SATs — Standard Assessment Tests — are the national curriculum tests taken by pupils in England at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6), in English reading, English grammar, punctuation and spelling, and mathematics, alongside teacher-assessed writing and science. Results are reported as scaled scores from 80 to 120, with 100 marking the expected standard. In 2026, according to DfE's provisional figures, 63% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, up from 62% in 2025.
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Our expert SATs tutors work with Year 2 and Year 6 pupils across England, building genuine fluency in reading, grammar, punctuation, spelling and maths rather than drilling exam technique alone. Book a free consultation to talk through where your child needs the most support ahead of the next KS2 test window, in May 2027.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppChecked September 2026 for the 2026 KS2 results and 2027 test dates
The Department for Education published provisional 2026 Key Stage 2 results on 10 September 2026: 63% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, up from 62% in 2025.
The Standards and Testing Agency has confirmed the Key Stage 2 test timetable for 2027, running from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027, and Key Stage 1 tests remain non-statutory, a status that has applied since the 2023 to 2024 academic year.
This page now also covers the Year 4 multiplication tables check and explains the difference between the 'higher standard' used for reading, maths and grammar, punctuation and spelling, and the separate 'greater depth' judgement used only for writing.
The Key Stage 2 (KS2) tests are the statutory national curriculum tests taken by Year 6 pupils in England each May, in English grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS), English reading and mathematics. The tests are externally marked by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA); English writing and science are assessed separately by teachers rather than by a written test.
Each subject is built from more than one paper. English grammar, punctuation and spelling totals 70 marks: 50 for Paper 1 (questions) and 20 for Paper 2 (spelling). English reading is a single 50-mark paper. Mathematics totals 110 marks across three papers: 40 for Paper 1 (arithmetic) and 35 each for Papers 2 and 3 (reasoning).
Results are reported as a scaled score from 80 to 120. A pupil scoring 100 or more has met the expected standard for the test; a score of 99 or below has not. Because the papers are not identical every year, the scaled-score conversion adjusts for small differences in difficulty, so a given score means the same standard of attainment whichever year a child sits the test.
Not every pupil sits the tests. A headteacher can decide a test is not appropriate if a child has not completed the relevant programme of study, is working below the standard of the national curriculum in one or more subjects, cannot access the tests even with suitable access arrangements, or is not in a fit physical or mental state at the time — in which case the child is assessed instead against pre-key stage standards or the engagement model.
One thing many parents do not realise is that schools themselves have a significant stake in SATs results. Schools use this data for self-evaluation and it feeds directly into Ofsted inspections. This is one reason some schools place considerable emphasis on SATs preparation — the results reflect on the institution as well as the individual child.
The Standards and Testing Agency has confirmed the KS2 test timetable for the next cycle: the tests run from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027, with GPS on the Monday, reading on the Tuesday, mathematics Papers 1 and 2 on the Wednesday, and mathematics Paper 3 on the Thursday. Our guide to the 2027 dates sets out the full timetable and what has changed for Year 6.
The two stages of SATs now differ sharply in status, structure and how the results are used.
KS1 tests, taken in Year 2, became non-statutory from the 2023 to 2024 academic year: schools may still choose to administer the optional reading and maths tests to help identify where pupils need support, but there is no requirement to do so, and results are not published nationally in the way KS2 results are. The recommended window for schools that do use the optional tests is May.
KS2 tests, taken in Year 6, are more substantial and remain statutory. They run across four days in May — grammar, punctuation and spelling; reading; mathematics Papers 1 and 2; and mathematics Paper 3, on consecutive days — and the results carry more weight, both for the transition into secondary school and for the school's own accountability data.
Crucially, KS2 SATs results are used by secondary schools to place children into teaching groups in Year 7. They are not pass or fail in any formal sense, but they do follow your child into their new school and can shape their early secondary experience. That is worth taking seriously — without letting it become a source of disproportionate pressure.
