What it means for your child. 2016 National Tests What it means for your child.

The Tests Grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: Grammar, punctuation and vocabulary Paper 2: Spelling (20 words) Paper 1: 50 marks Paper 2: 20 marks Paper 1: 45 mins Paper 2: 15 minutes (approx.) English Reading Test One paper Reading booklet and separate answer booklet. (Texts and questions in order of difficulty) 50 marks 60 minutes. This includes reading time. Mathematics Test Paper 1: Arithmetic Paper 2 and 3: Mathematical reasoning Paper 1: 40 marks Paper 2 and 3: 35 marks per paper Paper 1: 30 minutes Paper 2 and 3: 40 minutes per paper

Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling

Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling G1 Grammatical terms G2 Function of sentences G3 Combining words, phrases and clauses G4 Verb tense and consistency Nouns Verbs Adjectives Conjunctions Pronouns Possessive pronouns Relative pronouns Adverbs Adverbials Prepositions Determiners Subject and object Statements Questions Commands Exclamations Sentences Clauses Relative clauses Noun phrases Co-ordinating conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions Subordinate clause Simple past and simple present Verbs in the perfect form Modal verbs Present and past progressive Tense consistency Subjunctive verb forms Passive and active G5 Punctuation G6 Vocabulary G7 Standard English and formality Capital letters Full stops Question marks Commas in lists Apostrophes Commas to clarify meaning Commas after fronted adverbials Hyphens Inverted commas Direct speech Brackets Dashes Commas to indicate parenthesis Colons Semi colons Single dashes Bullet points Synonyms and antonyms Prefixes Suffixes Word families Standard English Formal and informal vocabulary Formal and informal structures The subjunctive

The KS2 Grammar, Punctuation and Vocabulary Test will include primarily closed questions at the start of the test with more open-ended questions towards the end of the test, increasing the level of difficulty. Q1 Tick the sentence that must end with a question mark. Q3 Draw a line to match each prefix to the correct word so that it makes a new word. Q37 Rewrite the sentence below so that it is written in the passive voice. Q45 Write the sentence that lists all the information given in the box below. Q35 Explain how the use of commas changes the meaning of the two sentences.

Changes to Terminology Terminology not used in the test Terminology used in the test Speech marks Inverted commas Connectives (and, but, so, because, when) Co-ordinating conjunctions Subordinating conjunctions Connectives ( on the other hand, in addition, furthermore, therefore) Adverbs ( therefore) Adverbials (words or groups of words on the other hand) Time connectives ( first, next, then) Adverbs (of time) Connectives ( after, before) Prepositions of time Embedded clause/ Dropped in clause Subordinate clause

Articles (a, an, the) will still be included in the test Articles (a, an, the) will still be included in the test. However, articles now fall under the umbrella term of ‘determiners articles: a, an, the demonstratives: this, that, these, those • possessives: its, our, their, my, your, his, her • quantifiers: all, enough, some, any, no, much, few, little, both, many, either, each, every, another, other • numerals (symbol or name): one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4), five (5)

The Reading Test

Challenging Aspects Children are expected to structure and organise their own responses. A way to do this is using PEE ( Point, Evidence, explanation) Find and copy questions might require pupils to find answers from the page or whole text rather than being given a specific locater.

The vocabulary used in questions might not be familiar to pupils but they can use the context to aid understanding. The vocabulary will also be more difficult to locate. Children should be encouraged to find out the meaning of words they don’t understand. They can then use these in their own writing. Pupils could also create their own word lists that they have collected from their own reading.

The Mathematics Test

Key Changes • A new written arithmetic paper is presented at both Key Stages. At Key Stage 2 this replaces the mental arithmetic paper. • There is a significant focus on the number strands of the curriculum. • There are no extension papers at either Key Stage. • At Key Stage 2, in the arithmetic test, method marks are available only for use of standard long multiplication and division methods on relevant questions. • Both series of tests are more demanding than previous tests, to match the new higher expectations of the National Curriculum.

The Mathematics Test – more demanding context The new curriculum is more demanding and the new National Tests are going to be more challenging for children. In mathematics, there are some particular areas where expectations are different from those in the past. Here, we outline a few of the key changes to the expected standard for the end- of-Key Stage 2, comparing them to the old requirements for level 4.

There is a notable increase in the competency and skill required with fractions. Standard written methods of calculation are also expected, including long multiplication and division. The significant shift in expectations also means that a good deal of what we might have previously thought of as a level 5 skill (or higher) is now anticipated for those pupils working at the expected standard, including:

Compare and order numbers using place value up to 1,000,000. • Round any whole number to the nearest power of 10 (e.g. round 434,567 to the nearest 10,000). • Know the prime numbers up to 19. • Multiply and divide numbers with up to two decimal places by 10 or 100. • Find simple fractions and percentages of whole number quantities, e.g. 30% of £60. • Add and subtract fractions, including those with denominators that share a common factor. • Find possible values in missing number problems involving one or two unknowns. • Multiply two-digit numbers by two-digit numbers using the standard method of long multiplication. • Become more confident with division using larger numbers, including the long division method. • Know and use angle rules, such as angles on a straight line sum to 180° and angles at a point sum to 360°. • Find the perimeter of compound shapes. • Calculate the mean as an average (finding the mode is no longer expected at Key Stage 2).

Arithmetic Paper There are around 35-38 questions, with most worth 1 mark. Several of the early questions invite pupils to use mental strategies (such as 979 + 100, or 6.1 + 0.3). Throughout the paper, challenge is increased with the introduction of larger numbers, or increasing numbers of decimal places, and the introduction of more complex fraction calculations. Questions requiring long multiplication or division are worth 2 marks, with 1 mark being available for the use of a standard method with only one calculation error. These questions are presented using the standard column or ‘bus stop’ layouts to guide pupils to use these forms. All questions are presented with a 7mm squared grid working area.

The Mathematical Reasoning Papers Tests at both Key Stages include papers which require children to demonstrate their use of mathematical fluency to solve problems both in and out of context.

Between 60% and 75% of the marks available on each of the two papers will be awarded for aspects relating to numbers, calculations, fractions, ratio and algebra. The remaining marks are awarded for questions based on the measurement, geometry and statistics strands. The sample papers suggest that the increased expectations have led to a notable step-up in question difficulty from the start, meaning none of the ‘easing in’ of the old papers.