Year 6 SATs - How Long is the Maths Test??

[RockinHippy]

Probably a bit of a dumb question, but its important that I know as I'm having some problems with DDs school as regards extra time for medical reasons.

After insisting on a handwriting speed assesment test for DD (with her OT & GP backing) I was lead to believe by the SENCO that "its only a 45 minute test" so DD won't need the extra time for it, which she does due to hand pain.

I picked up a pack of SATs practice papers in town yesterday - just going through them now, having given DD one paper to test herself on, both with 45 minutes point marked in the margin & extra time to see if she really does need it if she follows the advice given by her OT - she definitely needs the extra time as despite finding the questions easy, she couldn't finish it in 45 minutes.

Reading through the pack I can now see there are actually 2 x 45 minute papers & a 20 minute oral test

Is that correct on the actual SATs ???

& are these 2 x 45 minute tests sat on the same day - close together etc - so in effect a 90 minute test, not 45 minute??

& just out of curiosity - can anyone think of a reason why DDs school seem so reluctant to assess her for this extra time, I seem to have had a real battle getting even this far, had no information on this from the school at all & Ive been asking for help for her since last summer & she has a diagnosed medical condition & as I said, OT help for things to help her write more comfortably in school

TIA

Wednesday 14th May

• Mental Maths (about 20 mins)
• Break
• Paper A (45 mins)

Thursday 15th May

• Paper B (45 mins)

Both Level 6 Maths papers are also on the Thursday

It sounds as if a scribe would be more useful than extra time in your daughter's case.

www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/assessment/keystage2/ks2tests/a00201269/scribe

Eligible circumstances for using a scribe

A scribe can be used when a child is:

physically unable to write their own answers or use a word processor
physically able to write, but has a motor impairment that causes physical discomfort when writing
physically able to write but writes very slowly
physically able to write but finds writing very difficult.
physically unable to write following an unforeseen injury (schools may also consider administering 25 per cent additional time – they do not need to apply for the additional time in these instances).
When writing out a child’s answers, a scribe must:

ensure all language, punctuation and phrasing is the child’s own
not pause for spellings to be dictated (apart from in the spelling component of the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test), unless the child usually works this way work at the child’s pace and not hurry them if they need time for reflection, reading or rest
follow precisely the child’s instructions to draw or add to diagrams, charts and graphs in the mathematics tests
make a correction on a typescript or Braille script if asked to do so by the child
not transcribe a Braille script to print.
There may be instances where the child does not need a scribe for the whole test. For example, if the child experiences fatigue or if a child with a visual/motor impairment writes over their own handwriting and this needs to be made clear. If this is likely to occur, the school should make arrangements for a scribe in advance. The child may start the test as normal and begin using a scribe when needed.

Making arrangements to use a scribe

Schools do not need to seek permission from STA or their local authority before making arrangements for a scribe to be on hand for a child taking a key stage 2 test. However they must complete and return the notification form that is available to download from this web page.

Thank you, both of you :)

Second ignorant question

Kings What exactly is the level 6 maths test ? - trying to work out if this is something that will affect DD too

Sleepy

Thank you for that link, via that I found there is a deadline for the school putting a request for extra time in, something else that has never been mentioned.

DD would qualify for a scribe under the second point listed & if I'm reading it correctly, the school don't need to make any application for that, its at their own discretion :) though that said, its never been suggested in the many meetings Ive had on the matter

Though having discussed it with DD, she worries that she will find working with a scribe more difficult as she feels that with maths especially it will interrupt her train of thought.

So it looks like back to the drawing board or moving her to a more understanding school

Level 6 Maths test is for children working at a high level 5. Children are entered in March, but most will have been having extra input as the curriculum is different from the Level 3-5 test.

Ahh, of course, that makes sense now - thank you :)

Thankfully it won't apply to DD, she's gone into meltdown mode with just basic SATs, so much so Ive just had to pull her out of school as a combination of odd undermining teaching methods & a mile wide perfectionist streak are having a very very scary affect :(

Hopefully we have a place elsewhere, but not sure when yet & will also hopefully get the extra time her medics insisted on as the new school SENCO is also a year 6 teacher, so will have better understanding - I hope :(

Oh, great. So DD2 will have 3 maths papers in one day. Which idiot scheduled that? Way to go to reduce the chances of able children to do well.

