to KS1 SATs and How Best to Prepare Your Little One for Their First Test!
Update: January 4th, 2021
*The UK government has cancelled the Key Stage 1 SATs for 2021. Additionally, the Key Stage 1 SATs are due to be phased out in 2022/23 and will be replaced with the new Reception Baseline Assessment. This blog post will remain live as it contains useful online learning resources for parents and primary school children.
For more information, please read The Reception Baseline Assessment Explained.
Page Contents
When are the KS1 Year 2 SATS 2021?
With both the KS1 and KS2 SATs cancelled for 2020, what will happen as we move into 2021?
If you’re wondering how best to prepare your child, look no further. We’ve got you covered. This complete guide has everything you need from KS1 SATs test dates, practice papers and more!
Will the 2021 KS1 SATs go ahead?
According to the UK government website, the KS1 SATs are cancelled.
UK KS1 SATs explained…
SATs means ‘Standard Assessment Tests’ and are used in primary schools across the UK. SATs are used to assess a pupil’s academic ability in relation to what they have been taught as part of the national curriculum.
Key Stage 1 SATs take place when a child is in Year 2 and are untimed tests. Whereas Key Stage 2 SATs take place in Year 6 and are timed tests. Both SATs tests help teachers to assess a child’s progress in comparison to their peers in class. Results can also be compared with their peers on a national level.
This is also one of the ways in which local government authorities determine which schools are better than others.
KS1 SATs 2021 test dates:
As highlighted above, these tests will no longer take place. The information below was the original schedule planned by the Department for Education.
As of September 2020, the UK government has still not released the exact dates for each test. The ‘phonics screening check’ week will start Monday 7th June.
We will make sure to regularly update this blog when more information becomes available.
2021 KS1 SATs: What to expect in Year 2:
Year 2 pupils will sit a total of six papers in May 2021:
English
- Reading Paper 1
- Reading Paper 2
- SPaG Punctuation and Grammar
- SPaG Spelling
Mathematics
- Arithmetic Paper 1
- Reasoning Paper 2
Please also note that as highlighted above there is the ‘phonics screening check’, however it is usually the responsibility of the teacher to carry out this assessment.
KS1 SATs test papers: In detail
You might be wondering what to expect from each of the papers your child will sit? Below we have included a breakdown of the content on each individual paper. You can use this to help your child prepare for their SATs by identifying which areas of each subject to focus on.
KS1 SATs spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPaG) tests:
- SPaG paper 1 is a 15-20-minute auditory test with around 20 words.
- SPaG paper 2 is a booklet with several texts to read and questions to answer.
KS1 SATs reading test:
- Reading paper 1 involves pupils studying several texts and answering questions in relation to these.
- Reading paper 2 has a similar structure but with longer texts. In 2019 this was around 900 words.
KS1 SATs maths tests:
- Maths paper 1 is a 15-minute arithmetic test.
- Maths paper 2 is a 35-minute problem solving and mathematical reasoning test.
SATs 2021: When will you get the results?
There is no set date for when results are released. However, in previous years the KS1 SATs results have been released to schools by the Standards and Testing Agency in July. Your school will then make your child’s results known to you.
What is a scaled score?
This is the system used to assess your child’s overall performance in their KS1 SATs. Your child’s actual marks (raw score) will be converted into a scaled score. At Key Stage 1, the scaled score ranges from 1-115. However, the lowest score a child can be awarded is 85. The highest is 115.
But how do you interpret a scaled score?
- 85-99 – Is below the expected KS1 standard.
- 100 – This is the national standard at KS1.
- 100-115 – Exceeded the expected standard at KS1.
In a nutshell, if your child scores 100 or over – this is a good score!
Note that in July the score your child receives is known as a provisional score. The score will be finalised later in the year when the 2021 SATs league table is published. This will highlight which schools are performing well and which are not.
KS1 SATs test practice papers:
It’s a great idea to use past papers to help your child practice for the 2021 SATs! Not only will it help them become more familiar with the types of questions that come up. You can find a selection of KS1 SATs past papers here.
KS1 SATS – Online learning resources and additional support:
There are plenty of resources out there to help further your child’s learning as they prepare for their KS1 SATs. A great starting point is simply asking your child’s teacher for additional materials such as their own practice papers.
As a parent you might want to discuss tips or swap resources with other parents. We understand this might be limited at school with ongoing Coronavirus restrictions. You might like to try parenting groups such as UK Primary School Maths – Tutoring & Tips.
Another effective resource parents are more frequently investing in are online tutors. With months of lost learning due to the Coronavirus lockdown, online tutors are helping pupils get back up to speed with their studies. They are often specialists at helping children prepare for their KS1 SATs and can be a great supplement to the content children are already learning at school.
You may also like to read:
How Think Academy’s Online Maths Courses can Help Your Child Better Prepare KS2 SATs?
Top 5 Back to School Tips Compiled by Think Academy’s Education Experts for 2020
