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Reception to Year 6

Primary school tests in England and Wales

England and Wales use the same school year names but test children differently. In England, your child takes short national checks in Year 1 and Year 4, and the Key Stage 2 SATs in Year 6. Wales has no SATs: children in Years 2 to 9 take online personalised assessments in reading and numeracy.

Tests by school yearKey Stage 2 SATs
Updated on Sources

Which test in which school year?

From Reception to Year 6. Pick England or Wales, then a test for the full guide.

yearRage 4–5
year15–6
year26–7
year37–8
year48–9
year59–10
year610–11
  1. Reception baseline assessment

    A short, practical check in the first six weeks of Reception.

    year R age 4–5
  2. Phonics screening check

    Reading 40 words aloud in June. Taken again in Year 2 if needed.

    year 1 5–6; year 2 6–7
  3. Key Stage 1 tests (optional)

    No longer compulsory. Some schools still use them in May.

    year 2 6–7
  4. Multiplication tables check

    25 times tables questions on screen, in June.

    year 4 8–9
  5. Key Stage 2 SATs

    Reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling, in May.

    year 6 10–11
  6. 11+ (grammar school areas)

    In September of Year 6, only where there are grammar schools.

    year 6 10–11

The test guides

A full guide per test: what is tested, when, and what the result means.

The 2026–2027 school year

Official dates where they exist. Schools and councils publish the exact days. Exact dates are shown only where checked against the official timetable; other periods are indicative. Confirm local arrangements with your school.

  1. September – October 2026 (indicative; check locally)
    Reception baseline assessmentEngland

    Reception

  2. October 2026 (indicative; check locally)
    11+ resultsEngland

    Year 6 · dates differ by local authority

  3. 31 October 2026
  4. Any time in the school year
    Personalised assessmentsWales

    Years 2 to 6 in primary school

  5. 1 March 2027
    Secondary school offersEngland

    Year 6 · National Offer Day

  6. 10 – 13 May 2027
    Key Stage 2 SATsEngland

    Year 6

  7. 7 – 18 June 2027
    Multiplication tables checkEngland

    Year 4 · on one day within the two weeks

  8. Week of 14 June 2027
    Phonics screening checkEngland

    Year 1, and Year 2 retakes

  9. July 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    SATs resultsEngland

    Year 6 · in the end-of-year report

  10. September 2027 (indicative; check locally)
    Next 11+ testsEngland

    Year 6 in grammar school areas

After Year 6: starting secondary school

Children start secondary school in Year 7, in the September after they finish Year 6. In most of England and in all of Wales, no test decides where.

England

  • Most areas

    1. Apply by 31 October
    2. Year 7

    Then: GCSEs in Year 11

    Places follow each school's admission rules, such as distance and siblings. Offers come on 1 March, before the SATs.

  • Grammar school areas

    1. 11+ in September
    2. Grammar school

    Then: Or a non-selective school

    Your child needs to reach the qualifying score and meet the school's admission rules.

Wales

  • All of Wales

    1. Apply in autumn
    2. Year 7

    Then: GCSEs in Year 11

    No selection by ability. You can choose an English-medium or a Welsh-medium school.

More in the guides:

The 11+Key Stage 2 SATs

Sources

Updated on 12 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.