Where can I get a copy of previous SATs papers?

[SandyChick]

Hi, ds is in yr2.

I'm just curios as to what the SATs papers/questions are like.

Is there somewhere you can download past papers?

[TAMumof3]

You can find past papers for some years by goggling.

You wont find the papers they have recently sat (2007 /2009 issues) as these are still live and therefore unavailable.

Also be sure your looking at the right paper level for your child, if bright child could well have sat both KS1 and L3-5 KS2 paper

[Feenie]

It would be extremely unusual for a child in Y2 to sit a KS2 paper - do you mean a level 3 key stage 1? But even then, the school would be breaking the rules to have had a child sit both.

[teeththief]

You can find the 2007/2009 papers online

[teeththief]

feenie My DD sat the L2 and the L3 in the same day. And I know that's against the rules but she coped with it so I didn't question it

[pasbeaucoupdegendarme]

I don't think it's against the rules to give them both the L2 and L3 tests..! This is standard practice at my school of a child has scored a high 2a (mainly in maths, we don't tend to do the literacy again). Not relevant to thread, but just saying...

[Bunnyjo]

pasbeaucoupdegendarme, sitting both the level 2 and 3 paper is against the statutory guidance set out by the DFE, which states:

Teachers must administer National Curriculum tasks and tests to help them arrive at a secure judgement for their final teacher assessment at the end of Key Stage 1. As a minimum, teachers must administer a task or test in reading, writing and mathematics for each child, except those judged to be working below level 1. The teacher should decide which level of tasks or tests should be used for each child, taking into account their knowledge of the level at which the child is working.
Teachers can use the tasks and tests to inform their assessment judgements at any time during the year, but children are not to be tested more than once during the year in each subject or attainment target.

[mrz]

I'm afraid it is against the rules pasbeaucoupdegendarme and it's shocking how many teachers don't seem aware there are statutory requirements for Key Stage 1 tests and tasks.
All schools should have a copy of the ARA which clearly states what is and isn't allowed.

[Feenie]

Yes, it's updated annually and sent into schools.

[teeththief]

but children are not to be tested more than once during the year in each subject or attainment target.

I'd read that as you can only test them once on the L2 and once on the L3 though? If it means something different then it isn't worded very well!

[Smartiepants79]

We often have children sit both the level 2 and 3 papers!
I also read that as them not sitting the SAME paper more than once in a year.
It's funny because the earlier sentence says as a minimum teachers must that would imply that sometimes more than one test will be used.
No one has ever questioned the way we administer them.

Your DS will probably already sat his SATs papers. I'm surprised school haven't already shown you some or sent any home. Ask at school if worried.

[Feenie]

I honestly cannot see what is in any way ambiguous about the words 'tested once'. It's extremely clear.

The tests are part of the assessment conversation that a teacher is supposed to be able to have - but how can you if you are unsure whether a child is a 2 or a 3? It's just common sense.

[Feenie]

Why on earth would you expect school to send papers home? That's very poor practice indeed.

[mrz]

This instruction seems pretty clear

Which tasks and tests to use

Schools should select tasks and tests appropriate to the level at which each child is judged to be working.

It seems some schools can't decide which level to use ... perhaps they don't know their pupils well enough.

[teeththief]

Tested once isn't ambiguous but I'd take 'each attainment target' to mean they can be tested once at L2 and once at L3 . I'm not a teacher though so maybe I've misunderstood by thinking each attainment target means the same as each level?

[MirandaWest]

To the OP - teachers will use the "tests" as one piece of evidence to support their assessment. It is also likely they have carried out the tests by now anyway.

[Effic]

Tested once .... Means one test period not one paper. It means no 'practice' papers or using the papers for interim assessments at other times in the year.
key 1 SATs papers available online - just google. But the score they achieve in the test only informs teacher judgement, it isn't necessarily the level the teacher will give the child.

[TAMumof3]

teetheif - where online can you get the 2007 or 2009 ks1 papers ?

[IsItFridayYetPlease]

I have found both 2007 & 2009 maths available online, but as a professional I don't feel it is right to post a link on an open forum. As a Year 2 teacher I am shocked at the papers availability.

[Feenie]

Tested once means one test.

To test twice means you don't know the assessment procedure - or, more worryingly, your children - well enough.

It also comes from an obsession with using the tests to form part of the final level - that's just one way they can be used.


The tests are there to make sure teachers know their onions re assessment, but ironically their misuse is proving the total opposite.

Yes, teeththief, you've misunderstood - the attainment targets run through all levels, so to a teacher that bit shouldn't be ambiguous at all.

[Smartiepants79]

Personally think its even worse practice to hand a paper to a child, the like of which they have never seen before and then expect them to perform to the level you expect.

[MrsChickPea]

I find this site useful... www.satspapers.co.uk/optional-sats-papers/ ... apologies only skimmed thread.

[Clutterbugsmum]

here website dc school gave us.

[Feenie]

Then why not make the style of questions part of a lesson - plenaries are v useful for this, or read through an old booklet as part of a guided reading session? The questions shouldn't be anything different to what the children do as part of normal classroom activities.

If you sent my child home with a past paper, I would simply send it back.

Anything except drilling 6 and 7 year olds, which is what the 2005 revamp was supposed to revamp.

[Feenie]

Avoid, even.

[IsItFridayYetPlease]

The questions shouldn't be anything different to what the children do as part of normal classroom activities. - mostly I agree Feenie, as long as it doesn't become teaching being driven by what is in a test.