29/04/2024
Posted on: April 19th 2017
Year 6 SATS Information 2017
Please find below many frequently asked questions regarding KS2 SATs. If you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Year 6 Team.
What information do parents get?
· Test papers are sent to external markers after the tests and arrive back in school in July
· Schools then check the results and papers to ensure there are no errors. Sometimes papers are sent for re-marking
· Schools must inform parents of SATs results by the end of the school year in July
· Parents receive test results and teacher assessment for Reading, SPAG and Maths and teacher assessment for Writing, Science and Speaking and Listening
· Parents are also given the overall school results as a percentage. These are compared to the previous year’s national figures
What information do secondary schools receive?
· Information is transferred by computer.
· This includes name, date of birth, unique pupil number. Key Stage 1 & 2 SATs results, Year 6 teacher assessments, plus any other information
· Secondary schools have this information by July, which helps them to group and provide necessary support
Teacher Assessment
· Teacher assessment draws together everything the teachers know about a child from observations, marked work and school assessments
· Teacher assessment is not a ‘snapshot’ like tests and is therefore more reliable
· There can be a difference between teacher assessment results and test levels=
When do these tests happen?
· This year it is the week beginning 8th May. All tests take place in that week. Children may not take them earlier or later
· There are one or two tests per day
How is SATs week organised?
· All children sit the tests at the same time
· Tests are completed in the classroom, with any displays that may help covered over
· Some children are divided into groups for test administration to ensure they are properly supported and feel secure
· Test papers cannot be opened until the start of the test
· A free breakfast club will be held in school for all children in year 6. This helps them to get into the right frame of mind and be fresh for the tests, whilst helping to calm their nerves
· The Local Education Authority may monitor our administration of the tests
2017 Test Timetable
|
Mon 8th May |
Tues 9th May |
Weds 10th May |
Thurs 11th May |
Fri 12th May |
|
Reading test (1 hour) |
Grammar, Spelling and Punctuation Test (1 hour) |
Maths Paper 1 Arithmetic (30mins)
Maths Paper 2 Reasoning (40mins) |
Maths Paper 3 Reasoning (40mins) |
Science Test A and B (45mins each) |
Literacy Assessments
Reading Comprehension
· 1 hour test
· No help with reading or explaining is allowed
· Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not important in the reading test. Children do not need to write in full sentences as long as their answer is clear
· Marks are indicated next to each question which gives a clue as to how many points to make
Writing
- Since 2013, there is no longer a writing test.
- Instead, your child’s writing level will be based solely on teacher assessment. Work in the children’s books will be used as evidence. The grades may be moderated by the Local Education Authority and are due later in the year.
Spelling Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG)
· This was a new test introduced in 2013
· Children’s knowledge and understanding of grammar and punctuation will be assessed through a range of questions over 2 papers
· Paper 1 comprises 40 to 50 short-answer questions covering grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. Even if the question is not specifically about punctuation, it will be marked as incorrect if punctuation is missing!
· Paper 2 is a spelling test requiring them to correctly spell 20 words
· Both tests are marked by a computer and so clear handwriting is very important i.e. making clear the difference between capitals and lower case letters
Maths Assessments
Arithmetic
· There are 40 marks available
· The test is 30 minutes long
· They involve a range of calculation based questions including fractions, decimals, percentages, square numbers, rounding, addition subtraction, multiplication, division and ordering operations
· Calculators are not allowed. Children are encouraged to show their working for additional marks.
Maths Reasoning Paper 2 and 3
· Each paper is 40 minutes long. Calculators are not allowed
· There are 35 marks available in each paper
· Some questions are worth one mark and therefore accuracy is important
· Other questions are worth two marks and even if the answer is wrong, a mark may be given for evidence of correct working
· Teachers may read questions in both written papers to pupils if asked - we encourage children to do this. All of the children can read however experience shows children understand questions more clearly when read to by an adult
What help can children have?
· In the reading test, children must read the text and questions by themselves
· In Maths and SPaG, teachers can read questions to any child who asks
· Teachers can encourage, but not guide or say that an answer is correct or incorrect
How can parents help?
· Supporting homework/revision
· Praise children for working hard and trying their best
· Not putting children under too much pressure
· Ensuring children to arrive for school:-
- In good time
- Having gone to bed at a reasonable time
- Having had a healthy breakfast
What are national expectations?
Broadly, children will be banded as ‘working towards’ or ‘working at’ year 6 expected standards. Some may be ‘greater depth’ which means they are above expected standards. We have not yet been informed, and will not be until the tests are marked, how many points children will require in each test to be considered ‘working at age related expectations’. Last year, the ‘pass marks’ were as follows:
Maths: 60 SPAG: 43 Reading: 21
which gives us some indication of what they may possibly be.
If you have any questions, please come and see us and we will do our best to answer them.
As you know, we celebrate progress at Gray’s Farm and we will be proud of all children who have improved over the year regardless of their banding.
For more information on the tests, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/507259/Informationforparents_2016nationalcurriculumtestsattheendofkeystages_1and2_PDFA.pdf or google ‘STA parents’ leaflet’
