SATs and Your Child Parent s Information Evening Wednesday 25th November 2014
What are SAT Tests and Why do children have to take them? KS2 SAT papers are taken by pupils in year 6 (when they are 10-11 years old) as part of the National Curriculum assessment programme. KS2 SAT results are used by secondary schools to put the children into suitable sets for core subjects. They will also use these results to predict their GCSE grades. Children undertake KS2 SAT papers in two core subjects: English and Maths.
Previously, pupils also took papers in Science. Annual sampling tests in Science now take place. Schools may also choose to hold Level 6 SAT assessments (in addition to their Level 3-5 SAT papers). In this scenario, we will consider a child's expected results before entering them for the Level 6 SAT tests as they should already be demonstrating an ability beyond Level 5.
Importantly, a child must achieve a Level 5 in the Level 3-5 SAT tests and pass the corresponding Level 6 test in the same year to be awarded an overall Level 6 result. If the child does not pass the Level 6 SAT test they will be awarded the Level achieved in the Level 3-5 SAT test.
What are SAT Levels? Level 3: Below the nationally expected level of attainment for a pupil at the end of Year 6. If they do not achieve enough marks for a Level 3 they will not be given a level. Level 4 : The nationally expected level of attainment for a pupil at the end of Year 6. This is defined as a Level 4b. Level 5: Above the nationally expected level of attainment for a pupil at the end of Year 6. At school, we also use sub-levels as a, b or c (a being the highest). Eg. 4c is a low level 4, 4b is a secure level 4 4a is a high level 4.
What s the Difference between Attainment and Progress? Progress At the end of KS1 ( Year 2) your child will have completed SAT tests. These results then enabled school to predict individual children s progress by the end of year6. E.g. Year 2 achieved Level 3b = Year 6 predicted Level 5b. (Each child is expected to achieve 2 levels progress within a key stage.) CColdwell 2012 Attainment This is the expectation for a child's SAT performance according to their age. E.g. An 11 year old child is expected to achieve level 4 (4b) by the end of year 6. A child achieving level 5 is working at a high level, and only 1% achieve level 6.
How Many Tests Are There? Literacy Reading: The Level 3-5 KS2 Reading SAT Paper A Reading Booklet containing several unthemed texts. The first text is Level 3 and the last text Level 5. Pupils are given 1 hour to read the text and answer 35 individual questions about them. The questions vary in their depth with some only requiring a single word answer, others a paragraph to demonstrate strong understanding (up to three marks). Pupils can refer back to the tasks at any point. It is a classic reading comprehension assessment. The Level 6 SAT Reading Paper - reading comprehension assessment. Pupils are given a Reading Booklet containing several texts and then asked 25 questions about them. Pupils are allocated 10 minutes to read the texts and then a further 50 minutes to answer the questions. As with the Level 3-5 Reading Test, the Level 6 Reading Test expects some shorter answers and some longer ones, up to a maximum of four marks per question.
Literacy Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling: Level 3-5 English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Test involves two papers: one grammar paper (45mins) and one spelling paper with 20 questions read out by the teacher. A Level 6 paper can also be taken. Literacy Written: Pupils are no longer required to take an externally examined KS2 SAT Writing Test. Instead every piece of writing the child writes in the Literacy lesson, History, Geography etc will all be taken into account to decide their level. The child s work will be externally moderated by either the Local Authority or specialist teachers from other schools. Speaking and listening tests will continue to be teacher assessed.
Mathematics: KS2 Maths SATs papers (Level 3-5) comprise three formal papers, Test A (45 minutes, non-calculator), Test B (45 minutes, non calculator ) and a Mental test. A child's mark from all three papers are added together to create their overall Key Stage 2 Maths SATs level. Last year a child had to achieve 57 out of 90 to achieve a Level 4b (46 = 4c) As with Key Stage 2 English, we will consider a child s attainment to decide which children should sit the Level 6 Mathematics Tests in addition to the Level 3-5 tests. The Level 6 Mathematics tests consist of two papers each is 30 mins. Paper 1 a noncalculator paper and Paper 2 a calculator allowed paper. Children's marks from both tests are aggregated to determine whether they are performing at Level 6 in mathematics. A child must achieve a Level 5 before a Level 6 can be awarded.
