The aim of this booklet is to answer the questions you may ...



Your Child

and

Year 6 SATs

May 2015

(Monday 11th to Thursday 14th)

The aim of this booklet is to answer the questions you may have about Year 6 SATs.

What are SATs?

SATs are Standard Assessment Tests that are given at the end of Key Stage 2. English (including Reading and Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling) and Maths are all tested in Y6. These tests are statutory and all year 6 children in the country are required to sit these tests and will all do so on the same day.

What test papers will my child sit?

1. Literacy – Reading (1 hour)

This requires the children to answer a range of comprehension questions relating to three different text types which they are required to read during the test. E.g. There may be a story, a poem, an advertisement and an information text.

The Reading test will be externally marked, determining your child’s reading level.

2. Literacy – Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (45 minutes)

The Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Spelling test assesses the more technical aspects of a child’s grammar and use of English. This will consist of an hour long short question test (50 marks), with the majority of the questions requiring short, one-word answers, along with a 20 word spelling test.

This test will be externally marked.

Note: Your child’s actual writing level will be assessed by myself, taking into account all the genres of writing they have produced during the year.

3. Numeracy

The Numeracy/Maths tests, consisting of two written papers and a mental maths test, will be sent to external markers. Your child’s numeracy level will be derived from these externally marked tests – using a mark out of 100.

When are the tests?

Monday May 11th

Tuesday May 12th

Wednesday May 13th

Thursday May 14th

A timetable is included on the last page of this booklet.

How well is my child ‘expected’ to do?

The tests cover Level 3 to 5. Most children in Y6 will achieve Level 4, as this is the ‘average level which the average child’ has been found to achieve statistically.

Some children will achieve a good Level 3 and this can be a real success for them.

Some children are working at a higher Level 5, and some may be put forward for the further challenge of Level 6.

Most of the children should know their target level. As long as they take their work, and the test seriously, and do their best on the day, we cannot ask for anything more.

Nobody fails.

How have/are the children being prepared for the SATs?

• Practise questions are planned into lessons at various times so that the children get the chance to understand written questions, and explain their answers in writing and discussion.

• Throughout the year the children have become familiar with the format of all the tests, and have been practising on past papers, including a weekly mental maths test.

• We try to make the necessary preparation for the tests feel like a team effort; something that we all have to get through together and not competitive in any way. As such , we make efforts to ensure that results in mental tests, for example are not read out in class. The only competition in this aspect of school is with themselves.

• Children will gain experience of working under the strict SATs test conditions to allay any fears or uncertainty about what will actually happen during test week. We will sit the tests in the new building, which is a calm, quiet environment where there will be no distractions or interruptions.

When do we get the results of the tests?

The tests are sent away to be marked, along with the teacher assessment of your child’s writing. We will get the results back in the first week of July (by which time we will have forgotten all about them and be hard at work on our amazing class performance).

What happens if my child misses a test or tests?

If your child misses any test, they are unfortunately not allowed to retake them. They will consequently not get a level or result for that subject, and we will not have this important information to put on their educational record, or to pass onto high school.

It is therefore essential that your child attends school every day in SATs week, even if they have a cold or feel under the weather.

How can I help my child before the tests?

Most of the children have the knowledge to answer the questions. The main issue is reading the questions carefully enough, and understanding what they are being asked to show they know.

o Keep reminding your child to read everything CAREFULLY. As we have found, and discussed at length in class, it is often the simpler questions (which we definitely know how to do successfully) where we drop our guard and make simple mistakes, through carelessness or over confidence.

o Knowing times tables thoroughly is essential. It allows the children to focus on their strategy, without expending huge efforts on calculations they can recall quickly. We have worked hard this year on speedy recall of these facts and your continued help with this is much appreciated. Quick fire questions in the car, or at breakfast really do hone these skills.

o Asking your child to explain what they have studied during the day helps keep things fresh in their mind (although having two young sons myself, I know this is much easier said than done).

o Speak about SATs in a positive way. They are a chance for the children to show what they CAN DO, not what they can’t.

How can I help my child during SATs week?

That’s easy!

• Early nights

• Lots of encouragement; no stress;

• Stress that they are showing what they can do.

The children will do their best on the day and everybody will achieve success!

SATs Week Timetable 2015:

|Date of Test |Name of test and Duration – |

| |Before Morning Break |After Morning Break |

|Monday 11th May |English Reading Test |Level 6 English Reading Test |

| |60 minutes of comprehension questions. |10 minutes Reading Time |

| | |50 minutes comprehension questions. |

|Tuesday 12th May |English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Test |Level 6 English Grammar, Punct. and Spelling Test |

| |45 mins short answers |30 mins extended writing |

| |15 mins spelling test |20 mins short answers |

| | |10 mins spelling test |

| | |(You will be informed by letter if your child is taking a |

| | |Level 6 test) |

|Wednesday 13th May |Mental Mathematics Test |Mathematics Test A |

| |20 minutes of timed questions ranging from 5 to 15 seconds. |(No Calculators Allowed) |

| | |45 mins |

|Thursday 14th May |Mathematics Test B |Level 6 Mathematics |

| |(No Calculators Allowed) |30 mins each -Test 1 and 2 |

| |45 mins |(You will be informed by letter if your child is taking a |

| | |Level 6 test) |

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