KS2 SATs (Key Stage 2 Standard Attainment Tests) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: Why might an author repeat a word or phrase throughout a text?

For emphasis or to create a pattern (Correct answer)
Because they forgot they used it before
To confuse the reader
To fill up space

Correct answer: For emphasis or to create a pattern

Authors deliberately repeat words or phrases for emphasis, to create rhythm, or to reinforce a key idea. Repetition can also create a sense of urgency or make something more memorable.

Question 2: What is the mean of: 3, 7, 5, 9, 6?

5
7
8
6 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 6

Mean = total ÷ number of values. 3 + 7 + 5 + 9 + 6 = 30. 30 ÷ 5 = 6. The mean is 6.

Question 3: What is the function of the small intestine?

To absorb water from waste
To break down food physically
To absorb digested nutrients into the bloodstream (Correct answer)
To produce stomach acid

Correct answer: To absorb digested nutrients into the bloodstream

The small intestine is where most digestion is completed and where the nutrients from digested food are absorbed into the bloodstream. It is very long and lined with villi to maximise absorption.

Question 4: What is the suffix in the word 'helpless'?

help
hel
ess
less (Correct answer)

Correct answer: less

A suffix is a group of letters added to the end of a root word to change its meaning. '-less' is the suffix here, meaning 'without', so 'helpless' means 'without help'.

Question 5: A shop sells 3 pens for £1.20. How much would 8 pens cost?

£2.80
£3.20 (Correct answer)
£2.40
£3.60

Correct answer: £3.20

Cost of 1 pen = £1.20 ÷ 3 = £0.40. Cost of 8 pens = 8 × £0.40 = £3.20.

Question 6: A bag contains 3 red, 5 blue and 2 green marbles. What fraction of the marbles are blue?

5/8
1/2 (Correct answer)
5/10
3/10

Correct answer: 1/2

Total marbles = 3 + 5 + 2 = 10. Blue marbles = 5. Fraction = 5/10 = 1/2.

Question 7: What is the grammatical term for 'the big red bus' where 'big' and 'red' describe the bus?

Pronouns
Adverbs
Adjectives (Correct answer)
Conjunctions

Correct answer: Adjectives

'Big' and 'red' are adjectives because they describe the noun 'bus'. Adjectives give more detail about nouns, telling us about qualities like size, colour, shape, and number.

Question 8: What are the main components of blood?

Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma (Correct answer)
Water and oxygen
Only red blood cells
Glucose and minerals only

Correct answer: Red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma

Blood is made up of four main components: red blood cells (carry oxygen), white blood cells (fight infection), platelets (help clotting), and plasma (the liquid that carries everything).

Question 9: What is the purpose of planning before writing an extended piece?

To make the work look neater
To organise ideas and ensure the writing has structure (Correct answer)
To show the teacher you worked hard
To use up extra time

Correct answer: To organise ideas and ensure the writing has structure

Planning helps organise ideas logically, ensures the writing has a clear structure with a beginning, middle and end, and prevents the writer from going off topic.

Question 10: Which sentence is written in the passive voice?

The cat was chased by the dog. (Correct answer)
The dog chased the cat.
The cat chased the dog.
The dog is chasing the cat.

Correct answer: The cat was chased by the dog.

In the passive voice, the subject receives the action rather than doing it. 'The cat was chased by the dog' puts the cat as the subject even though the dog performed the action.

Question 11: What is the function of a semicolon?

To join two closely related main clauses (Correct answer)
To introduce a list
To show ownership
To indicate a pause shorter than a comma

Correct answer: To join two closely related main clauses

A semicolon joins two closely related independent clauses without a conjunction. For example: 'It was hot; we decided to swim.' Both clauses could stand alone as sentences.

Question 12: What is the 'theme' of a story?

The genre label on the cover
The main character's name
The setting of the story
The underlying message or big idea explored in the story (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The underlying message or big idea explored in the story

The theme is the central idea or message that runs throughout a story, such as friendship, courage, or justice. Unlike the plot (what happens), the theme is what the story is really about at a deeper level.

Question 13: What does 'retrieve' mean in this sentence: 'The dog was trained to retrieve the ball'?

To fetch and bring back (Correct answer)
To throw
To chew
To hide

Correct answer: To fetch and bring back

'Retrieve' means to get something and bring it back. In this context, the dog fetches the ball and returns it.