Sorry, OP. It sounds as if you qualify for extra time for your DD, so you need to be 'that' parent. Good luck .

Thanks Pointy I have been that Mum, but was lulled into a false sense of security by agreeing to sign up for a CAF, as I was lead to believe it would take the pressure off & help me etc - all it did was waste time

I'm hoping the new school will be different, thats if we get her in, for the time being it looks like I am home schooling her

got to agree though, its an idiotic set up having so much on one day - I think my own DD would have qualified for the level 6 as she's been G&T all through school until we hit problems this year & from that & all my reading up & the school problems we've had too, they seem to be missing one extremely important point

The kids that are going to up to doing a level 6 exam, tend to be exceptionally bright & being highly strung perfectionists goes hand in hand with that, so piling the pressure on like this is beyond ridiculous & likely to make them so stressed, they become ill - which is why I am now forced into removing my own very bright spark from school for the sake of her health

You're so right. I've been downplaying L6 maths to DD2 as something to see as a fun challenge which will broaden her skills, and not to worry if she doesn't get it. She's been getting extension classes after school which she really loves - for the first time in her life she loves maths and feels confident that she's good at it so it's worth it for that alone. But the scheduling - insane.

Now I'm worrying about the other L6 tests as DD2 is doing SPaG and reading as well... She loves SPaG though, so will probably view doing two in a day as a huge treat.

It sounds as if your school is letting your DD down big time, I hope you get something better sorted for her soon. Perfectionism is a worrying trait, and I think you can probably do more to help her with it than any school can.

OK, here is the whole week's timetable:

Monday 12 May
Levels 3-5 English reading test 1 hour
Level 6 English reading test 1 hour

Tuesday 13 May
Levels 3-5 Punctuation + Grammar 45 mins
Levels 3-5 Spelling 20ish minutes
Level 6 Punctuation + Grammar Extended Task 30 mins
Level 6 Punctuation + Grammar Short answers 20 mins
Level 6 Spelling 20ish minutes

Wednesday 14 May
Levels 3-5 mental mathematics test 20ish mins

Levels 3-5 mathematics Paper 1 45 mins

Thursday 15 May
Levels 3-5 mathematics Paper 2 45 mins

Level 6 mathematics Paper 1 30 mins
Level 6 mathematics Paper 2 30 mins

Friday 16th May

Levels 3-5 Science - 2 papers
ONLY IF YOU ARE A MODERATED SCHOOL

HTH

Wow, lots of tough days for the L6 kids. I think DD2 is going to get a major treat after that week no matter how it goes. At least they get the L3-5 tests first, that makes sense.

Oh, and I forgot to say.....

Monday 19th May...... PGL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Can't wait! hoping for better weather this year, though.

Our Yr6 had their trip in October, they went to France and had an amazing time. Apparently there is a day trip to London planned after the SATs though.

With that schedule of testing, they all deserve to have some fun, even the list for the L33-5 tests is massive. Mind you, Tuesday appears to be all SPaG, DD2 will be on cloud nine...

Thanks for that Kings

There's a lot more actual testing on the Literacy SATs than I was lead to believe I was given the impression it was mostly course work & short a spelling test

DD would definitely need extra time for writing that lot, she was feeling like she that she was handicapped just with the frequent classroom tests & the frustration was making her so ill

Weird her school were doing the trip - PRE SATs too though again sold to us parents as a de stress for them, but then found out SATs were later.

Though she now finishes that school on Friday & may or may not be starting a new one, got to admit, the more I think on it, the happier I am for her not to take SATs at all, crazy pressure at this age :(

& yes, pointy I know the schools themselves are under a lot of pressure, but I do feel they have let her down very badly, the pressure at her current school is crazy, more so than other local schools it seems, yet they've said all through school she has been a model pupil, they wished they were all lime her, etc etc & yet here we are in this situation :(

Oops typo agogo - tired, ill & a very stressful few weeks