# SATs — Definition & Explanation

> From the SchoolBrowse Education Glossary.
> HTML version: https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary/sats

**In short:** National tests taken by pupils in England at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 to assess progress in core subjects.
**SATs** (Standard Assessment Tests) are national tests taken by pupils in England at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2, age 7) and Key Stage 2 (Year 6, age 11). They assess progress in reading, writing, and mathematics against national standards.

## Key Stage 2 SATs

Year 6 SATs include reading, grammar/punctuation/spelling, and mathematics papers taken in May. Results are reported as scaled scores (80-120, with 100 as the expected standard). Teacher assessments cover writing. Results affect secondary school placements in some areas.

## Key Stage 1 SATs

Year 2 SATs are less formal, administered by teachers within a window rather than fixed dates. From 2024, the government replaced formal KS1 SATs with reception baseline assessments, though schools may still use optional materials.

## Frequently asked questions

**Q: What are SATs in the UK?**

SATs are national tests taken by pupils in England at the end of Year 2 (KS1) and Year 6 (KS2) to assess progress in reading, writing, and maths.
**Q: Are SATs important for secondary school?**

SATs results may influence setting or streaming in secondary school. Some grammar schools consider KS2 results alongside 11-plus results.

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Source: SchoolBrowse Education Glossary (https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary). Please attribute and link to https://schoolbrowse.com/glossary/sats when citing this definition.