Parent Guide

Understanding the KS2 SATs

Chapter 1 SATs

Explained

2 Contents

Contents

Chapter 2 Understanding

the SAT

Papers

Chapter 3

Practicing

for the

SATs

Chapter 4

Helping your

child with

anxiety

Chapter 5

Study

Guide

Chapter 6

Resources

3 7 9 13

15 18

SATs Explained

3 SATs Explained

What are SATs

SATs tests are compulsory national tests for primary school children. Children in England are required to take Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) at the Spring term of Year 2 and Year 6.

What do the SAT tests show?

The idea of the SATs is to show what pupils have

learned and retained during the school year. The tests

help teachers learn more about the strengths and

weaknesses of what your child understands about a

subject.

4 SATs Explained

Wednesday 15 May

Mental mathematics test (20 mins) Test Paper A (45 mins)

Thursday 16 May

Test Paper B (45 mins)

SATs Explained

Can your child fail a SATs test?

It is important that your child understands they are not going to 'pass' or 'fail' the test - it will just show what they have learned and what they can do. When are the tests taken?

The Year 6 SATs are held in the week beginning 13th May 2013.

5 SATs Explained

SATs Explained

What do the results of the tests mean?

The results show whether or not your

child has reached the expected National Curriculum level.

This table illustrates these expected

levels.

What do the levels mean?

As you can see from this table, it is expected that the majority of 11 year old children will achieve Level 4 by the

end of Year 6.

However, for some children achieving Level 3 is a real success for that

particular individual. A child achieving Level 5 is working at a high level.

6 SATs Explained

SATs Explained

What do the levels mean (cont’d) ?

It is currently not possible for a child to receive a level 6 due to the different curriculum involved, although approximately 1% of children would be working at this level. As a rough guide, a child who passes GCSE at grade C will have reached level 7.

When will I know my child’s results?

Schools receive their provisional overall results for the school and individual pupils by the end of July 2013. However, it is the decision of individual schools how they give individual pupil’s results to parents. Your child’s teacher will be able to help clarify

this with you.

How are the SATs results used by secondary schools?

SATs results are passed on to secondary

schools. Some schools use these results to stream new starters in year 7, so it is

important to find out if your child’s new school does this. Others may use their

own internal tests at the beginning of the new term. This is a question you can ask

your child’s new teacher.

Understanding the SAT Papers

7 Understanding the SATs Papers

The SAT Papers There are three maths SATs papers: Paper A A timed paper, lasting 45 minutes Calculators are NOT allowed for this paper Paper B A timed paper, lasting 45 minutes Calculators are allowed for this paper Mental Maths This is a timed paper Questions will be asked and your child will have between 5 and 15 seconds to answer each one.

Understanding the SAT Papers

8 Understanding the SATs Papers

Written Test Papers Give your child all the equipment they need; pencil, rubber, ruler, protractor, drink of water and a calculator (for Test B only) Ask your child to open the test paper and work through each of the questions. If they finish early, ask them to go back and check their work. If they are stuck on a question – help them to understand that they need to move on to the next question and come back to it when they finish. They can use any space on the page for working out an answer.

Mental Maths Test Give your child the transcript paper/mental maths sheet. Read out each question twice. Only give them the allocated time.

General Instructions

Practicing for the SATs

9 Practicing for the SATs

Using Past Papers The last three years SAT Papers are available to view and download from this lesson pack. The reason they are not electronic, is because it is important that your child becomes familiar with answering the questions in the style and format they will use on the day.

Sitting a test

Before you start the tests – read through the marking scheme with your child. This will help them to understand what is expected in their

answers.

Simple mistakes can cost a mark – it’s important that your child is given credit where it’s due.

Make time

Allocate time during each week for the practice tests.

10 Practicing for the SATs

How much help do you give?

If your child gets stuck on a question, ask them to move onto the next one.

Coming back to the problem questions at the end of the test.

It’s hard, but do not help them to

answer a question during the timed test.

Talk it through

Once the test paper is finished. Talk through it with your child. Ask them; how

they felt about the questions, which ones did they struggle with, which ones were easy.

Make a note of their responses. These will help you plan what to do next.

