Have the Y2 SATs started already then?

[violetbloom]

I'm not making a big deal of it. Just dd mentioned today that they did a 'very hard' maths test at school and I wondered if this was a SAT? I kind of thought they'd do them after Easter.

We weren't talking about that. You do need to read the thread!

I think many parents do like reading ages and NC levels on reports but then get very stressed and anxious about them.
Actually canariesfansmum SATs are a test of the child not the school but if results are poor they are used to criticise the school and teachers. I don't think many employers ask candidates what level they got in their KS1/2 SATs however.

MrsZ - that's really interesting. Do you think the other examples are generally representative? (I wonder why no one has left any comments as I think you are able to do so)?

What would you grade the fire engine writing out of interest?

I would only give a borderline 1b from the evidence of the single piece of work, but teachers use their knowledge of children's work rather than a single piece of writing to assign a level which is why I don't find the APP examples very helpful.

I've looked at the examples of level 2 and 3 and I'm feeling very happy with my Y2 class

Does anyone know whether Yr 2 children are allowed to use any aids (eg. 100 square) for the Sats Numeracy Test?

I know I will ask our 6 yr old's teacher but just wondered. We did a practice paper today and I can't believe you could expect a 6 year old to do that in his head!

Thanks! xx

They can use a hundred square/number line for the level 2 test, but not level 3.

I can't find the examples of levels on the National Strategies website. Can anyone link to those particular pages for me?

I'd particularly like to see examples of Year 2 work - the difference between 2a, b or c.

low - 2c

2b

2a

level 3

what you need to remember is that these are single pieces of work that contribute to an overall level and the level is assessed using APP from a number of pieces of writing.
files

The differences between these two peices of writing seem enormous:

1A

2C

I'd never have guessed that there was only one sub level between them.

I think it's very interesting that mrz said she would grade the 1A work at scraping a 1B. I'd agree with that (although not a professional but have seen lots of work at different grades).

My view is that many primaries are much harsher in their marking looking at these 'snapshot' examples?

DS's work usually looks more like the 2C work featured here but he's now a 1B. I find it odd that writing that largely can't be deciphered is 1A? (Although I see adjectives etc have been used).

Looking at the examples Toffeemuffin I think I'm a harsher marker than I previously thought because I don't find either particularly good quality. I am feeling very proud of my Y2s in comparison.

You may find it odd that work which can't be deciphered is 1A - but the writing would be judged over many aspects: sentence structure, vocabulary, punctuation aswell as handwriting and spelling.

Yes Feenie - I can see what you say and it's not all about the penmanship. I do think our primary seems to mark more harshly though. Would you agree it's a good example of 1A work?

I just looked at the Level 3 example mrz. Looked like an exercise in how to use connectives to me. I personally don't think it flows enough for a SECURE level 3. What do other people think?

Our county moderation last year was VERY tough. Loads of people got marked down on my table, so we've taken quite a tough line at school as well.

as I said the level would not be awarded from a single piece of writing but looking at the work the child produces over a period of time. I would be unlikely to give a level 3 for that piece alone.

Strange to use it as an exemplar??

I was also really surprised at the levels there. Having looked at a recent display of work from dd's class, I would say that about a third of them were at the level of that level 3 example.

Incidentally, how many children a year, on average, would get a level 3 for something in each class? Is it rare or common?

The national average of level 3s for end of KS1 in 2008 (latest data available) was 21% Speaking and Listening, 25% reading, 12% writing, 21% Maths and 22% Science.

Gosh, that's more than I thought. Where do you find these figures? I'd also like to know what the percentages are for the other levels.

Here it is - this is 2009, so a more recent one that I had thought was available. Data is pretty similar, though.

That's very interesting. Amazing to see how many more children progress with reading as opposed to writing.

After all that, dd came home today and said she did what sounded a lot like a reading SAT test and two maths tests - one hard one and one easy one. All in one day! Is this the Real Thing or another practise??? I think I might ask the teacher.

Also ... do you think it's fair to ask the teacher what week they'll do the actual SATs tests? Dd has a hospital appointment mid-May, should I check when their tests will be so it doesn't coincide?