Question 14: Which word is a preposition in: 'The cat sat under the table'?

under (Correct answer)
table
sat
cat

Correct answer: under

A preposition shows the relationship between a noun/pronoun and other words, often indicating position or direction. 'Under' tells us where the cat sat in relation to the table.

Question 15: In poetry, what is a 'stanza'?

A group of lines forming a section of a poem (Correct answer)
The title of a poem
The last line of a poem
A type of rhyme

Correct answer: A group of lines forming a section of a poem

A stanza is a group of lines in a poem, similar to a paragraph in prose. Stanzas are separated by blank lines and often follow a pattern of rhyme or rhythm.

Question 16: What is 'ambitious vocabulary'?

Using simple, everyday words
Using very long words that no one understands
Using precise, interesting, and well-chosen words that enhance meaning (Correct answer)
Repeating the same adjectives throughout

Correct answer: Using precise, interesting, and well-chosen words that enhance meaning

Ambitious vocabulary means choosing words carefully to be precise, interesting, and impactful rather than relying on common or vague words. For example, 'sprinted' instead of 'ran', or 'freezing' instead of 'cold'.

Question 17: Which sentence uses a colon correctly?

She has one dream: to become a doctor. (Correct answer)
He went: to the shop.
They played: football.
I need: to go now.

Correct answer: She has one dream: to become a doctor.

A colon is used to introduce information that explains or expands on what came before. 'She has one dream: to become a doctor' correctly uses the colon to introduce what the dream is.

Question 18: In the phrase 'a blanket of snow covered the fields,' what type of figurative language is used?

Hyperbole
Metaphor (Correct answer)
Simile
Alliteration

Correct answer: Metaphor

This is a metaphor because it describes the snow AS a blanket, without using 'like' or 'as'. The snow is not literally a blanket but is compared to one directly.

Question 19: What does 'purpose' mean in the phrase 'audience and purpose'?

The length of the text
The vocabulary used
The reason why the text is being written (Correct answer)
Who the text is written for

Correct answer: The reason why the text is being written

Purpose means the reason for writing — for example, to entertain, inform, persuade, or explain. Knowing your purpose shapes every decision you make about content, structure, vocabulary, and tone.

Question 20: What is the purpose of a glossary in a non-fiction book?

To list the chapters in order
To give the author's biography
To explain the meanings of key words (Correct answer)
To show pictures related to the text

Correct answer: To explain the meanings of key words

A glossary is an alphabetical list of specialist or difficult words used in the text, along with their definitions.

Question 21: In the sentence 'Running through the park, the boy tripped over a root,' what is 'Running through the park'?

A relative clause
A main clause
A noun phrase
A fronted adverbial (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A fronted adverbial

A fronted adverbial is a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of a sentence that describes the verb. Here it tells us when/how the boy tripped.

Question 22: What is 3,456 + 2,789?

6,345
6,245 (Correct answer)
6,145
6,235

Correct answer: 6,245

Adding 3,456 and 2,789: 6 + 9 = 15 (carry 1), 5 + 8 + 1 = 14 (carry 1), 4 + 7 + 1 = 12 (carry 1), 3 + 2 + 1 = 6. The answer is 6,245.

Question 23: Which prefix turns 'visible' into its opposite?

in- (Correct answer)
im-
un-
dis-

Correct answer: in-

The prefix 'in-' turns 'visible' into 'invisible', meaning not able to be seen.

Question 24: Which sentence uses brackets correctly?

The Amazon river (is the longest) in South America.
The Amazon (river is the longest) in South America.
The (Amazon) river is the longest in South America.
The Amazon (the longest river in South America) flows to the Atlantic. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The Amazon (the longest river in South America) flows to the Atlantic.

Brackets are used to add extra or parenthetical information that could be removed without changing the main meaning. 'The longest river in South America' is additional detail that sits correctly within brackets.

Question 25: What does 'predict' mean in a reading comprehension question?

To use evidence to suggest what might happen next (Correct answer)
To explain the meaning of a word
To copy text directly
To summarise what has happened

Correct answer: To use evidence to suggest what might happen next

Prediction means using evidence from the text along with your own knowledge to suggest what might happen next. Good predictions are based on clues in the text, not random guesses.

Question 26: In a non-fiction text about polar bears, which subheading would best introduce a section about what polar bears eat?

