KS2 SATS Cheat Sheet 2026

The 30 highest-yield KS2 SATS facts, distilled from real exam questions. Print it, save it as a PDF, or study it here — free, no sign-up.

1. How should you punctuate direct speech correctly? → She said, "I am tired."
2. Which number is exactly halfway between 3.6 and 4.2? → 3.9
3. What is the purpose of a glossary in a non-fiction book? → To explain the meanings of specialist words
4. Which word is a subordinating conjunction? → Although
5. Which planet is closest to the Sun in our solar system? → Mercury
6. Which sentence contains a relative clause? → I ate the cake that my mum made.
7. What is a 'biography'? → A written account of a real person's life written by someone else
8. What makes a good story ending? → Resolving the main conflict and leaving the reader feeling satisfied or thoughtful
9. Which technique helps create a sense of pace in action writing? → Short, punchy sentences
10. A rectangle has a perimeter of 36 cm. If the length is 12 cm, what is the width? → 6 cm
11. Which sentence uses a colon correctly? → She has one dream: to become a doctor.
12. What is the purpose of using statistics in a persuasive text? → To provide factual evidence that supports the argument
13. What is the lowest common multiple (LCM) of 4 and 6? → 12
14. What is the purpose of a plan before writing? → To organise ideas and structure the writing before starting
15. In persuasive writing, what is a 'counter-argument'? → Acknowledging the opposing view before explaining why your view is stronger
16. Which of the following shows the correct use of a dash for effect? → She was scared — very scared indeed.
17. What is the function of the small intestine? → To absorb digested nutrients into the bloodstream
18. What happens to water when it is heated to 100°C at normal atmospheric pressure? → It boils
19. In a pie chart, one sector represents 90°. What percentage of the whole does it represent? → 25%
20. What does 'author's viewpoint' mean? → The writer's attitude or opinion towards the subject
21. What does it mean to 'infer' something from a text? → To work out something that is not directly stated
22. Which sentence uses a comma correctly to separate a subordinate clause? → When the bell rang, the children ran outside.
23. What is 3.14 rounded to the nearest whole number? → 3
24. A number is multiplied by itself and the answer is 144. What is the number? → 12
25. What is 60% as a decimal? → 0.6
26. What causes day and night on Earth? → The Earth rotating on its axis
27. Which of the following opening sentences would best hook a reader into a story? → The dragon had been asleep for a thousand years — until now.
28. What does 'first-person narration' mean? → The story is told by a character using 'I' and 'we'
29. Which word is a preposition in: 'The cat sat under the table'? → under
30. What is the difference between first and third person narration? → First person uses 'I'; third person uses 'he', 'she', or 'they'