year 2 SATs - what do the results mean

[ProfessorSunny]

My DD just had the year 2 SATs results and was assessed as a level 3 in Speaking and Listening, a Level 2A in writing and 2A in reading. For maths, she was assessed as a level 3 and the same in science.

What do the levels actually mean? Is she below/average/above. Thanks.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

Freely available on google

How odd of your school never to have given any indication!

[ProfessorSunny]

Thanks.

[LittleMissPetty]

"TheOriginalSteamingNit Sun 15-Jul-12 18:29:06
Freely available on google

How odd of your school never to have given any indication!"

Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit

[FallenCaryatid]

I dunno, it made me smile. Thanks Nit!

[numbum]

Made me too

[dizzyday07]

My DD is also in Yr 2. Her report gave her SAT results and corresponding explanations - SAT score of 2B is the national average. 2A is above average and a 3 is well above average/junior school standard

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

Well... What else can one say? Quicker to link to the website I found quickly than to explain to the OP in my own words, surely?

[Ruprekt]

OP - I am sure you know what the levels mean as the comments will have made this clear in her school report.

[FallenCaryatid]

Sorry Nit, I started a thread a while back whinging about how often this question gets asked. Yes, you are a nicer person.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

fallen so did I! I didn't mean I was a nicer person, and it's very odd how it's always the parents whose children turn out to have done rather well who find themselves utterly befuddled by those pesky SATS levels...

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

it was this

[LittleMissPetty]

I thought that too Nit

You never get parents saying "my child just got 1c across the board in their year 2 SATs but I don't know what it means".

[numbum]

Yes you do littlemisspetty...if their child is in nursery

[freddiecider]

hi all,
I would appreciate honest views please!
I have recently received my daughter's year 2 report. Pleasingly it is super with great sat's results too- all level 3's except for speaking and listening which is level 2. Obviously we are really pleased with this.

I am trying not to be picky but we are just a bit puzzled by the level 2 in speaking and listening.She is a thoughtful child and would definitely think before she speaks as opposed to some who just blurt things out. I know she also would not push herself forward in large groups especially if there are some very confident ones around her. However when she is given a specific role she is very articulate and certainly can be very assertive at home! The speaking side is likely to be her weakness but I know she has very good listening skills. She also had the lead part in her School Christmas play where she had loads of lines to learn. Confusingly, her report also frequently mentions how 'she communicates ideas clearly and confidently........listens very attentively' with no mention of any weaknesses in these skills.
I know we are being picky and in reality it probably doesn't matter but it does seem a bit strange.
Should I just forget about it and be pleased with the 3's or should I be a fussy parent and question it?

[letseatgrandma]

Freddiecider

As the level 2s given at the end of Y2 don't have to have sublevels, you don't know exactly what she has been levelled as. If she's a 2a-that's above expected and means she's doing really well. I really wouldn't worry!

[50shadesofstress]

I am also very suprised that people would not know what the SATs results mean as why would they be given to you without any explanation.

I was told some levels mid way through Y1 and the report gave no explanation at all and I did ask some questions on MN as I genuinely thought that it went 1a/1b/1c 2a/2b/2c as that would make more sense to me so couldn't understand why the subject I knew DS was good at was a lower level than another subject. It was quicker to go on MN than wait until I could see the teacher a week or so later.

That is different though as I am positive that no school would give SATs info with no explanation!

Well done to your DD for good results - you should have just posted that you were proud at how well she had done, no one really minds that if you're honest!!!

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

Ours were given out without any explanation and being dozy it didn't occur to me until I saw its threads that they were even SATs results. So those of you who think we're being disingenous, it does happen .. now will google what they meant rather than asking rest of you to interpret

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

The link above is pretty good

[50shadesofstress]

Ok areyouthere point taken, really the school shsould be providing better explanations. my friends who have Y2 DCs were given the individual SATs result, the national expectation guidelines plus the results of the whole school (just numbers at each level). 2b is national expected level!

[Mintyy]

Our school has never really explained SATS to us. My dd has recently done her year SATS and this time there were no sub-levels given out so that's all a bit confusing.

One time I asked on Mumsnet what the difference between level 2 writing and level 3 writing actually meant and I was immediately jumped on in the same clever and witty manner as displayed by SteamingNit here and her hilarious sidekick Fallen .

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

That's unfair. I think to ask 'what are the differences between a piece of writing marked at level 2 and one marked at 3' is perfectly reasonable - but if your child got 2x2A and a level 3 at year 2, you know full well whether she is average or above, and you are not worried that she is below average.

We didn't get sub-levels for the year 6 ones either, though they commented on ones which were very close to the borderline (if upwards, not 'careful there, that was very nearly a 3!)

The dishonesty of the boasting is irritating.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

So is 2a higher than 2b or is a 2c higher? Seriously, I don't understand

Our school just has a very non-competitive ethos and that has its pluses and minuses.

[TheOriginalSteamingNit]

a is higher than b, which is higher than c.

[areyoutheregoditsmemargaret]

Thank you.

[sweatyscamp]

Goodness me! I am very baffled that my 6 year old daughter got TWO B'S at the end of year one! I must come on to mumsnet and ask what this means, in a 'genuinely puzzled' manner (she did and I'm v proud but do know how to look it up...!)