Threats to Survival
The Polar Bear's Diet (Correct answer)
Where Polar Bears Live
Baby Polar Bears

Correct answer: The Polar Bear's Diet

'The Polar Bear's Diet' directly relates to what polar bears eat. 'Diet' means the food that an animal regularly eats.

Question 27: What does 'chronological order' mean?

Events listed by importance
Events told from the end to the start
Events in the order they happened in time (Correct answer)
Events listed alphabetically

Correct answer: Events in the order they happened in time

Chronological order means events are arranged in the order they occurred in time, from first to last. Biographies, reports, and instructions are often organised chronologically.

Question 28: Which sentence is in the present perfect tense?

I have eaten my dinner. (Correct answer)
I will eat my dinner.
I was eating my dinner.
I eat my dinner.

Correct answer: I have eaten my dinner.

The present perfect tense uses 'have' or 'has' with a past participle. 'I have eaten' shows an action completed at some point before now and uses 'have' + 'eaten'.

Question 29: What is the missing angle in a triangle if the other two angles are 65° and 75°?

30°
50°
45°
40° (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 40°

Angles in a triangle sum to 180°. 65° + 75° = 140°. 180° − 140° = 40°. The missing angle is 40°.

Question 30: What is 7 × 8?

56 (Correct answer)
48
64
54

Correct answer: 56

7 × 8 = 56. This is a key multiplication fact from the times tables. You can also work it out as 7 × 8 = (7 × 4) × 2 = 28 × 2 = 56.

Question 31: Which planet is the largest in our solar system?

Jupiter (Correct answer)
Saturn
Earth
Neptune

Correct answer: Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, with a diameter of about 139,820 km — over 11 times wider than Earth. It is a gas giant and has at least 95 known moons.

Question 32: A rectangle has a perimeter of 36 cm. If the length is 12 cm, what is the width?

6 cm (Correct answer)
12 cm
8 cm
24 cm

Correct answer: 6 cm

Perimeter = 2 × (length + width). So 36 = 2 × (12 + width), meaning 18 = 12 + width, therefore width = 6 cm.

Question 33: What does 'context' mean when reading unfamiliar words?

The number of syllables in the word
The title of the book
The meaning of surrounding words and sentences that help you work out the unknown word (Correct answer)
The punctuation around the word

Correct answer: The meaning of surrounding words and sentences that help you work out the unknown word

Using context means looking at the words, phrases, and sentences surrounding an unknown word to work out its probable meaning. This is an important reading strategy for tackling unfamiliar vocabulary.

Question 34: What is 25% of 80?

40
20 (Correct answer)
25
15

Correct answer: 20

25% is the same as 1/4. To find 25% of 80, divide 80 by 4: 80 ÷ 4 = 20. So 25% of 80 is 20.

Question 35: Which word correctly completes the sentence: 'Neither the boys nor the girl ___ ready'?

are
am
were
is (Correct answer)

Correct answer: is

When 'neither...nor' is used, the verb agrees with the subject closest to it. The subject closest to the verb is 'the girl' (singular), so 'is' is correct.

Question 36: What is 2/3 of 18?

15
6
9
12 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 12

To find 2/3 of 18: first find 1/3 by dividing by 3 (18 ÷ 3 = 6), then multiply by 2 (6 × 2 = 12). So 2/3 of 18 = 12.

Question 37: The temperature at midnight was −3°C. By noon it had risen by 11 degrees. What was the temperature at noon?

14°C
7°C
8°C (Correct answer)
−14°C

Correct answer: 8°C

Starting at −3°C and adding 11 degrees: −3 + 11 = 8°C.

Question 38: What is 7.2 ÷ 4?

2.8
1.6
2.4
1.8 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 1.8

72 ÷ 4 = 18, then placing the decimal point gives 1.8.

Question 39: What is the effect of using short sentences in a piece of writing?

To make it sound more formal
To add more detail and description
To create tension or impact (Correct answer)
To make it harder to read

Correct answer: To create tension or impact

Short sentences create tension, urgency, or dramatic impact in writing. They draw the reader's attention and can make events feel fast-paced. Writers use them deliberately for effect, especially in action or suspense.

Question 40: Which of the following is an example of a reversible change?

Rusting iron
Cooking an egg
Burning wood
Melting ice (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Melting ice

Melting ice is reversible because liquid water can be refrozen back into ice. Burning, cooking, and rusting are irreversible changes — you cannot return the substance to its original form.