Mark it together – get them to be the

teacher and praise them no matter how many they answered correctly.

In the right order 1. Complete the Mental Maths Test (20 mins), have a 20-30 minute break, then complete Paper A

2. Complete Paper B on a different day

Practicing for the SATs

11 Practicing for the SATs

Highlight

Use a highlighter and go through the papers with your child. Highlight the question areas you BOTH agree you need to focus on next. Your child needs to have input into this process – or it will be a battle to get them to

revise.

Your child can’t revise everything – so only focus on a few important areas.

What to do next Your child has now completed the test papers and you have both marked them and it has given you a SATs level. Please, do not focus on the level too much, this is only an indication. Depending on the questions being asked on the day – it can go up or down. What is important, is identifying problem areas and using this time to help strengthen them.

Practicing for the SATs

12 Practicing for the SATs

Agree on a plan Take these focus areas and allocate time in the week to strengthen them. Go back to your child’s Target Lessons page and select key areas for your child to work on next.

Practicing for the SATs

Helping your child with anxiety

Talk, talk, talk . . .

It is important that your child knows

that you are there to listen if they

need you. Talk through any

problems they may have, as a family.

13 Helping your child with anxiety

Watch ‘Anxiety’, an animated video

created by Childline . Use this

time to talk with your child about

how they feel

Be creative

Drawing, online fun games, play dough,

sewing, knitting . . . It doesn’t matter

what the activity is – as long as it’s fun.

It can really help your child to ‘switch

off’ from everything else.

Meditation

If your child is struggling to get to

sleep at night. Try a meditation CD.

It can help them unwind and become

one of their bedtime routines.

It is inevitable, with teachers and their friends talking about SATs every day,

that your child may become a little anxious. Here are some tips to help them:

Helping your child with anxiety

Get some fresh air

Exercise can boost moods, so get your

child moving. A simple walk around the

block, fresh air and physical activity may

be just what they need to lift their spirits

and give them a new perspective on things.

14 Helping your child with anxiety

Keep your child healthy

Make sure they are eating right

and getting enough sleep. Not

getting enough rest or eating

nutritious meals can add to your

child’s stress levels.

If they feel good, they’ll be

better equipped to work through

their anxiety.

Stick to routines

Their normal daily routine at school will be

completely different. Many lessons will be

focusing on revising for the SATs. Try and

balance this out by maintaining as much of

their regular routine at home as possible.

Study Guide

WHAT EQUIPMENT DOES YOUR CHILD NEED?

15 Study Guide

- Pencils, sharpener and eraser.

- Wide spaced, good quality lined exercise book, so that you can see the progress

your child is making and make notes on areas they need to learn and practise.

- A timer, to help them with the mental maths questions.

- A quiet, well lit area to work in without distractions.

- Plenty of water

- Take a break, every 20 minutes – short bite sized revision is very effective

- If they get stuck on a method, revisit that lesson method – it may be in their

target lessons area.

Study Guide

16 Study Guide

Writing revision notes

in an exercise book

Getting other children to test them

Reading their notes aloud

Writing notes on posters and

displaying them in their room

Creating a song or jingle to

remember key facts – record

them and play them back

Make their own

revision guide

Revision Skills

It may help your child consolidate their learning through:

Creating a mind

map

Using a timer and

beating their time

Study Guide

17 Study Guide

Pitch and Expectations

In Year 6, your child is expected to

know and apply all the maths skills they

have learned whilst being at primary

school. Click here to view these

expectations against SATs examples.

Once you have your list of areas to

develop – find

Resources

WHAT EQUIPMENT DOES YOUR CHILD NEED TO REVISE?

18 Resources

- Pencils, sharpener and eraser.

- Wide spaced, good quality lined exercise book, so that you can see the progress

your child is making and make notes on areas they need to learn and practise.

- A timer, to help them with the mental maths questions.

- A quiet, well lit area to work in without distractions.

- Plenty of water

- Using the revision mats (attached)

- Take a break, every 20 minutes – short bite sized revision is very effective

- If they get stuck on a method, revisit that lesson method – it may be in their

target lessons area. If they need more ‘hands on’ learning, click here

Resources

19 Resources

20 Resources