Key Stage 2 Maths SAT papers

Paper 1: Arithmetic 

• 30 minutes / 40 marks

Paper 2: Mathematical Reasoning 

• 40 minutes / 35 marks

Paper 3: Mathematical Reasoning 

• 40 minutes / 35 marks

Total: 110 marks

The KS2 SATs are attempting to measure if each student has met the year 6 expectation. The total number of marks a student receives in the tests is translated into a scaled score. To give more idea of the arithmetic paper it should be noted that:

• the arithmetic paper consists of 36 questions to answer in 30 minutes - pace is important
• by the end of year 4 it is expected that pupils have instant recall of their multiplication tables up to and including the 12 times table.

How to Help 

One of the most important ways is to sit down and talk to your child:

Discuss what they have been doing in each Maths lesson. Ask them to explain.

Go through their homework tasks with them. If they can do the work independently then go through it with them afterwards, discussing how they did it and identify any mistakes. (Either explain the work to your child or ask them to see their teacher)

Use the support materials:  My Maths web-site, CGP  Books  etc. Encourage your child to use these,  explain things to them if they are unsure – or remind them to ask their teacher.

Many questions involve solving a problem and working in context.

Ask questions about the world around them, involving:

• telling the time, differences in time, reading timetables, T.V schedules, cooking times, 12 and 24hr clock etc.
• measuring, estimating, checking – length, area, capacity, volume, mass, temperature (positive/negative), angles etc
• money,  shopping bills, change, tickets etc.
• working out fractions and percentage of quantities

Certain vocabulary your child needs to know, for example

• prime numbers,             
• square numbers,      
• factors,                              
• multiples,                      
• perimeter,                          
• area,            
• mode,                               
• median,                                    
• mean,                    
• range,     
• parallel,                             
• perpendicular,
• reading graphs,                 
• converting between units,        
• types of angle,                   
• names of polygons
• conventions for co-ordinates,                           
• triangle and quadrilateral properties  etc.

Useful website: Maths Terms - Quick Reference