Question 41: What is the correct order of the life cycle of a butterfly?

Chrysalis → egg → caterpillar → butterfly
Egg → butterfly → caterpillar → chrysalis
Caterpillar → egg → chrysalis → butterfly
Egg → caterpillar → chrysalis → butterfly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Egg → caterpillar → chrysalis → butterfly

A butterfly's life cycle has four stages: egg → larva (caterpillar) → pupa (chrysalis) → adult (butterfly). This process of four stages is called complete metamorphosis.

Question 42: What is 3.14 rounded to the nearest whole number?

4
3.2
3 (Correct answer)
3.1

Correct answer: 3

To round 3.14 to the nearest whole number, look at the first decimal digit: 1. Since 1 < 5, round down to 3.

Question 43: What does the prefix 'un-' mean in the word 'unhappy'?

Not (Correct answer)
Very
Before
Again

Correct answer: Not

The prefix 'un-' means 'not', so 'unhappy' means 'not happy'. This prefix reverses the meaning of the root word, as seen in 'undo', 'uncertain', and 'unfair'.

Question 44: What is the difference between first and third person narration?

First person uses 'he'; third person uses 'I'
Third person is always more interesting
First person is for non-fiction only
First person uses 'I'; third person uses 'he', 'she', or 'they' (Correct answer)

Correct answer: First person uses 'I'; third person uses 'he', 'she', or 'they'

First-person narration uses 'I' and 'we', giving a personal, inside view. Third-person narration uses 'he', 'she', 'they', giving an outside view. Each creates a different relationship with the reader.

Question 45: What fraction of 40 is 10?

1/4 (Correct answer)
1/3
1/5
1/8

Correct answer: 1/4

10 is a fraction of 40. 10/40 simplifies to 1/4 (dividing numerator and denominator by 10). So 10 is one quarter of 40.

Question 46: What is the difference between a habitat and an ecosystem?

An ecosystem only includes plants
A habitat is bigger than an ecosystem
A habitat is where an organism lives; an ecosystem includes all organisms and their environment (Correct answer)
They mean exactly the same thing

Correct answer: A habitat is where an organism lives; an ecosystem includes all organisms and their environment

A habitat is the specific environment where a particular organism lives (e.g., a pond). An ecosystem includes all the living organisms in an area AND their physical environment and interactions.

Question 47: Calculate 8,001 − 3,547.

4,454 (Correct answer)
4,544
4,464
4,554

Correct answer: 4,454

8,001 − 3,547: Borrowing across the zeros gives 4,454.

Question 48: When should you use a hyphen in writing?

To replace a full stop
To join words that work together as a modifier before a noun (Correct answer)
To show possession
To list items

Correct answer: To join words that work together as a modifier before a noun

A hyphen joins compound modifiers that work together before a noun: 'a well-known author', 'a seven-year-old child'. Without the hyphen, the meaning can become unclear.

Question 49: Which of these is the best example of 'show, not tell' writing?

Her hands trembled and her breath came in short, shallow gasps. (Correct answer)
She was scared.
She felt really frightened.
The girl was very afraid of the dark.

Correct answer: Her hands trembled and her breath came in short, shallow gasps.

'Show, not tell' means describing physical signs and actions rather than simply stating the emotion. Trembling hands and shallow gasps SHOW fear without using the word 'scared'.

Question 50: Which of the following is a carnivore?

Deer
Cow
Fox (Correct answer)
Rabbit

Correct answer: Fox

A carnivore is an animal that eats only meat (other animals). Foxes eat small animals such as rabbits, mice, and birds. Rabbits and cows are herbivores; deer are also herbivores.

Question 51: Which sentence is written in the passive voice?

Sarah threw the ball.
We played football after school.
The cat chased the mouse.
The cake was eaten by the children. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The cake was eaten by the children.

In the passive voice, the subject receives the action. 'The cake was eaten by the children' — the cake (subject) receives the action of being eaten.

Question 52: Which word is a subordinating conjunction?

Although (Correct answer)
But
And
Or

Correct answer: Although

'Although' is a subordinating conjunction that introduces a subordinate clause. 'And', 'but' and 'or' are coordinating conjunctions.

Question 53: Which of these is an example of emotive language?

43% of students agreed.
Innocent children are suffering needlessly. (Correct answer)
The report was published on Monday.
The building was demolished in 2019.

Correct answer: Innocent children are suffering needlessly.

