The KS2 SATs are the statutory key stage 2 tests set by the Standards and Testing Agency and sat on paper in school, timetabled from 10 to 13 May 2027. This page gives pupils and parents free practice sets for maths, reading, and grammar, punctuation and spelling, along with the timing of each paper, how scaled scores work, and worked explanations of some of our own practice questions.
Numbers in brackets link to the official sources listed under Sources & last verified. Dates that have passed are removed automatically.
| Item | Detail | Source · Verified |
|---|---|---|
| Number of questions (English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: spelling) | 20 spellings[1] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Time limit (English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: questions) | 45 minutes[1] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Time limit (English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: spelling) | Approximately 15 minutes[1] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Time limit (English reading) | 60 minutes[1] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Time limit (Mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic) | 30 minutes[1] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Time limit (Mathematics Paper 2: reasoning) | 40 minutes[1] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Time limit (Mathematics Paper 3: reasoning) | 40 minutes[1] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Passing score | Scaled score of 100 (range 80–120)[2] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Retake policy | No retakes; absent pupils may take missed tests up to 5 school days later with an approved timetable variation[3] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Delivery | Paper tests administered in school[1] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Score release | 6 July 2027[3] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Next exam date | 10–13 May 2027[5] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Late registration deadline | 20 May 2027[4] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Registration deadline | 5 March 2027[4] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
| Registration opens | 8 February 2027[4] | Standards and Testing Agency · Oct 26, 2026 |
According to Standards and Testing Agency, “The test administrator should read the test transcript, and the pupil should write 20 spellings in the answer booklet.”[1]
The KS2 SATs show whether a pupil has met the expected standard in each subject tested at the end of key stage 2. They are run by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA). The tests are paper tests given in school. Schools must give them on the dates in the official timetable, and each subject's papers must be taken in order. For 2027 the tests run from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May.
Parents do not register pupils themselves. Schools register pupils on the NCA Portal between 8 February and 5 March 2027, and can update registration data until 20 May 2027.
Each test produces a scaled score from 80 to 120. A pupil who scores at least 100 has met the expected standard in that test. Schools can see results online from 6 July 2027.
There are no retakes. If a pupil is absent on a test day, they may be able to take the missed test up to 5 school days later, but only if the school applies to STA for a timetable variation and gets approval. Access arrangements and some other details depend on the individual pupil and school, so check the STA guidance on GOV.UK and speak to your child's school for anything specific to your child.
Prepare for the SATs KS2 - Key Stage 2 National Assessments exam with our free practice test modules. Each quiz covers key topics to help you pass on your first try.
These are practice questions written for this site, not questions from the real exam. Each explanation shows why the right answer is right and why the others are wrong.
Question: What effect does using the second person ('you') have in persuasive writing?
Answer: B. It directly addresses the reader, making the argument feel personal
Explanation:
B is correct. When a persuasive writer uses 'you', they speak straight to the reader. That makes the argument feel personal, as if it is about the reader's own life, and it is harder to ignore.
Rule to remember: second person ('you') pulls the reader in. In persuasive writing it is a deliberate choice that makes the reader feel involved.
Question: What is the difference between first and third person narration?
Answer: A. First person uses 'I'; third person uses 'he', 'she', or 'they'
Explanation:
A is correct. A first-person narrator tells the story from inside, using 'I' and 'we'. A third-person narrator tells it from outside, using 'he', 'she' or 'they'.
Rule to remember: look at the pronouns the narrator uses for themselves. 'I' means first person. If the narrator only describes other people as 'he', 'she' or 'they', it is third person.
Question: Which part of the plant contains seeds and is often eaten as fruit?
Answer: D. Ovary (fruit)
Explanation:
D is correct. After fertilisation, the ovary of a flowering plant grows into a fruit that holds the seeds. The fruit protects the seeds and helps spread them. That is why tomatoes, pea pods and apples all count as fruits in science.
Rule to remember: in science, a fruit is the part that grows from the ovary and holds the seeds, even when we call it a vegetable at mealtimes.
Start with the official material. Your child's school will have STA sample papers and past papers, and these show the real layout. Ask the school which ones your child has already done so you don't repeat them.
Next, do one short set from each area to see where the gaps are: Maths Arithmetic, Maths Reasoning, Reading Comprehension and Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling. Read the explanation for every wrong answer before moving on.
Spend most of your time on the weakest area. For fractions, use Fractions, Decimals and Percentages. For written language, add Writing Skills and Vocabulary.
Closer to test week, practise working to time. The arithmetic paper allows 30 minutes, each reasoning paper 40 minutes, reading 60 minutes and the grammar questions paper 45 minutes. Have a go at a full paper under those limits, then go through the mistakes together calmly.
In the last few days, stick to short reviews of topics your child already knows well so they go into the tests rested.
The statutory KS2 tests are timetabled from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027. Schools must give each paper on its set date and take each subject's papers in order. If your child is absent, the school can apply to STA to let them take a missed test up to 5 school days later.
A scaled score of at least 100 means your child has met the expected standard in that test. Scaled scores run from 80, the lowest, to 120, the highest. Each subject test gets its own scaled score, so a pupil can meet the standard in one subject and not in another.
No, there are no retakes. The only exception is absence. If a pupil misses a test day, they may be able to sit the missed test up to 5 school days afterwards, but only if the school applies to STA for a timetable variation and gets approval.
Schools can view KS2 test results online from Tuesday 6 July 2027. Results go to the school first, so ask your child's school when and how it will share them with you.
Maths Paper 1 (arithmetic) lasts 30 minutes. Maths Papers 2 and 3 (reasoning) last 40 minutes each. The reading test lasts 60 minutes. Grammar and punctuation Paper 1 lasts 45 minutes. The spelling paper takes about 15 minutes and is not strictly timed. In it, the teacher reads out 20 spellings for pupils to write.
No. Schools register pupils on the NCA Portal between 8 February and 5 March 2027, and can update registration data until 20 May 2027. If you have questions about your child's entry or any access arrangements, ask the school directly.
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