Learn everything you need to know about Year 6 reading SATs papers from testing format to key dates you should know.
Author
Mhairi Sim
Published
May 2024
Learn everything you need to know about Year 6 reading SATs papers from testing format to key dates you should know.
Author
Mhairi Sim
Published
May 2024
Learn everything you need to know about Year 6 reading SATs papers from testing format to key dates you should know.
Author
Mhairi Sim
Published
May 2024
Key takeaways
The English reading SATs are the final step in the English SAT papers that our Year 6 students undertake in May. These assessments are an incredibly important moment in their school careers!
Of all the KS2 SATs papers, reading comprehension can be the most difficult to prepare for as there are no facts or rules to learn! Instead, it’s all about reading strategies and general comprehension.
In this paper, learners will read three different texts and answer questions on each to show their level of understanding. Their score will then be combined with the other two English papers to give a scaled score that will be used by the secondary school to determine how best to support or challenge each pupil in Year 7.
It’s essential that our kiddos are well-prepared for the Year 6 reading SATs papers, in order that they get a score that best shows their ability in this area.
We’ve created this comprehensive guide, all about the KS2 reading SATs. Read on to discover our recommendations on strategies to ensure your learners are prepared and are where they need to be ahead of this important assessment!
The reading paper is the third of three English papers that Year 6 students will sit for their KS2 SATs. This paper is worth a total of 50 marks and students will have one hour to complete it.
In the Year 6 reading SATs papers, pupils will be asked to complete several questions testing their reading comprehension levels. There will be three reading passages in total with three sets of 12 questions for each.
The questions will prompt students for a mix of short answers, several lines, longer answers and in some cases, multiple-choice answers. Learners should read the questions carefully and note the amount of space they have been given to answer to indicate how long their answers should be.
They’ll have one hour to complete the entire paper, but it’s advised that they handle one reading passage and the linked set of questions at a time. The answer booklet and reading passages papers are separate so students will be able to easily work across both without losing their place!
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The KS2 reading SATs are scored along with the English spelling, grammar and punctuation papers and the three KS2 maths SATs papers. Students will receive a total scaled score from 80 to 120 which can be used to assess if they are working at the expected level for the end of Key Stage 2.
If a learner achieves a score of 100 or more this indicates that they are right on track. If they have a score below 100 this could mean that they’ll need some support in certain aspects of their work as they move on to Year 7 and Key Stage 3.
There are lots of ways you can help your learners prepare for the Year 6 reading SATs so that they’re ready for this important test. Creating a study schedule is a fantastic place to start!
Simply setting aside time over a couple of days each week and getting it on a schedule can make it so much easier for kids to stick to their revision sessions. Keeping the revision fun with a range of different activities is a must so that they don’t get bored!
Here are a few different ideas on activities you can mix and match for a KS2 reading SATs study schedule:
DoodleEnglish is the perfect study companion for KS2 English SATs. Filled with thousands of reading, grammar, spelling, and punctuation exercises aligned to the national curriculum, 5 minutes of practice a day can improve reading and comprehension skills!
In preparation for their reading SATs papers KS2 students should take a look at and practice with previous years’ Year 6 reading SATs papers. This is a super way to get them prepared!
Using these official past papers will give them the chance to familiarise themselves with the format of the assessments so that they’re more comfortable come May!
The KS2 English SATs papers for 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, and 2023 are available to download for free. This includes the reading texts, answer booklet and a marking scheme.
Papers are not available for 2020 and 2021, as all SATs were cancelled in these years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
With SATs on the horizon, there’s a lot on our Year 6 students’ plates! As we’ve mentioned, the KS2 reading SATs can be a particular source of stress as it’s not quite as black and white as spelling or a maths calculation.
The key to success in the reading SAT paper is all in the preparation! By following the strategies we’ve outlined above, like setting a study schedule and keeping activities varied, we’re confident that your learners will be off to a flying start!
The KS2 reading SATs are usually held on the second day of the SATs week. This week is in May and all schools will adhere to the same timetable.
Students will have one hour in total to complete KS2 SATs reading paper.
The SATs are not ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ assessments and the final mark is a scaled score. The highest mark that can be achieved is 120 and the lowest is 80. These results are used as an indicator of how learners are performing against the expected standard. Students who score under 100 may require some support as they move into Year 7 to meet the expected level.
Lesson credits
Mhairi Sim
Mhairi is an experienced teacher, freelance writer and parent. After completing her bachelor's degree in Psychology, she graduated as a teacher from the University of Strathclyde. She then built experience teaching across KS1 and KS2 throughout the UK. In addition to working in mainstream education, Mhairi specialised in the additional support needs sector, including social, emotional, and behavioural support.
Mhairi
Mhairi is an experienced teacher, freelance writer and parent. After completing her bachelor's degree in Psychology, she graduated as a teacher from the University of Strathclyde. She then built experience teaching across KS1 and KS2 throughout the UK. In addition to working in mainstream education, Mhairi specialised in the additional support needs sector, including social, emotional, and behavioural support.
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