Whichever key stage your child is in
Our expert tutors support both the optional KS1 tests in Year 2 and the statutory KS2 tests in Year 6, tailoring sessions to whichever papers actually apply to your child. Book a free consultation to talk through the right level of support.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppThe Department for Education published provisional national KS2 results for 2026 on 10 September 2026, covering pupils who sat the tests in summer 2026. They are the most recent figures available, and attainment edged up in every subject compared with 2025.
| Subject / measure | % expected standard, 2026 | % expected standard, 2025 | Average scaled score, 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reading, writing and maths (combined) | 63% | 62% | — |
| English reading | 75% | 75% | 106 |
| English writing (teacher assessment) | 73% | 72% | — |
| Mathematics | 75% | 74% | 105 |
| English grammar, punctuation and spelling | 74% | 73% | 105 |
| Science (teacher assessment) | 82% | 82% | — |
Source: Department for Education, Key stage 2 attainment (provisional): 2025 to 2026, retrieved 25 September 2026.
A further 9% of pupils met the higher standard in reading, writing and maths combined, up from 8% in 2025 — a threshold well above the expected standard of 100, and worth separating clearly from the entirely different 'greater depth' judgement used for writing. Our guide to the 2026 scaled-score boundaries sets out the exact raw-mark thresholds behind each of these figures.
The gap between girls and boys persists: in the provisional 2026 figures, 67% of girls met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined, against 60% of boys, a gap the DfE puts at 6 percentage points. The gap is widest in writing, where it reaches 11 percentage points.
These three terms are often used interchangeably by parents, but they describe different things. 'Expected standard' applies to every KS2 subject: a scaled score of 100 or more in reading, maths, or grammar, punctuation and spelling, or a 'working at the expected standard' judgement in writing or science.
'Higher standard' is the term the Department for Education uses for pupils who do considerably better than the expected standard in a scaled-score subject. In 2026 (provisional figures), 31% of pupils reached the higher standard in reading, 27% in maths and 30% in grammar, punctuation and spelling.
'Greater depth' is a different term again, and it applies only to English writing, which has no test and no scaled score. Teachers judge writing against three tiers: working towards the expected standard, working at the expected standard, or working at greater depth within the expected standard. In 2026 (provisional figures), 13% of pupils were assessed as working at greater depth in writing. Why there is no greater-depth score explains why the two terms are not interchangeable, even though both describe strong performance above the expected standard.
Not sure which standard your child needs to reach?
Our SATs tutors translate scaled scores, the higher standard and greater depth into a plain target for your child's next test, then build a tutoring programme around closing the specific gap. Book a free consultation to talk it through.
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Understanding where marks are most often lost helps tutors — and parents — focus preparation where it counts most. Common areas of difficulty include:
Many children have a solid grasp of the underlying knowledge but lose marks through a combination of nerves and unfamiliarity with the test format. This is one of the most addressable problems with the right preparation.
Our SATs specialists work with Year 6 pupils on the specific reading, writing, and maths skills the Key Stage 2 papers test, helping children feel genuinely prepared rather than just familiar with the format. We're rated 4.8/5 on Trustpilot. Book a free consultation to discuss how targeted preparation can help your child approach SATs with confidence.
Alongside the KS1 and KS2 assessments, all Year 4 pupils in state-funded schools in England sit the multiplication tables check (MTC), a statutory, on-screen assessment of times-tables recall. Schools must administer it within a scheduled two-week window in June.
The check consists of 25 times-table questions, covering tables up to 12. Pupils complete 3 practice questions first, then have 6 seconds to answer each of the 25 scored questions, so the whole check normally takes no more than 5 minutes.
Schools report MTC results to parents individually; the Department for Education publishes national attainment figures separately, in a statistical release each November.
Fluency gaps show up early
If times-tables recall is shaky heading into the multiplication tables check, our expert tutors build genuine fluency rather than last-minute drilling. Book a free consultation for Year 4 maths support.
Book a Free Consultation Message us on WhatsAppGood SATs tuition is not about drilling children until they are exhausted. It is about identifying the specific gaps that matter, building genuine understanding rather than surface familiarity, and helping children feel calm and confident when they sit down to the real papers.
