2016 Test Timetable
‘Preparing for’ not ‘Teaching to’
• Learning to drive
–Learn the skills of handling a car
–Instructor also prepares learners to
pass the test
KS2 English reading test
• The English reading test will have a greater focus on fictional
texts.
• The test consists of a reading booklet and a separate answer
booklet; developing your child’s reading stamina is very
important.
• Pupils will have a total of 1 hour to read the 3 texts in the
reading booklet and complete the questions at their own
pace. The texts will not be linked by a theme, and there will
be a mixture of genres of text.
• The least-demanding text will come first with the following
texts increasing in level of difficulty.
• The questions are worth a total of 50 marks.
What is your child expected to know?
Types of questions used in reading
comprehension in class
Looking Question
Clue Question (how do you
know?)
Thinking Question (to
deepen our understanding)
Short answers
Some questions are followed by a short line or box. This
shows that you need only write a word or a few words in your
answer.
Several line answers
Some questions are followed by a few lines. This gives you
space to write more words or a sentence or two.
Longer answers
Some questions are followed by a large box. This shows that a
longer, more detailed answer is needed to explain your
opinion. You can write in full sentences if you want to.
Selected answers
For some questions you do not need to write anything at all
and you should tick, draw lines to, or put a ring around your
answer. Read the instructions carefully so that you know how
to answer the question.
Selected response 10 – 30%
Multiple choice
Ranking / ordering
Matching
Labelling
Where would you be most
likely to see this text? Tick
one of the options below.
Number the events below
to show the order in which
they happen in the story.
Match the text to the
purpose.
Label the text to show the
title.
Short constructed response 40 – 60%
Find and copy Find and copy one word that
suggests…
Short response What does the bear eat?
Extended constructed response 20 – 40%
Open-ended response
Look at the paragraph
beginning: Once upon a
time…
How does the writer
increase the tension
throughout this paragraph?
Explain fully referring to the
text in your answer.
KS2 English grammar, punctuation
and spelling test
• The new grammar, punctuation and spelling
test has a greater focus on knowing and
applying grammatical terminology with the
full range of punctuation tested.
• There are two components, worth a total of
70 marks:
– a booklet of short-answer questions (50 marks)
– a spelling task (20 marks)
SPaG tests
• Paper 1 consists of between 40 and 50 questions
assessing grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.
Each question is worth one or two marks with a
total for the paper of 50 marks.
• Paper 2, the spelling task, consists of 20
sentences, which are read aloud by the test
administrator. Each sentence has a word missing
which the child must complete. The task is worth
a total of 20 marks. The test may include the
example words and words drawn from the key
stage 2 word lists, but will not be limited to these.
How can we prepare the children?
• Teach spelling and talk about words.
• Teach punctuation and discuss why it has been used,
and the effect of using it.
• Teach grammar and use the terminology throughout
English lessons
• Look out for spelling, punctuation and grammar
features in reading and discuss them e.g. their
purpose, any interesting features, unusual spellings.
• Handwriting – ensure capital letters are correct size
• Model / remind children how to check their work.
Arithmetic paper
• The Mental Maths test has been removed and an
Arithmetic Test has been introduced to assess
basic mathematical calculations. (No
contextualised questions.)
• There are 36 Questions, 40 marks available, 30
minute duration
• The questions will cover straightforward addition
and subtraction and more complex calculations
with fractions worth 1 mark each, and long
divisions and long multiplications worth 2 marks
each. In order for a mark to be given for working
out, the formal method must be used. If the
answer is correct, the method does not matter.
Mathematical Reasoning and Problem
Solving papers
• There are 2 papers.
• Pupils will have 40 minutes to complete each test.
Each paper will have questions worth a total of 35
marks.
• Selected Response
– multiple choice, matching, true / false and yes/ no
questions
• Constructed Response
– e.g. solve problems, complete graphs, draw a shape
– Communicate their approach to evaluating a
statement or a problem
How can you help?
• Focus on fluency in the basics:
– ensure children are confident with number bonds,
multiplication tables to x12 and associated division
facts, time, measures conversions
• Although there is no mental maths paper, being
able to answer questions as fast as possible,
giving the answers verbally, or writing them down
is still very useful.
• Practise written calculations regularly.
• Number, fractions and calculations have seen the
biggest increase in expectations – so practise
these regularly.
Scaled Scores
• For the KS2 tests a scaled score of 100 will always
represent the ‘expected standard’.
• A pupil’s scaled score will be based on their raw score,
and this raw score will be translated into a scaled score
using a conversion table.
• For the 2016 KS2 tests STA will publish test results on
the NCA tools website on 5 July 2016.
• Each pupil registered for the tests will receive:
– a raw score
– a scaled score
– confirmation of whether or not they attained the
expected standard
Teacher Assessment
What do teachers have to assess?
• Reading, Maths and Science: Whether the
children have met the standards or not.
• Writing: Whether children are not working at
the expected standard, whether they are
working towards it, have reached the
expected standard, or are working at a greater
depth within the expected standard.