Year 6 · 10–13 May 2027EnglandKey Stage 2 SATs: the Year 6 tests in 2027
Every Year 6 pupil in a state school in England takes the Key Stage 2 SATs in May. There are tests in reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling. Each result is a scaled score from 80 to 120. A score of 100 or more means your child met the expected standard. There is no pass or fail.
The 2027 SATs timetable
Every school in England sits the same paper on the same day.
Grammar, punctuation and spelling
Paper 1: questions, 45 minutes. Paper 2: a spelling test of 20 words read out by the teacher.
Reading
One paper of 60 minutes, with several texts and questions about them.
Maths papers 1 and 2
Paper 1: arithmetic, 30 minutes. Paper 2: reasoning, 40 minutes.
Maths paper 3
Reasoning, 40 minutes.
Results
Schools get the results in early July and share them with parents before the end of term.
What is in the SATs?
Reading
- Finding and explaining information in a text
- What a word means in context
- Why a character feels or acts a certain way
Maths
- Arithmetic: written methods, fractions and decimals
- Reasoning: word problems with several steps
- Measures, shape and statistics
Grammar, punctuation and spelling
- Word classes and sentence types
- Punctuation, such as commas and apostrophes
- Spelling 20 words in sentences
Writing
- Assessed by the teacher from your child's work during the year, not in a test
Science
- Assessed by the teacher from your child's work during the year
What does a scaled score mean?
Your child's marks in each test are turned into a scaled score from 80 to 120. 100 always means the expected standard, even if that year's test was harder or easier. Move the slider to see what a score means.
In 2026 the average scaled score was 106 in reading, and 105 in maths and in grammar, punctuation and spelling.
How did Year 6 do in 2026?
The share of pupils in England who met the expected standard in each subject.
- Reading75% met the expected standard
- Maths75% met the expected standard
- Grammar, punctuation and spelling74% met the expected standard
- Writing (teacher assessment)73% met the expected standard
- Reading, writing and maths together63% met the expected standard
To count in the combined figure, a child has to meet the standard in all three subjects. That is why it is lower than each subject on its own.
More test guides
Sources
- GOV.UK: primary assessments, future dates (opens in a new tab)
- DfE: key stage 2 attainment, national headlines 2025/26 (opens in a new tab)
- GOV.UK: scaled scores at key stage 2 (opens in a new tab)
Updated on 12 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.