1. Helpful Hints for SATs
A Parents Guide

2. What are SATs?
SATs are Statutory Assessment Tests for all 11 year olds across the country.
All school results are made public.
These are important tests that are used to sort the children into groups as they enter secondary school.
At 11 years old, children are expected to achieve a level 4 in Maths and English

3. When are the SATs? Monday 12th May to Friday 16th May Monday 12 May
English reading test
Level 6 Reading test
Tuesday 13 May
SPAG test am
SPAG L6
Long Writing Test
Wednesday 14 May
Mental mathematics test
Mathematics Paper 1
Thursday 15 May
Friday 16th May
Mathematics Paper 2
Level 6 mathematics Paper 1 & 2
Science Paper
Short writing test

4. The Reading Test One hour
Children read through a booklet with different types of texts, unrelated.
The texts increase in difficulty.
They answer a range of questions carrying different amounts of marks and looking for increasingly complex answers.

5. How to help with Reading
Read regularly with your child and ask lots of questions about the text.
Read a range of materials. Eg: Newspapers, magazines, novels, recipes, instructions and fiction.
Practice reading for a set amount of time (15 minutes) to increase their concentration.
Encourage the children to become ‘Text Detectives’ and keep referring back to the text to obtain the answers to questions.

6. SPAG test: Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar 45 minutes
Multiple choice and examples required for answers

7. The Writing Test: The writing tests consist of 3 tests:
Long writing task (10 minutes planning and 45 minutes of writing)
Short writing task (5 minutes planning and 15 minutes of writing)
Handwriting – only worth 3 marks.

8. How to help with Writing
Encourage the children to keep a diary or journal.
Look at a range of different writing genres and identify the features.
Stories
Formal/informal letters
Newsletters
Leaflets
Interviews
Explanations
Reports
Arguments
Instructions
Biographies
Mention about asking the children to explain the features within each text.

9. The Maths Test Your child will have 3 tests
Mental mathematics test (20 minutes)
Mathematics Test A (45 minutes)
Mathematics Test B (45 minutes)
Remember to use the calculator!!

10. How to help with the Maths Test
Revise times tables
Play maths bingo
Encourage children to add up the shopping bills
Ask quick fire mental maths questions
Look at timetables (bus, TV guide & train)
Discuss the weights of packets
Measure out ingredients if cooking
Encourage children to work out cost of items if it has 10, 20 or 50% off or is ½ price.
Ensure children are confident with addition, subtraction, multiplication and division
Ask your children story number problems
Timetables – ask questions about times and how long programmes go on for etc.

11. How else to help your child?
Encourage them to complete Easter Holiday homework
Use the internet to play games to reinforce any learning.
Have a go at some past papers with your child and allow them to explain what they are doing.
Discuss what areas your child is struggling with and then discuss this with the class teacher.
Help and encourage them to check their answers as mistakes cost marks.
Encourage them to show their working out as working out can still obtain a mark.

12. And Finally… Ensure that your child is on time for school
Attend breakfast club
Ensure they have plenty of sleep each night
Ensure they complete work set each evening before the tests
We will look after them! Promise
small groups, lots of encouragement, clear explanations and very calm and quiet surroundings. Questions can be read to the children.