End of Key Stage 2 Tests May 2016
Summary of changes to the new National Curriculum The new National Curriculum has higher expectations of all children and is considered more challenging than the previous one. Therefore, the tests will be more rigorous and challenging. KS2: Reading Prepare poems and play scripts for performance Make higher level inferences about a text A greater emphasis on reading comprehension A greater emphasis on reading for pleasure Make comparisons between texts Writing: An increased focus on developing and improving handwriting A greater number of specific grammatical structures with which pupils will become familiar
Summary of changes to the new National Curriculum Maths: Children in Year 6 are now expected to: Read, write, order and compare numbers up to 10,000,000 and determine the value of each digit. Calculate decimal fraction equivalents Add and subtract fractions with different denominators and mixed numbers Multiply simple pairs of proper fractions Divide proper fractions by whole numbers Calculate decimal fraction equivalents for a simple fraction Multiply one digit numbers with up to two decimal places by whole numbers Increased expectation of ratio and proportion Use simple formulae and express problems algebraically
End of KS2 Tests The new national curriculum has been taught in all local authority (LA) maintained primary schools, and some academies, in England since September 2014. Those pupils who are at the end of KS2 in May 2016 will be the first to be assessed against the new national curriculum. Schools no longer use levels. According to the government this is in part in response to concerns about the validity and reliability of levels and sub-levels. These concerns had an impact on pupils learning, but also on the relationships between primary and secondary schools and the trust in their assessments. Your child will now receive a raw score for each test and a scaled score in relation to the national average. The average will be decided once the children have sat their assessments in May. A pupil who achieves the national standard will have demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the areas assessed by the tests. This will mean that they are well placed to succeed in the next phase of their education. Results KS2 test results will be published on the NCA tools website in July 2016. Each pupil registered for the tests will receive: - A raw score (number of raw marks awarded) - A scaled score and confirmation of whether or not they attained the national standard
KS2 Tests There will only be 1 set of tests for each subject. The tests will include a small number of questions designed to assess the most able pupils so separate tests, such as the previous level 6 tests, are no longer required. The mental mathematics test has been replaced with an arithmetic test. The KS2 tests consist of: English reading: reading booklet and associated answer booklet English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: short answer questions English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: spelling mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic mathematics Paper 2: reasoning mathematics Paper 3: reasoning
Test Timetable
Test Content KS2 English reading test The English reading test will have a greater focus on fictional texts. There is also a greater emphasis on the comprehension elements of the new curriculum. The test consists of a reading booklet and a separate answer booklet. KS2 English grammar, punctuation and spelling test The new grammar, punctuation and spelling test has a greater focus on knowing and applying grammatical terminology with the full range of punctuation tested. KS2 mathematics test There are 3 papers; Paper 1: arithmetic Paper 2 and Paper 3: reasoning. Paper 1: arithmetic replaces the mental mathematics test. The arithmetic test assesses basic mathematical calculations. The test consists of a single test paper. Pupils will have 30 minutes to complete the test. The questions will cover straightforward addition and subtraction and more complex calculations with fractions worth 1 mark each, and long divisions and long multiplications worth 2 marks each. Papers 2 and 3 each consist of a single test paper. Pupils will have 40 minutes to complete each test, answering the questions in the test paper. Each paper will have questions worth a total of 35 marks.
Why are these tests important for you and your child? They show how much your child has learnt in their school life up to this point. The scaled score will indicate if your child is secondary ready. Therefore, Year 7 teachers will be able to view their incoming pupils scaled scores so that they can prepare for their new intake. This will include groupings, sets and classes. They prepare your children for further testing at Secondary School.
How can you support your child at home? Reading Times tables Maths in real life contexts Homework Spelling School website Sample papers and SPAG glossary