Emotive language is designed to create an emotional response. Words like 'innocent', 'suffering', and 'needlessly' are chosen to make the reader feel sympathy and outrage.

Question 54: What is the purpose of a glossary in a non-fiction book?

To give the author's biography
To summarise each chapter
To explain the meanings of specialist words (Correct answer)
To list all the characters

Correct answer: To explain the meanings of specialist words

A glossary is an alphabetical list of specialist or technical words used in the text, along with their definitions. It helps readers understand subject-specific vocabulary without needing a separate dictionary.

Question 55: An author uses the phrase 'the wind howled'. What technique is this?

Alliteration
Metaphor
Personification (Correct answer)
Simile

Correct answer: Personification

Personification gives human qualities or actions to non-human things. The wind cannot actually 'howl' like a person or animal, but giving it this quality makes the description more vivid and powerful.

Question 56: Which word is spelled correctly?

commitee
committie
committee (Correct answer)
comittee

Correct answer: committee

'Committee' is the correct spelling, with double 'm', double 't', and double 'e'. It is one of the Year 5/6 statutory spelling words that pupils are expected to know.

Question 57: Round 4.567 to 2 decimal places.

4.56
4.57 (Correct answer)
4.6
4.5

Correct answer: 4.57

The third decimal digit is 7 (≥5), so the second decimal digit rounds up from 6 to 7, giving 4.57.

Question 58: What is the function of the roots of a plant?

To make food using sunlight
To absorb water and nutrients from the soil (Correct answer)
To produce flowers and seeds
To carry out photosynthesis

Correct answer: To absorb water and nutrients from the soil

Roots anchor the plant in the soil and absorb water and dissolved minerals (nutrients) from the soil. These are transported up through the stem to the leaves where photosynthesis occurs.

Question 59: Which organ pumps blood around the human body?

Kidneys
Heart (Correct answer)
Liver
Lungs

Correct answer: Heart

The heart is a muscular organ that acts as a pump, pushing blood through the network of arteries and veins to deliver oxygen and nutrients to all cells in the body.

Question 60: What does 'expand the noun phrase' mean in: 'the dog' → 'the enormous, shaggy dog'?

Using a conjunction
Adding adjectives or other modifiers to a noun (Correct answer)
Replacing the noun with a pronoun
Changing the verb

Correct answer: Adding adjectives or other modifiers to a noun

Expanding a noun phrase means adding adjectives, prepositional phrases, or relative clauses to give more detail about the noun. 'Enormous' and 'shaggy' are adjectives that expand 'the dog'.

Question 61: Which word is an antonym of 'ancient'?

Modern (Correct answer)
Historic
Old
Crumbling

Correct answer: Modern

An antonym is a word with the opposite meaning. 'Modern' means new or contemporary, making it the opposite of 'ancient', which means very old.

Question 62: Write 72 as a product of its prime factors.

2³ × 3² (Correct answer)
4 × 18
2 × 3 × 12
2² × 18

Correct answer: 2³ × 3²

72 = 2 × 36 = 2 × 2 × 18 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 9 = 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 × 3 = 2³ × 3². Using a factor tree confirms this.

Question 63: What type of sentence is this: 'Wash your hands before dinner'?

Question
Command (Correct answer)
Statement
Exclamation

Correct answer: Command

A command (imperative sentence) gives an instruction or order. It usually begins with a verb and does not have a named subject, as the subject 'you' is implied. 'Wash your hands' is a command.

Question 64: What is the value of 4³?

16
64 (Correct answer)
48
12

Correct answer: 64

4³ means 4 × 4 × 4. First 4 × 4 = 16, then 16 × 4 = 64.

Question 65: What is the difference between 'skimming' and 'scanning' a text?

Skimming is reading quickly for general meaning; scanning is searching for specific information (Correct answer)
They are the same thing
Skimming is for poetry; scanning is for non-fiction
Scanning is slower than skimming

Correct answer: Skimming is reading quickly for general meaning; scanning is searching for specific information

Skimming involves reading quickly to get the overall gist or main idea of a text. Scanning involves moving your eyes quickly over a text to locate a specific piece of information, such as a date or name.

Question 66: A text says: 'As quick as a flash, she sprinted across the field.' What technique is used?

Personification
Metaphor
Alliteration
Simile (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Simile

A simile compares one thing to another using 'like' or 'as'. Here, her speed is compared to a flash using 'as...as', making it a simile. Similes create vivid images in the reader's mind.

