7 September 2015 Information for Parents Key Stage 2 SATs 2013

What does SATs Stand For? Statutory Assessment Tasks and Tests (also includes Teacher Assessment). Usually taken at the end of Key Stage 1 (at age 7) and at the end of Key Stage 2 (at age 11).

What level should children be at? The expected level for children by the end of Key Stage 2 is a Level 4. Some children will still be at Level 3 and some children will achieve Level 5 or above. A small percentage of children will not yet be working at Level 3.

How are the children assessed? For children working at Level 3 and above, there are two sorts of assessments: tests teacher assessments. For children working below Level 3, the only statutory assessment is teacher assessment and those children do not take the tests.

When do these tests happen? This year the tests dates will be from the 13 th - 17 th May. Usually there are two tests per day and it is a busy week for children and staff... alike.

What does teacher assessment involve and is it different from testing? Teacher assessment draws together everything the teacher or teachers know about a child, including 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.

7 September 2015 What do the tests involve?

ENGLISH

Writing Writing for the KS2 SATs is now assessed using Teacher Assessment only. This provides a more accurate assessment of a child’s writing ability as it takes in to account many pieces of writing they have done over the year. The Teacher Assessment level is the level which is submitted at the end of Year 6.

Reading Comprehension The level 3-5 English reading test consists of: a reading booklet containing around three or four texts based on a single theme a reading answer booklet comprising approximately 35 questions (totalling 50 marks) Children are given 15 minutes to read the reading booklet and 45 minutes to answer the questions in the answer booklet. They can refer back to the texts in the reading booklet throughout the test.

The questions are: shorter, closed response items (such as multiple choice and matching questions); and longer, more open response types that require children to explain and comment on the texts in order to demonstrate a full understanding. Questions are worth 1, 2 or 3 marks.

English grammar, punctuation and spelling A new statutory test of English grammar, punctuation and spelling will be introduced for children at the end of Key Stage 2 from May 2013.

The level 3-5 test will assess children’s abilities in the following technical aspects of English: grammar; punctuation; spelling; vocabulary; and handwriting (subject to final decisions following the results of the technical pre- test).

Examples Circle all the adverbs in the sentence below. Open the drawers carefully and quietly when using the filing cabinet. Add a suffix to this word to make an adjective. dread ______________

Underline the subordinate clause in each sentence below. One has been done for you. Although his Mum thought they were very smart, Peter disliked his new trousers. Before he could go swimming, Ali packed his towel.

Complete the sentence below with a contraction that makes sense. If you give me the recipe____________ buy the ingredients on the way home.

MATHS

The level 3-5 mathematics test consists of: Test A – a non-calculator paper, lasting 45 minutes Test B – a calculator available paper, lasting 45 minutes Mental mathematics test – lasting 20 minutes Children’s marks from all three tests are aggregated to calculate their overall mathematics level. Teachers may read questions in both written papers to pupils if asked.

Level 6 Papers In 2012 the government re-introduced the Level 6 papers in Reading and Maths. It is up to individual schools to decide if any children will be entered for these tests. Children may be entered for the tests if they are working at level 5 in Reading or Maths. These children must achieve a level 5 in the KS2 papers before their Level 6 papers will be looked at.

How is SATs week organised? A timetable is issued to school, telling us on which days tests must be administered. We can determine at what time tests begin. All children must sit the tests at the same time. Tests are completed in classrooms, with any displays that may help covered over. The LA monitor 10% of schools per year. Children are divided into groups for test administration to ensure they are properly supported and feel secure.

What help can children have? In the reading test, children must read the text and questions by themselves, but MAY have help recording their answers, if this is done in a normal classroom situation. In maths teachers can read questions to any child who asks, some children will have the whole paper read to them, on a one to one. Teachers can encourage, but not guide or say that an answer is correct or incorrect. Words on a test paper can be transcribed where a marker may not be able to read a child’s answer.

How can parents help? The best help is an interest taken in your child’s learning and progress. Not putting children under too much pressure Ensuring children arrive for tests: -in good time -having had breakfast -having gone to bed at a reasonable time

2013 Test Timetable 13 th May14 th May15 th May16 th May17 th May Reading Test 45 minutes (plus 15 minutes reading time) English grammar, punctuation and spelling test Mental Maths Test 20 minutes Maths Test B 45 minutes Level 6 English Reading Test Maths Test A 45 minutes Level 6 Maths Paper 1 Level 6 Maths Paper 2