Preparing for KS2 SATs

As the Key Stage 2 SATs are almost upon us, I thought it would be useful to put some helpful hints and links to help you along the way. 

As a KS2 teacher myself for many years, I know how important it is to make sure the children are calm and relaxed before the tests, and to make sure they are well fed beforehand. In my school we had a breakfast club for the year 6 children to come in before school and eat breakfast before the test, so that there were no rumbling tummies and that they had had a good, relaxed start to the day rather than rushing in with panic on their faces 😊 

Here are some other ways that we can help the children: 

Get familiar with the format

Teachers should ensure that students understand the format of the SAT’s and what to expect on the day of the test. This includes explaining the structure of each paper and providing practise questions. 

Encourage Critical Thinking

Encourage students to develop their critical thinking skills by asking open-ended questions and challenging them to explain their reasoning. This can help prepare them for the problem-solving and reasoning questions in the SATs. 

Practice Exam Techniques

Teach students exam techniques such as time management, how to read questions carefully, and how to approach different question types. Practicing these techniques can help students feel more confident and perform better under exam conditions. 

Create a Positive Learning Environment

Foster a positive and supportive learning environment where students feel comfortable asking questions and making mistakes. Building students’ confidence is key to helping them perform well in the SATs. 

Manage Stress

Help students manage exam stress by providing strategies for relaxation and stress relief. Encourage them to maintain a healthy lifestyle, get plenty of rest, exercise, and practice mindfulness techniques. 

Celebrate Progress

Recognise and celebrate students’ progress throughout the preparation process. Positive reinforcement can help motivate students and boost their confidence. 

Revision lessons

Look at the Year 6 yearly overview and target the areas children need to focus on/ where they have gaps or knowledge is patchy- do these lessons rather than the lessons in order

 

Super Strategies

Don’t forget to use our super strategies to help you remember some of those tricky spellings- Chunking/ memory writing/ Big and Bold. 

Government Guidance Useful Links:

Government Guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-key-stage-2-tests 

Administering the test: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-stage-2-tests-test-administration-guidance-tag 

Looking for past papers:  https://www.sats-papers.co.uk/ks2-sats-papers/