Question 67: What is the plural of 'phenomenon'?

Phenomenas
Phenomenons
Phenomena (Correct answer)
Phenomenies

Correct answer: Phenomena

'Phenomenon' comes from Greek, and its correct plural form is 'phenomena'. This follows the Greek pattern like criterion/criteria.

Question 68: Calculate 346 × 7.

2,322
2,432
2,412
2,422 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 2,422

346 × 7: 6 × 7 = 42 (write 2, carry 4), 4 × 7 = 28 + 4 = 32 (write 2, carry 3), 3 × 7 = 21 + 3 = 24. Answer: 2,422.

Question 69: Which punctuation mark is used to show that letters have been missed out in a contraction?

Hyphen
Comma
Apostrophe (Correct answer)
Full stop

Correct answer: Apostrophe

An apostrophe shows where letters have been omitted in a contraction. For example, 'do not' becomes 'don't' — the apostrophe replaces the missing 'o'.

Question 70: What is 3.6 + 2.85?

6.55
6.35
5.85
6.45 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: 6.45

Aligning the decimal points: 3.60 + 2.85 = 6.45.

Question 71: What is the correct order for paragraphs in a balanced argument?

Introduction, conclusion, arguments for, arguments against
Introduction, arguments for, arguments against, conclusion (Correct answer)
Conclusion, arguments for, arguments against, introduction
Arguments for, conclusion, introduction, arguments against

Correct answer: Introduction, arguments for, arguments against, conclusion

A balanced argument follows a logical structure: introduction (introduce the topic), arguments for, arguments against, then conclusion (weigh up both sides).

Question 72: What is the purpose of a non-fiction text written to argue a point?

To explain how something works step by step
To persuade the reader to agree with a viewpoint (Correct answer)
To entertain with a made-up story
To describe a place in detail

Correct answer: To persuade the reader to agree with a viewpoint

A persuasive or argumentative text is written to convince the reader to adopt a particular viewpoint. It uses evidence, rhetorical questions, and emotive language to influence the reader.

Question 73: What is 0.75 as a fraction in its simplest form?

3/4 (Correct answer)
3/5
75/100
7/10

Correct answer: 3/4

0.75 = 75/100, which simplifies to 3/4 by dividing both numerator and denominator by 25.

Question 74: A bag of apples costs £1.35. How much do 4 bags cost?

£4.40
£5.40 (Correct answer)
£5.20
£4.80

Correct answer: £5.40

£1.35 × 4: 4 × 1 = £4, 4 × 0.35 = £1.40. Total: £4 + £1.40 = £5.40.

Question 75: What is the grammatical term for 'However' when used at the start of a sentence to link ideas?

Preposition
Conjunction
Adverbial (Correct answer)
Pronoun

Correct answer: Adverbial

When 'However' begins a sentence and links to the previous idea, it functions as a sentence adverbial (also called a cohesive device or connective). It modifies the whole sentence and shows contrast.

Question 76: What is the next term in the sequence: 3, 7, 11, 15, ___?

18
19 (Correct answer)
21
20

Correct answer: 19

The sequence increases by 4 each time (arithmetic sequence with common difference 4). 15 + 4 = 19.

Question 77: Which sentence uses an apostrophe correctly for possession?

The dog's are playing outside.
The cat's like milk.
The boy's went swimming.
The children's books were on the shelf. (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The children's books were on the shelf.

'Children's' is correct because 'children' is already plural, so the apostrophe goes before the 's' to show possession. The books belong to the children.

Question 78: What does 'cohesion' mean in a piece of writing?

Using lots of different punctuation marks
Using as many adjectives as possible
Writing very long sentences
The way ideas and sentences are linked together smoothly (Correct answer)

Correct answer: The way ideas and sentences are linked together smoothly

Cohesion refers to how well a piece of writing flows and connects. Cohesive devices include pronouns, connectives, repeated vocabulary, and adverbials that link sentences and paragraphs together.

Question 79: What is an 'expanded noun phrase'?

A pronoun replacing a noun
A noun at the start of a sentence
A noun used as a verb
A noun with adjectives or modifiers added for detail (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A noun with adjectives or modifiers added for detail

An expanded noun phrase includes the noun plus additional words (adjectives, prepositional phrases) to give more detail. 'The rusty, old bicycle with a broken chain' is an expanded noun phrase.