A skilled tutor will begin by working out where your child actually is — not where you or the school hope they are. From there, sessions can focus on the areas that will make the most difference to their scaled score, whether that is sharpening arithmetic recall, practising inference responses with proper sentence structure, or simply working through past papers under realistic conditions so the format feels familiar rather than frightening.
Confidence matters enormously in SATs. A child who freezes under pressure, second-guesses correct answers, or runs out of time on the arithmetic paper is not necessarily a child who lacks ability. Tuition that addresses both the academic content and the experience of sitting a timed test can make a meaningful difference — not just to results, but to how your child feels walking into the exam room.
At Leading Tuition, our tutors work with children across both key stages, tailoring preparation to the individual rather than following a one-size-fits-all programme. We work at a pace that builds real understanding, and we keep parents informed throughout so you always know how your child is progressing.
For a structured run-up to the tests, our six-month preparation plan sets out what to prioritise term by term — build real understanding early, rather than cramming technique in the final weeks.
Leading Tuition is rated 4.8 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 59 reviews, read on 3 October 2026, and 91% of our students achieve their desired grades.
Reviewed September 2026: KS2 test structure, the 2026 results, 2027 test dates and the Year 4 multiplication check verified against gov.uk, the Standards and Testing Agency and the Department for Education's Explore Education Statistics service.
SATs results do not determine secondary school admissions — that process is handled separately through your local authority and the school's own admissions criteria. However, KS2 SATs results are shared with secondary schools and are commonly used to place children into teaching sets or streams in Year 7. A strong result can mean your child starts secondary school in a group that moves at a pace that suits them, so while SATs are not a gateway exam, they are not without consequence either.
This is one of the most common concerns parents raise, and it is a fair one. The answer depends entirely on how tuition is delivered. Sessions that are calm, encouraging, and focused on building genuine skill tend to reduce anxiety rather than increase it — because children feel more prepared and less at the mercy of the unknown. A good tutor will notice when a child is struggling emotionally as well as academically and will adjust accordingly. If your child is significantly anxious, it is worth mentioning this from the outset so the tutor can factor it into their approach.
These are three different terms. A scaled score of 100 or more means a child has met the expected standard in reading, maths, or grammar, punctuation and spelling; a score of 99 or below means they have not. 'Higher standard' describes pupils who do considerably better than this in a scaled-score subject — in the provisional 2026 figures, that was 31% of pupils in reading, 27% in maths and 30% in grammar, punctuation and spelling. 'Greater depth' is a separate, writing-only judgement: writing has no test or scaled score, so teachers instead judge whether a pupil is working towards, at, or at greater depth within the expected standard.
Yes. The end of Key Stage 2 tests in reading, grammar, punctuation and spelling, and mathematics are statutory for Year 6 pupils in state-funded schools in England, alongside statutory teacher assessment in writing and science. This is different from Key Stage 1, where the tests and teacher assessments became non-statutory from the 2023 to 2024 academic year, and schools now choose whether to use them at all.
Many families begin focused KS2 preparation in the autumn or early spring term of Year 6, well ahead of the May tests, rather than starting only in the final weeks. For KS1, where the tests are now optional, light, confidence-building support in the spring term of Year 2 is usually enough for families who want it. The most useful approach is steady, low-pressure work over several months rather than concentrated revision close to the tests themselves.
The multiplication tables check is a statutory, on-screen assessment taken by all Year 4 pupils in state-funded schools in England within a two-week window in June. It consists of 25 times-table questions up to 12 times, with 6 seconds allowed for each question after 3 practice questions, so it normally takes under 5 minutes in total. Schools report the results to parents individually, and the Department for Education publishes national figures in a statistical release each November.
Our SATs specialists work with Year 2 and Year 6 pupils on the specific reading, grammar, punctuation, spelling and maths skills the tests cover, building genuine understanding rather than drilling exam technique in isolation. We start by finding out exactly where a child is against the expected standard, then focus sessions on the gaps that matter most — whether that is arithmetic fluency, inference in reading, or confidence sitting a timed paper under realistic conditions. Book a free consultation to discuss the right level of support for your child.
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