Learn everything you need to know about KS2 SATs from testing format to key dates you should know.
Author
Mhairi Sim
Published
November 2025
Learn everything you need to know about Year 6 SATs papers from testing format to key dates you should know.
Author
Mhairi Sim
Published
November 2025
Learn everything you need to know about Year 6 SATs papers from testing format to key dates you should know.
Author
Mhairi Sim
Published
November 2025
Key takeaways
Table of contents
The time has come – your learners are in Year 6, and the KS2 SATs are finally upon you and your learners! This can be a particularly stressful time for everyone involved as they prepare for these statutory end-of-KS2 assessments.
That’s because these assessments measure the performance of both individual students and the school as a whole. Over the course of six papers across maths and English, Year 6 learners are tested on their knowledge and application of what they have learned through primary school.
The individual Year 6 SAT scores for each student are passed on to secondary schools to determine what level of challenge or support that student needs in Year 7. Meanwhile, the whole-school score is used to create primary school performance tables to chart schools’ performance.
With so much riding on these important assessments, our learners must be well-prepared for their KS2 SATs. Throughout Year 6, they’ll be working hard to finish the Key Stage 2 curriculum with some time for revision as the SATs week in May approaches.
If you’re new to the world of SATs or are simply just looking for the best way to support your learner, then this guide is for you! We’ll break down everything you need to know about the KS2 SATs papers as well as give you some helpful tips and strategies to support your kiddos to success!
The KS2 maths SATs comprise three papers and will test learners’ knowledge of all areas of the Year 6 maths curriculum, including number, ratio and proportion, algebra, measurement, geometry and statistics.
Paper one focuses on arithmetic and consists of around 36 context-free questions. These questions will require learners to use their understanding of numbers and the four operations (+, -, x and ÷) to complete various calculations using whole numbers, fractions and decimal numbers.
This paper is worth 40 marks, and students will have 30 minutes to complete it.
Papers two and three are on maths reasoning, which involves 20-25 problem-solving-based questions. Pupils will complete a variety of calculations to answer questions across the whole maths curriculum.
Some of these questions are multi-step problems which require students to complete multiple calculations, calling on various skills, to reach a final answer. Each of these papers is worth 35 marks, and students will have 40 minutes per paper.
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The Year 6 maths SATs are similar to the KS2 English SATs in that they are also made up of three papers. These papers will test learners’ spelling, punctuation, grammar and reading comprehension.
Papers one and two are the English grammar, punctuation and spelling portions of the assessment. In paper one, students are tested primarily on their punctuation and grammar.
They’ll be asked to identify parts of speech, the correct use and placement of punctuation, parts of sentences such as clauses and subjects, and much more. This paper is worth 50 marks, and students will have 45 minutes to complete it.
Paper two is a short one, at only around 15-20 minutes and focuses on spelling. This paper is not strictly timed, and learners are asked to spell 20 words read to them by a teacher, and given as part of a sentence.
Finally, paper three is the reading paper, focusing on reading comprehension. Pupils are given a reading booklet containing three texts. Students must read each text and answer approximately 12 comprehension questions on each.
Students will have one hour to complete this paper, and they can earn a total of 50 marks.
Once students complete the KS2 SATs papers, the school will send the papers to external markers. These markers will follow a marking scheme to award a raw score for maths and for English.
The raw scores are converted into scaled scores, making it easier to compare these across schools. Students are individually awarded a scaled score that is between 80 and 120.
These scores are used to measure how each student has performed against the expected level for students who have completed Key Stage 2. Scores are also reported at a school-by-school level to create primary school performance tables.
Scores of 100 or more indicate that the learner is right on track and is exactly where they need to be as they move to Year 7 and Key Stage 3! If a student scores less than 100, this could indicate learning gaps requiring additional input in place in Year 7 to ensure these are addressed.
It’s important to keep in mind that low scores don’t indicate that students have ‘failed’! Secondary schools simply use them to ensure learners get the right amount of support or challenge to help them progress.
Looking for more SATs practice? DoodleLearning is an award-winning maths and English app that’s filled with thousands of questions and games aligned to the national curriculum!
Designed by teachers, it creates each child a unique work programme tailored to their needs, doubling their progression with just 10 minutes of use a day.* Try it for free!
*Based on children earning 24 stars a day. Read the full study here.
Knowing where to start in helping learners prepare for their KS2 SATs can be tough! There are a lot of bases to cover, and between school clubs and extra-curricular activities, where do you fit it all in?!
If time is tight, then short, concentrated bursts usually work best. A short, but focused 15-minute session can often teach more than a 2-hour study marathon!
This could be a quick spelling test on the way to school, a times table revision session while they’re getting ready for bed, or even 15 minutes of reading each night before they go to sleep.
Another helpful tip is to create a study schedule with your learner, ensuring that studying fits around their other planned activities throughout the week.
With six different papers to revise for, it could be helpful to know where to focus your efforts. Speaking with your kiddo’s teacher or checking their latest school report is the best way to find out if there are any areas they’ve been struggling with that could use some extra attention.
Finally, the key to getting your kiddos to stick with their revision is to keep it interesting! Mix up their study routines with a combination of past papers, interactive games, workbooks and online quizzes.
We know that interactive games and activities are always a big hit with learners, so be sure to include them in your study schedule. DoodleLearning has a range of apps packed with activities perfect for KS2 SATs revision!
Both our maths app and English app are full of fun games and activities that are fully aligned with the national curriculum. The apps automatically create a personalised programme of activities to cover all the bases and boost their skills!
Past papers are one of the best ways to prepare your learner for their upcoming Year 6 SATs 2024. Luckily, all previous Year 6 SATs papers are available online, complete with marking guides and are free to download.
These papers are a fantastic resource as they ensure that your learners are familiar and comfortable with the layout and format of each test. This helps them be a little less stressed on the days of their actual SAT papers!
With the upcoming SATs Year 6 students are sure to be feeling the pressure. These are important assessments, but the best advice is to be prepared!
Whether your household thrives on a schedule or just goes with the flow, hopefully, we’ve shown you that there is a way to work in some SAT prep that suits your family. Remember, even a focused 15-minute revision session can be extremely beneficial!
For a more in-depth look at the Year 6 SATs, take a look at our deep dive into KS2 maths SATs and KS2 reading SATs, and learn more about the key dates for 2026!
The KS2 SATs are usually held over one week in May, and all schools across England follow the same timetable of papers on each day. The KS2 SATs are scheduled to take place from Monday 11th May - Thursday 14th May 2026.
Put simply, the KS2 SATs are not ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ assessments. The point of these tests is to identify if any students might need some support as they move on to the next Key Stage.
Students will receive a scaled score between 80 and 120. If their score is 100 or above, this shows that they are right on track and are working at the level they need to be at as they complete Key Stage 2.
A student can’t ‘fail’ the KS2 SATs. However, if they score below 100 this can indicate that they may require some support moving forward. This support can help them to fill any gaps in their knowledge to ensure these don’t become bigger issues as they move up through secondary school.
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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