Question 80: What is alliteration?

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'
Words that sound like their meaning
The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words (Correct answer)
Giving human qualities to objects

Correct answer: The repetition of the same initial consonant sound in nearby words

Alliteration is the repetition of the same starting consonant sound in closely connected words, e.g. 'slippery, slimy snakes'. It creates rhythm and is memorable, often used in poetry, adverts, and headlines.

Question 81: What is 345 + 278?

523
633
623 (Correct answer)
613

Correct answer: 623

Adding 345 + 278: 5 + 8 = 13 (write 3, carry 1), 4 + 7 + 1 = 12 (write 2, carry 1), 3 + 2 + 1 = 6. Answer: 623.

Question 82: Which sentence contains a relative clause?

I ate the cake that my mum made. (Correct answer)
The dog barked loudly.
She ran home after school.
It was raining heavily outside.

Correct answer: I ate the cake that my mum made.

'That my mum made' is a relative clause — it gives extra information about 'the cake'. Relative clauses often begin with who, which, that, whose, or where.

Question 83: Which of these is equivalent to 7/20 as a decimal?

0.72
0.37
0.35 (Correct answer)
3.5

Correct answer: 0.35

7/20 = 7 ÷ 20 = 0.35. Alternatively, multiply both parts by 5 to get 35/100 = 0.35.

Question 84: What do we call the force that pulls objects towards the Earth?

Gravity (Correct answer)
Air resistance
Friction
Magnetism

Correct answer: Gravity

Gravity is the force of attraction between objects with mass. Earth's gravity pulls everything towards its centre, which is why objects fall when dropped and why we stay on the ground.

Question 85: Which of the following is a fronted adverbial?

She smiled happily.
Running fast, he caught the bus.
Early in the morning, the birds began to sing. (Correct answer)
The tall, old tree swayed.

Correct answer: Early in the morning, the birds began to sing.

A fronted adverbial is a word or phrase at the beginning of a sentence that tells us when, where, or how. 'Early in the morning' tells us when and is placed before the main clause, followed by a comma.

Question 86: A text about endangered animals ends: 'We must act now — before it is too late.' What is the purpose of this ending?

To summarise all the facts
To introduce a new character
To urge the reader to take action (Correct answer)
To entertain with a funny joke

Correct answer: To urge the reader to take action

This sentence is a call to action, a persuasive technique that encourages the reader to do something. The urgency is increased by the dash and the phrase 'before it is too late', creating a sense of danger.

Question 87: Which of these is a compound word?

beautiful
football (Correct answer)
quickly
running

Correct answer: football

A compound word is formed by joining two separate words together. 'Football' = 'foot' + 'ball'. Other compound words include 'sunshine', 'bedroom', and 'rainbow'.

Question 88: Which word is a pronoun in this sentence: 'She gave him the book'?

book
She (Correct answer)
the
gave

Correct answer: She

A pronoun replaces a noun. 'She' is a pronoun replacing a person's name. Both 'She' and 'him' are pronouns in this sentence, but 'She' is listed and is a subject pronoun.

Question 89: An author includes statistics in a persuasive text. Why might they do this?

To make the text longer
To make the argument sound more factual and convincing (Correct answer)
To confuse the reader
To entertain the reader

Correct answer: To make the argument sound more factual and convincing

Statistics (numbers and data) are used in persuasive writing to provide evidence and make arguments appear more credible and convincing.

Question 90: What is the 'PEED' structure used in analytical writing?

Plan, Edit, Evaluate, Develop
Point, Example, Explanation, Developer (Correct answer)
Point, Evidence, Effect, Done
Paragraph, Example, Effect, Detail

Correct answer: Point, Example, Explanation, Developer

PEED stands for Point, Example, Explanation, Developer (or sometimes Development). It is a structure for analytical paragraphs: make a point, give a quotation or example, explain it, then develop the idea further.

KS2 SATs (Key Stage 2 Standard Attainment Tests)

The KS2 SATs are national curriculum tests taken by Year 6 pupils (aged 10–11) in England, assessing Mathematics (Arithmetic and Reasoning), English Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling, and English Reading Comprehension across five papers.

Questions

35 min

Time Limit

65%

To Pass

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These practice questions were written with AI tools. They are not real exam questions. Exam facts are checked against the official sources listed below. Not reviewed by a subject-matter expert. Editorial policy

Sources & references

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