Year 2 dd doing junior SAT papers instead of KS1 level 3. What are they?

[sharpscissors]

dds teacher has told me that dd (year 2) and other dc in the year at level 3 will not be sitting the KS1 level 3 papers, but the junior SAT papers. Now i wish i'd asked what they are and why? Any ideas?

Hmm, tricky, as the junior SATs papers can be harder to get a level 3 in because they assume more of the curriculum has been covered. So get to a level 3 the DC must answer correctly questions on Y3 maths topics which might not have been covered in Y2.

Thank you Ellen. I have never even seen one of these papers. It seems really unfair they are giving the dc this test when everyone else seems to be getting KS1 ones. She has done a few KS1 level 3 papers at school and always scored really well.

I would guess that it's to allow your dd to reach her full potential. Each paper has a maximum possible attainment so if she has reached the top for KS1 they probably just want to see if she can go to the next level.

Thanks for replying lazy. So what is the top for KS1 and what do these junior SAT papers test? Sorry but i really am clueless.

Well I'm not entirely sure, but there is a ball park attainment level for each year group. I think for year 2 most children will reach level 2. Each level is split into a, b and c with a being the highest (I think). It might be that the ks1 papers only go up to a 2a and if your dd has already reached this they might let her have a go at getting a higher grade. I could be wrong and don't really know which level is for which year group (I don't think it's as simple as level 2 for year 2, level 3 for year 3 etc.

Why don't you google 'key stage 1 assessment level' or something. If it was me I'd have a chat with the teach and just ask.

Thanks lazy. She has been doing KS1 level 3 papers all year (they are assessed each term i think), but the papers she is about to do are KS2 ones. I should talk to the teacher but don't like to appear too concerned. Just wondered if i could get the answers here first:)

At KS2 the papers are usually aimed at a specific year group and will cover 2 levels. So for Y3 there will be a level 2/3 paper, Y4 will have a level 2/3 paper and a level 3/4 paper etc. It's up to the teacher to assess which paper the child should do, they shouldn't really have to do both in Y4, for instance as the teacher should know what they are capable of. So a child doing a level 2/3 paper could get a level 3a as a max. I don't know much about the KS1 papers but I think they are single level papers, a level 1, 2 or 3? The level 3 paper is reported as just that, level 3, with no sub levels.

It may be that the teacher thinks your DD is quite capable. If she has already passed a level 3 KS1 paper, then that is her level. It's a bit lazy to be using KS2 tests to help the teacher assessment.

Perhaps with all the L3 past papers that you have said she has already done OP the school have run out?

I think she has only done 2 or 3 level 3 past papers. How many are there?

A level 3 paper is a level 3 paper whether it is the KS1 or the KS2 paper.

She is only meant to do 1 paper for maths, reading & spelling in the whole year

mrz, in KS2 at my school DC do, for example, a level 3/4 paper, not a single level paper?

But that's for optional tests, not Y2 or Y6 tests.

Oh yes. So can the OPs DD do a KS2 paper for her Y2 SATs?

We've used KS2 tests for children who are working at level 4 or above in KS1 in the past (when test results were reported not TA) but a level 3 is a level 3 regardless of the paper

Thanks.

Now I am confused! I would ask the teacher...

Now I am confused!

Lol-why are you confused!?