SATs and GCSE Curriculum Change

Last updated: 6 June 2026

What Are SATs?

SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) are national curriculum tests taken by children in England at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 6). They assess whether pupils are meeting the expected standards in English and Maths set by the national curriculum.

KS2 SATs are the ones that matter most — they’re externally marked, and results follow your child to secondary school. Understanding what’s tested and how the scoring works puts you in a much better position to support your child’s preparation.

When Do SATs Take Place?

KS2 SATs happen every year in May, typically during the second week. The 2026 schedule is:

Monday 11 May: English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (Paper 1: Grammar & Punctuation, 45 min + Paper 2: Spelling, ~20 min)
Tuesday 12 May: English Reading (1 hour)
Wednesday 13 May: Maths Paper 1: Arithmetic (30 min) + Maths Paper 2: Reasoning (40 min)
Thursday 14 May: Maths Paper 3: Reasoning (40 min)

Results are usually returned to schools in July, with parents receiving them before the end of the summer term.

What Subjects Are Tested in KS2 SATs?

Year 6 pupils sit tests in three areas:

English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (SPaG/GPS)

Two papers worth a combined 70 marks:

Paper 1 — Grammar and Punctuation (50 marks, 45 min): Short-answer questions testing word classes, sentence structure, verb tenses, active/passive voice, punctuation rules and more.
Paper 2 — Spelling (20 marks, ~20 min): An aural test where the teacher reads 20 sentences and children write the missing word. Tests prefixes, suffixes, homophones, silent letters and statutory spelling list words.

English Reading

One paper worth 50 marks (1 hour):

Children read three texts — at least one fiction and one non-fiction — then answer questions.
Question types: retrieval (“Find and copy…”), inference (“How do you know…?”), vocabulary (“What does the word ___ suggest?”), summarising, and questions about the author’s choices.
The third text is usually the hardest. Encourage your child to read the questions before the text so they know what to look for.

Maths

Three papers worth a combined 110 marks:

Paper 1 — Arithmetic (40 marks, 30 min): Straightforward calculation questions — addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, fractions, decimals and percentages. No word problems.
Paper 2 — Reasoning (35 marks, 40 min): Word problems, multi-step questions, geometry, data handling and applied maths.
Paper 3 — Reasoning (35 marks, 40 min): Similar to Paper 2 with different questions. Tests the same skills.

Key fact: Research shows that 52–63% of KS2 maths SATs content comes from Years 3–5 curriculum, not just Year 6. So gaps from earlier years really matter.

Writing

Writing is teacher-assessed, not tested by exam. Teachers evaluate each pupil’s writing against national standards throughout the year and submit a judgement: “working towards”, “expected standard” or “greater depth”.

Science

Science is also teacher-assessed at KS2. A sample of schools is selected each year for external science testing, but most pupils won’t sit a formal science SATs paper.

How SATs Scoring Works

SATs use a scaled score system rather than raw marks, to allow fair comparison between years (since test difficulty varies slightly each year).

Scaled scores range from 80 to 120
A score of 100 or above = expected standard achieved
A score of 99 or below = expected standard not achieved
Scores of 110+ are considered “higher standard” (sometimes called “greater depth” in test terms)

The raw-to-scaled conversion changes each year depending on test difficulty. For example, a raw score of 28/50 on the reading paper might convert to a scaled score of 100 one year but require 30/50 the next.

Schools receive each pupil’s raw score, scaled score and a simple “AS” (achieved standard) or “NS” (not achieved) indicator.

How Has the SATs Curriculum Changed?

The SATs underwent major changes in 2016 when the national curriculum was reformed:

Before 2016

Results were reported as Levels (e.g. Level 4 was the expected standard at KS2)
Tests were perceived as easier — less content, shorter papers
SPaG test was optional

After 2016

Levels were replaced by the scaled score system (80–120)
Content became more challenging, especially in maths and grammar
The SPaG test became compulsory
Greater emphasis on spelling, formal grammar terminology and arithmetic fluency
Reading texts became longer and more complex

The key change for parents: the new tests expect children to know technical grammar terms (subordinating conjunction, relative clause, determiners, modal verbs) and to apply them — not just write well intuitively.

GCSE Grading Changes (9–1 System)

While SATs cover primary school, the GCSE grading system also changed during the same period of curriculum reform:

The old A*–U letter grades were replaced with 9–1 numerical grades (9 = highest)
Grade 4 = standard pass (equivalent to old low C)
Grade 5 = strong pass (equivalent to old high C)
Grade 9 is harder to achieve than the old A* — fewer students receive it
Coursework has been reduced across most subjects, with more weight on final exams
All exams are now sat at the end of Year 11 — no more modular resits during the course

How to Prepare Your Child for SATs

1. Start early — don’t leave it to Year 6

Since over half of SATs maths content comes from Years 3–5, make sure foundations are solid throughout primary school. Address gaps as they appear rather than trying to fix everything in the final year.

2. Use past papers

Official past papers are available free from the government’s STA website. These are the best way to familiarise your child with the format and question style. Start with untimed practice, then build up to timed conditions.

3. Focus on reading stamina

The reading paper requires sustained concentration for a full hour. Regular reading at home — fiction, non-fiction, newspapers, magazines — builds the stamina and comprehension speed needed.

4. Practise arithmetic daily

The arithmetic paper is pure calculation — speed and accuracy matter. Short daily practice (10–15 minutes) on times tables, long division, fraction operations and decimal calculations makes a big difference.

5. Learn the grammar terminology

Children need to know terms like “subordinating conjunction”, “relative pronoun” and “determiners” — not just use them correctly, but identify and label them. Flashcards and quick-fire quizzes help.

6. Don’t create exam anxiety

SATs are important, but they’re not the end of the world. Keep preparation positive, celebrate progress, and make sure your child has plenty of downtime. A well-rested, confident child will always outperform an exhausted, anxious one.

How StudyBox Can Help with SATs Preparation

At StudyBox, we offer structured SATs preparation in Maths, English and Science at our centres in Wallington, Sutton and Croydon.

Our experienced tutors:

Assess your child’s current level across all SATs subjects
Create a targeted revision plan that focuses on gaps — not just topics they already know
Build arithmetic fluency, reading comprehension and SPaG skills through regular sessions
Provide mock SATs papers under realistic timed conditions
Help children approach exam day with confidence, not anxiety

Book a free trial session and give your child the best preparation for SATs.