1. Key Stage One National Testing Arrangements
What are the changes and how can I help my child?

2. 2016 Changes…
In 2016 a new set of National Tests will be replacing the previous tests and tasks.
English Reading Paper 1
English Reading Paper 2
English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Paper 1 – Spelling
English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Paper 2 – Questions
Mathematics Paper 1 - Arithmetic
Mathematics Paper 2 – Reasoning
As a result of the new tests “levels” will no longer be reported instead scaled scores will be recorded.

3. The Reading Test…
The new reading test has a greater emphasis on the comprehension elements of the new curriculum.
There are 2 reading papers, one with the texts and questions combined and one with more challenging texts with the questions in a separate booklet.
Both papers are administered to all pupils.
Each paper will have a selection of unrelated texts of increasing difficulty.
There will be a mixture of text genres.
A variety of question types will be included e.g. multiple choice, matching, ranking / ordering, finding, labelling or short answer.
Paper One consists of between 400 – 700 words – 30mins to complete
Paper Two consists of between 800 – 1000 words – 40 mins to complete

4. The GPS Test
The new grammar, punctuation and spelling test has an emphasis on technical aspects of grammar.
There are 2 papers, Paper 1: spelling and Paper 2: questions.
The written task has been removed and writing will instead be assessed through teacher assessment.
Paper 1 -
Paper 2 -
Spelling consists of an answer booklet for pupils to complete and a test transcript to be read by the test administrator.
20 missing words when read will be written in the answer booklet.
Questions consist of a single test paper focusing on pupils’ knowledge of grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
Pupils will have approximately 20 minutes to complete the questions in the test paper but it is not strictly timed.

5. The Mathematics Test
There are now two papers in mathematics at KS1, an arithmetic test has been introduced.
Paper 1 -
Arithmetic assesses pupils’ confidence and mathematical fluency with whole numbers, place-value and counting. The test consists of a single test paper.
Some items in the arithmetic test have grids in the answer spaces or working out spaces. The grids are there for questions where the pupils may benefit from using more formal methods for calculations.
Paper 2 -
Paper 1 – 20mins
Paper 2 – 30mins
Reasoning assesses pupils’ mathematical fluency, problem solving and reasoning skills. This test consists of a single test paper. The paper includes a practice question and 5 oral questions.

6. What will the results look like?
Children will not be awarded a level any more
The children will achieve a raw score on the test
This will then be turned into a scaled score using a conversion table that is issued by the DfE
With the scaled score, 100 will mean you are at the expected level and anything above that will show you exceeded the expectations
Paper 1 – 20mins
Paper 2 – 30mins

7. DFE Guidance on Scaled Scores
Scaled scores are used all over the world. They help test results to be reported consistently from one year to the next. We design national curriculum tests to be as similar as possible year on year, but slight differences in difficulty will occur between years. 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 our scale 100 will always represent the ‘national standard’. However, due to the small differences in difficulty between tests, the ‘raw score’ (ie the total number of correct responses) that equates to 100 might be different (though similar) each year.
3 July 2015
Paper 1 – 20mins
Paper 2 – 30mins

8. Paper 1 – 20mins
Paper 2 – 30mins

9. What happens to the results?
The results at Key Stage One are purely for tracking progress in school.
They are used alongside our teacher assessment to confirm judgements about a pupil’s attainment.
They are not sent to the DfE or reported to parents – only the teacher assessment is.
Paper 1 – 20mins
Paper 2 – 30mins

10. Support for pupils during
the tests…
Our aim is to make sure the students are as confident and happy as possible during the testing period. They may not even realise they have taken the actual test.
We administer the tests in a way that is in line with normal classroom practice for the students. If they usually have a particular adult working with them, that person can be with them during the test.
We have make sure that the tests are administered fairly so that they accurately reflect what a student has learned. For example they can have a break if they need it or they can have maths or grammar questions read to them.
Paper 1 – 20mins
Paper 2 – 30mins

11. What we are doing at school…
Since September children have been having a SPAG lesson each week on a Friday.
Children have a set of spellings that they take home each Friday and then get tested on the following week.
Children will be doing some sample questions in school and we will go over the answers together, so that all children feel confident when they see the actual test questions in May and there wont be any ‘shocks’.

12. Children have their own ‘Personal Learning Plans’, for reading, writing and maths, which are accessible to them in the classroom. They are all aware of their current targets.
Mental arithmetic tests take place each week.
Interventions are taking place throughout the year to develop children’s confidence with new mathematical concepts.
Interventions are also taking place throughout the year to develop children’s confidence in writing.

13. Children have been practising how to solve mathematical word problems using different strategies – RUSC has been introduced.
Key vocabulary is being introduced and discussed for mathematics to get the children more familiar with the correct terminologies.

14. What you can do at home to help…
Help your children learn their weekly spellings.
Encourage your children to complete their home learning to a high standard.
Listen to your child read and read to your child. Encourage them to self correct where they make a mistake. (comprehension – children understanding what they are reading. Genres)
Give children some sentences that they need to complete where they need to identify a verb, noun, adjective or adverb.

15. Encourage children to do ‘free writing’ – this can be where a child chooses what they would like to write about and they get about 20 minutes to do their writing. Normally when children are able to choose what they want to write about and are enjoying their writing, their writing tends to improve.
We would encourage you not to complete sample practice papers with your children at home as we want to keep the children as relaxed and calm about these tests as possible .

16. The handouts given to you on curriculum evening contain a lot of helpful activities to complete with your children at home – if you couldn’t attend that evening please see one of us for a handout.
Apply maths skills to your day to day activities with the children e.g. going round the supermarket adding up shopping prices, working out change etc.
Go over key vocabulary with your children e.g. minus, less than, subtraction, take away.

17. Practicing simple number facts or short addition and subtraction problems can be a good use of time – it can even be fun and enjoyable for your child e.g. stair challenge.
“Environmental Numbers” – using numbers outside the home to discuss place value.
Use ‘time’ at home with your children, putting it into context for them - for example talk to them about what time they might eat their dinner, go to bed, how long for etc.