All You Need To Know About The SATs Curriculum
All You Need To Know About The SATs Curriculum

All You Need To Know About The SATs Curriculum

Standard Assessment Tests (better known as SATs) are tests designed to measure a student’s educational achievement in Years 2 and 6. In particular, they test children on their KS1 and KS2 knowledge to see if they have retained the information they have been learning. On the whole, these tests aim to hold schools to account for the attainment of their pupils and the progress they make.

As a parent, SATs can seem extremely daunting, especially when your child is only 6/7 years old. But, do not worry, our all-you-need-to-know guide is here to explain exactly what SATs exams are.

The first thing to be aware of is these tests only measure the ability of students in English and Maths.

Secondary schools can then use these SAT scores to help set, stream, and work out how to best teach new Year 7s. Again, this is only useful for those two specific subjects. For all parents out there, practice materials for the tests can be found on the GOV.UK website. However, here is what else you should know about the SATs Curriculum:

How do KS1 and KS2 SATs vary?

The two are interconnected in the fact that they test your child’s knowledge, but KS1 and KS2 SATs are very different in terms of the actual material and level of understanding.

KS1

Here, your child will be tested on their Reading and Maths skills. Unofficial to the actual SAT score, your child will also be assessed on their Science, Writing, Speaking and Listening skills too. This is known as the teacher assessment. This test is informal, meaning they are not timed.

Afterwards, their teacher will mark the tests. A small sample could be sent to the local education authority for moderation, this being a way to assess the quality of your child’s work compared to the marking. It is entirely chosen at random. You are then unlikely to receive the results. However, you will be told what level your child is working at and the expected standard.

The provisional results are received by the end of July and are then checked by the teachers.

KS2

Here, your child will be tested on their English Reading, English Grammar, Punctuation, Spelling, and Maths instead. Just like the KS1 test, your child will also receive a teacher assessment and be tested on their Science, Writing, Speaking and Listening skills as well. This test is more formal than its KS1 counterpart, as each paper is 45 minutes long.

Afterwards, their tests will be marked externally by a different, independent source. They may also have to sit a Science SAT. Then the school must decide how they wish to hand out the results. This could be immediately or at the end of the school year.

The provisional results are received by the end of July and are then checked by the teachers.

How can you prepare your child for their SATs?

There are many ways to get your child ready for their upcoming SATs. However, ensuring that they’re in the swing of things early on is great for their education later on too!

Good Planning & Revision

Firstly, they must have an excellent grasp of the subject matter. So sit down with your child and help them to plan or revise. Planning and revision are two of the most important facets of school life. Therefore, seeing that they can do it themselves is essential on your behalf. So what is it they can’t get to grips with? Is it a particular equation in Maths? Or perhaps it’s their reading that’s the problem? Whatever it is, be sure to find a solution that works for them.

Past Papers

A sure-fire way of improving those test results is by taking advantage of past papers.

Past papers will give your child a sense of what to expect regarding the actual SATs. Practice makes perfect, after all. If they understand what’s ahead of them, they won’t be caught out on the day and unable to answer the questions. Students who do past papers are much more likely to succeed than those who haven’t.

Again, past papers can be found on the GOV.UK website for parents to utilise.

Tutoring

Finally, it can be massively beneficial for your child to participate in tutoring sessions. Private tutoring can help them overcome any fears or worries about certain subjects. Not only that, but they will simply improve their results at the same time. A tutor can help guide your child to where they need to be and ensure that they are fully ready for their exams. Ask any parent who’s taken their child to see a tutor, and they will all rave about the benefits!

If you think your child needs a little extra boost with their learning, then please don’t hesitate at all to get in touch with us today at Aim High Tuition to help them secure a bright future!

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