Question about SATs scores

[KOKOagainandagain]

Does anyone know if the levels below 4 have sub-groups - c, b, a? I can only find stats on the gov website for level 3 as a whole and below level 3. Levels 2 and 3 seem to be very small (scores between around 17 and 22 for level 3).

As far as i know they do. DS came home with a practice paper the other day that had been marked as a 2a.

Yes, all the levels have c, b and a sub levels, but the sub levels achieved aren't generally published.

None of the levels have 'official' sub-levels. Just whatever the schools work them out as. Usually split three ways (or as close as possible).

The maths papers mark schemes split them up into a, b and c sub levels.

Practically how do they do this given that the score range is so small?

The mental maths and the maths paper results are combined. What age are you talking about, KS1 or 2? Early KS2 has marks out of 60, I think, then in Y6 out of 100.

The maths papers mark schemes split them up into a, b and c sub levels.

Not for KS2 Y6 papers they don't.

Ah! Yes, last time I filled out the stats sheet for the teacher was Y5. Thanks, Feenie.

KS2, year 6.

So from the information from feenie, there are only complete levels scored on the papers. The Y6 maths papers say levels 3 - 5 on them, so any score below level 3 would be too low to give much detail. If a DC isn't expected to achieve a level 3 they probably shouldn't be sitting the SATs paper. It isn't designed to give detail on achievement below level 3. Also, the thresholds aren't decided until the results from the marking is analysed, in case one year's paper come out as harder or easier that other years.

That's how I understand it.

Feenie Y5 DD just did a Y6 Maths SATs paper and was given a 5b. Is that because it was marked in school - a past paper maybe?

We were told it was the highest mark possible for the paper as she only got one question wrong.

When my dd did sats 2 yrs ago her grades were given to us with sub-levels. When they put results on the government websites they are in whole grades. I was expecting more of the same for ds.

Yes, Beanbagz - the school wil have sub-levelled them themselves, unofficially, simply by dividing the level 4 span by 3 to give 4c, 4b and 4a.

So given the level 3 scale is so small a mark or two can make the difference between sub-levels? But when assessing 'progress' an increase of 1 sub-level per year is considered adequate. I am confused about which trumps which and in which tests - test scores or teacher assessment? My school is internally marking english.