KS2 SATs Practice Test

KS2 SATs Exam at a Glance

What changed for KS2 SATs in 2026

• Oct 26, 2026: Delivery changed to Paper tests administered in school (previously Paper tests in school).^[1]
• Oct 26, 2026: Late registration deadline changed to 20 May 2027 (previously 20 May 2027 (registration data updates)).^[4]
• Oct 26, 2026: Score release changed to 6 July 2027 (previously 6 July 2027 (to schools)).^[3]
• Oct 26, 2026: Retake policy changed to No retakes; absent pupils may take missed tests up to 5 school days later with an approved timetable variation (previously No retakes; absent pupils may sit a missed test up to 5 school days later).^[3]
• Oct 26, 2026: Time limit (English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: spelling) changed to Approximately 15 minutes (previously About 15 minutes, 20 spellings).^[1]
• Oct 26, 2026: Time limit (Mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic) changed to 30 minutes (previously 30 minutes, 40 marks).^[1]

What the KS2 SATs is and how it works

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.

Worked examples: how to reason through KS2 SATs questions

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.

Example 1

Question: What effect does using the second person ('you') have in persuasive writing?

1. It makes the text seem fictional
2. It directly addresses the reader, making the argument feel personal
3. It shows the writer is uncertain
4. It makes the text more formal

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.

• A is wrong: 'you' does not make a text fictional. Adverts, letters and speeches use it all the time.
• C is wrong: uncertainty shows in words like 'might' or 'perhaps', not in a change of pronoun.
• D is wrong: addressing the reader as 'you' usually makes writing less formal, not more.

Rule to remember: second person ('you') pulls the reader in. In persuasive writing it is a deliberate choice that makes the reader feel involved.

Example 2

Question: What is the difference between first and third person narration?

1. First person uses 'I'; third person uses 'he', 'she', or 'they'
2. First person uses 'he'; third person uses 'I'
3. First person is for non-fiction only
4. Third person is always more interesting

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'.

• B is wrong: it swaps the pronouns round.
• C is wrong: lots of stories and diaries are told in the first person, so it is not only for non-fiction.
• D is wrong: neither viewpoint is always more interesting. Each one gives the reader a different relationship with the characters.

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.

Example 3

Question: Which part of the plant contains seeds and is often eaten as fruit?

1. Stem
2. Root
3. Leaf
4. Ovary (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.

• A is wrong: the stem holds the plant up and carries water and nutrients. It does not hold seeds.
• B is wrong: roots anchor the plant and take in water from the soil.
• C is wrong: leaves make food for the plant using light. They do not form seeds.

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.

How to use these practice tests

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.

Sources & last verified

1. Standards and Testing Agency — number of questions, time limit, delivery (official source). “The test administrator should read the test transcript, and the pupil should write 20 spellings in the answer booklet.” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
2. Standards and Testing Agency — passing score (official source). “The lowest scaled score that can be awarded on a KS2 test is 80. The highest scaled score is 120. Pupils scoring at least 100…” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
3. Standards and Testing Agency — retake policy, score release (official source). “If your child is absent on a scheduled test day, they may be able to take any missed test up to 5 school days afterwards.…” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.
4. Standards and Testing Agency — registration deadline, registration opens, late registration deadline (official source). “All schools must register pupils on the NCA Portal between Monday 8 February and Friday 5 March.” Verified Oct 26, 2026.
5. Standards and Testing Agency — next exam date (official source). “The statutory key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027:” Verified Oct 26, 2026 · source checked Oct 19, 2026.

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