Tests Literacy Reading Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Writing - Externally moderated Mathematics Separate levels for Reading and Writing are awarded, along with an overall level for Literacy. A level is also awarded for a combined Literacy and Mathematics score. This is expected to be a Level 4b
Reading Test Examples Some questions will ask the children to find answers directly from the reading booklets they are given.
Others will require the children to deduce answers by using words or phrases as evidence.
Deduce and Infer Text An old man is wearing a woollen hat, a scarf, an overcoat and thick gloves. Question: What season is it?
Some questions will ask the children to evaluate what they have read, again using the text to back up their answers.
Writing Test We will cover a range of writing with the children in Year 6: Persuasive text Discussion text Recount Report Explanation Play script Poetry Narrative texts
Assessment of Writing The on going progress of individual children is carefully tracked and developed throughout the whole of year 6. It cover the writing in the Literacy lessons and across the curriculum. Local Authority moderators visit schools to ensure high standards of teacher assessment.
Writing Test Examples
Teacher Assessment of Writing Three strands are assessed through the writing tests: Sentence structure and punctuation Text structure and organisation Composition and effect. The composition and effect strand carries the largest number of available marks and is the main focus for this particular test.
Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Test Punctuation, sentence-grammar and vocabulary will all be assessed by a series of short-answer questions in a variety of formats. Some question formats will be familiar to children from the current English reading tests and some new ones will be introduced. The spelling test will assess around 20 words and will contribute towards the whole-test score.
Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Test Examples Level 3-5 1. Circle all the adverbs in the sentence below. Open the drawers carefully and quietly when using the filing cabinet. 1 mark 2.Tick one word to complete the sentence below. Michael and Kate read their books they ate their sandwiches. Tick one. While which between during 1 mark
5. Look at this sentence: The shopping list said he should buy bread, butter, jam and tea. a) What is the name of the punctuation mark that is used after the words bread and butter? b) Why is this punctuation mark needed in the sentence above? Tick one. to mark the start of a new clause to show that a word is missing to separate the items in a list to take the place of brackets 1 mark 1 mark
Numeracy Tests There are three tests:- The mental test (20%) Paper A -no calculator allowed (40%) Paper B no calculator allowed (40%)
Equipment allowed in each test No equipment allowed in the mental test. Pencil only. Children are allowed a pencil, ruler, tracing paper, protractor and mirror for Papers A and B. They may not need to use all of these.
The tests cover Levels 3-5 The first questions in the paper are generally Level 3 questions, moving on to Level 4, with the more challenging questions at the end of the papers targeted at Level 5.
Mental Maths Test
Maths Test Examples
Paper B calculator not allowed
Level 5 Paper B
How You Can Support Your Child At Home: Sensible bedtime. Healthy diet eat breakfast. Drink plenty of water at home and school. Encourage your child positively, without putting too much pressure on him/her. Support with homework provide a quiet place for work, share the targets, refer to the study guides you loaned. Use revision guides and websites to support your child s learning. Read with your child, discussing the content and choice of words the author has made. Ask your child questions about their reading, encouraging them to identify words or phrases to back up their answers.
Possible SAT Week Timetable Monday 11th May 2015 Date Level 3-5 tests* Level 6 tests* Tuesday 12th May 2015 Wednesday 13th May 2015 Thursday 14th May 2015 English Reading Test English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling test Mental Mathematics Test Mathematics - Test A Mathematics - Test B English Reading Test English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling test Mathematics - Paper 1 Mathematics - Paper 2
Revision Websites BBC bitesize www.woodlands-junior.kent.sch.uk www.compare4kids.co.uk (Excellent site.) BBC Skillswise Topmarks Count On Subtangent.com