P1, P4 and P7 · any time in the yearSNSA: Scottish National Standardised Assessments
In P1, P4 and P7, children in Scottish state schools take short online assessments in literacy and numeracy, once in the school year. The questions adapt to each answer and there is no time limit. The results give teachers information, alongside everything else they know about your child. There is no pass or fail, and nothing to revise.
What is in the SNSA?
Reading
- Understanding a text
- Finding information and working out meaning
- Fiction and information texts
Writing
- Spelling
- Punctuation
- Grammar
Numeracy
- Number and calculation
- Fractions, measure and money
- Data and shape
How many children reach the expected level?
The share of P7 pupils in Scotland who achieved second level in 2024–25, based on teacher judgement.
- Listening and talking88% achieved second level
- Reading82% achieved second level
- Numeracy79% achieved second level
- Writing77% achieved second level
In P1, 85% achieved early level in numeracy and 76% in literacy. In P4, 78% achieved first level in numeracy and 72% in literacy.
How progress is reported: CfE levels
Parents hear about Curriculum for Excellence levels, not SNSA scores. The teacher decides when your child has achieved a level, using all the evidence, including the SNSA.
Early level
From nursery to the end of P1, for most children.
First level
To the end of P4, for most children.
Second level
To the end of P7, for most children.
More test guides
Sources
- National Standardised Assessments for Scotland: parents and carers (opens in a new tab)
- Scottish Government: Achievement of CfE Levels 2024-25 (opens in a new tab)
Updated on 12 October 2026. Spotted something out of date? Let us know.