MAY 9 TH -12 TH MAY SATs 2016

What Form will the Tests Take? In May 2016, Year 6 children will be the first to take the new SATs papers. These tests in English and maths will reflect the new national curriculum, and are intended to be more rigorous. There will also be a completely new marking scheme to replace the existing national curriculum levels.

What tests will your child sit? At the end of Year 6, children will sit tests in: reading maths grammar, punctuation, spelling (GPS) These tests will be both set and marked externally.

Reading The reading test will be a single paper with questions based on three passages of text. Your child will have one hour, including reading time, to complete the test.

Reading There will be a selection of question types, including: Ranking/ordering, e.g. ‘Number the events below to show the order in which they happen in the story’ Labelling, e.g. ‘Label the text to show the title of the story’ Find and copy, e.g. ‘Find and copy one word that suggests what the weather is like in the story’ Short constructed response, e.g. ‘What does the bear eat?’ Open-ended response, e.g. ‘Look at the sentence that begins Once upon a time. How does the writer increase the tension throughout this paragraph? Explain fully, referring to the text in your answer.’

Sample questions These sample questions include: Two short constructed response and a Find and copy

Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling The grammar, punctuation and spelling test will consist of two parts: a grammar and punctuation paper requiring short answers, lasting 45 minutes, spelling test of 20 words, lasting around 15 minutes.

Sample spelling questions scent illusion revisit parachute abundance

Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling The grammar and punctuation test will include two sub-types of questions: Selected response, e.g. ‘Identify the adjectives in the sentence below’ Constructed response, e.g. ‘Correct/complete/rewrite the sentence below,’ or, ‘The sentence below has an apostrophe missing. Explain why it needs an apostrophe.’

Example Punctuation and Grammar question

Sample questions

Mathematics Children will sit three papers in maths: Paper 1: arithmetic, 30 minutes Papers 2 and 3: reasoning, 40 minutes per paper

Sample questions- arithmetic

Mathematics Paper 1 will consist of fixed response questions, where children have to give the correct answer to calculations, including long multiplication and division. Papers 2 and 3 will involve a number of question types, including: -multiple choice -true or false -constrained questions, e.g. giving the answer to a calculation, drawing a shape or completing a table or chart -less constrained questions, where children will have to explain their approach for solving a problem

Sample questions-reasoning

Timetable Year 6 SATs Week 2016 Monday 9 th Tuesday 10 th Wednesday 11 th Thursday 12 th Friday 13 th Reading Test (1 hour) Punctuation and grammar test (45 minutes) Paper 1 Mathematics (arithmetic) (30 minutes) Paper 3 Mathematics (reasoning) (45 minutes) Spelling Test (20 minutes) Paper 2 Mathematics (reasoning) (45 minutes)

How will your child’s performance be reported? The previous national curriculum levels are no longer being used, and instead your child will be given scaled scores. You will be given your child’s raw score (the actual number of marks they get), alongside their scaled score and whether they have reached the national average.

Scaled Scores Scaled scores maintain their meaning over time so that two pupils achieving the same scaled score on two different tests will have demonstrated the same attainment. For example, on the proposed scale, 100 will always represent the ‘national standard’.

Tips for Revising Short, regular focussed sessions are better than last minute ‘cramming’. Use revision guides to help you practice topics already taught in class or areas of a subject you are less confident with. Take short breaks and remember to eat and drink properly (but not every 10 minutes!) Make it fun by using revision websites or apps that can be downloaded to your tablet (many of these are free). Find the proper environment to revise without any distractions (e.g. television) Ask someone to help with revision e.g. a parent or older sibling DON’T PUT IT OFF

Revision Guides The school is able to purchase SATs booklets at a discounted rate for our Year 6 children. An individual letters have already been sent home with details of the books which are available. Would you please return your order to school by Tuesday 9 th February.

How to Help your Child Make sure they get enough sleep. Make sure they eat breakfast. Encourage them to ask the teacher if they are unsure about anything. Explain that the SATs are a way of showing what they know. They can’t fail! Support your child in their revision – use some of the fun, interactive games.

Questions