Year 6 SATs take place from Monday 10 to Thursday 13 May 2027. This parent guide shows what each paper covers, how scaled scores work and a calm, term-by-term plan you can start this week.
Use the countdown planner to see exactly where you are, then try the score slider to see what "expected standard" really means in marks.
- SATs week 2027 is 10 to 13 May, with six papers across four mornings.
- Children sit grammar, punctuation and spelling, reading and three maths papers. Writing and science are teacher assessed.
- Each paper gives a scaled score from 80 to 120. A score of 100 or more means the expected standard.
- Results reach schools on Tuesday 6 July 2027.
- Short, regular practice on gaps beats cramming. Keep home calm and keep normal life going.
What are the Year 6 SATs?
SATs are the national tests at the end of Key Stage 2, sat by Year 6 children in state schools in England. They check the English and maths taught from Year 3 to Year 6.
There is no pass or fail for your child. The results help secondary schools plan, and the government uses them to look at how schools are doing.
Independent schools can choose whether to take part. If your child is also sitting a grammar school test, our guide on whether the 11+ is the same as SATs explains the differences.
SATs 2027 timetable, paper by paper
These are the official dates from the Standards and Testing Agency. Papers are sat in the morning, usually after a normal start to the school day.
If your child is ill on a test day, the school can apply to let them sit the missed paper up to five school days later. Children with extra needs may get access arrangements such as extra time, a reader or rest breaks, so talk to the class teacher early.
Your SATs countdown planner
Pick today's date, or any date, and the planner shows how many weeks are left and what to focus on in that stretch. Term dates vary by area, so treat the term markers as a guide.
Weeks until SATs week
What each paper covers
Grammar, punctuation and spelling
Paper 1 has short questions on word classes, tenses, clauses, punctuation and vocabulary. Paper 2 is a spelling test of 20 words read aloud in sentences.
Our SPaG SATs paper guide walks through every question type, and the Year 6 SPaG guide lists the terms children need.
Reading
Children read three texts of rising difficulty and answer questions on meaning, vocabulary, inference and how the writer makes choices. Stamina matters, because the whole paper lasts an hour.
Maths
The arithmetic paper is pure calculation: long multiplication, long division, fractions, decimals and percentages. The two reasoning papers put the same skills into word problems, charts, shapes and measures.
Division questions are written with the ÷ sign, for example 864 ÷ 24. Showing working can earn a mark even if the final answer slips.
SATs-style arithmetic, five minutes a day
Pip gives Year 6 children KS2 maths and SPaG questions at the right level, with instant feedback and a Pip Score that shows which skills are secure.
How SATs are marked: scaled scores
Papers are marked by external markers, not your child's teacher. Each raw mark total is turned into a scaled score from 80 to 120, so results can be compared fairly from year to year.
A scaled score of 100 or more means your child has met the expected standard. A score of 110 or more is often described as working at a higher standard.
Slide the marks, see the scaled score
Based on the official 2026 conversion tables. The 2027 tables will differ slightly, so treat this as a guide.
In 2026, the expected standard needed 56 out of 110 in maths, 25 out of 50 in reading and 34 out of 70 in grammar, punctuation and spelling. That is roughly half the marks, which surprises many parents.
Outcome codes on the report
| Code | What it means |
|---|---|
| AS | Met the expected standard |
| NS | Did not meet the expected standard |
| A | Absent from one or more papers |
| B | Working below the level of the tests |
| T | Working at the level of the tests but could not access them |
Writing and science are judged by teachers across the year, not by a test. You will see these as teacher assessment outcomes, such as working at the expected standard or at greater depth.
For grammar, try our SPaG SATs score calculator after a practice paper.
Do Year 6 SATs matter?
They do not decide which secondary school your child goes to. Places are usually offered in March, before the tests are even sat.
They do matter a little after that. Many secondary schools use SATs results, often alongside a CAT4 test in September, to place new Year 7 pupils in sets and to spot who needs extra help.
Find the gaps before May, not in May
Pip's adaptive practice shows exactly which KS2 maths and SPaG skills are secure and which need another look, so revision time goes where it counts.
Preparing for Year 6 SATs, term by term
Autumn term: build the basics
Times tables up to 12 × 12 should be instant, because every maths paper leans on them. Keep reading for pleasure every day, and ask questions about the story as you go.
Spring term: find and fix gaps
Schools often run mock SATs around now. Ask the teacher which topics were weakest and spend short sessions on just those.
Many schools save recent past papers for class, so check before you use them at home. Topic practice is the safer choice.
After Easter: rehearse and relax
A couple of timed papers help with pace, especially the 30 minute arithmetic paper. In the last week, ease off, keep clubs and play going and protect sleep.
SATs week tips for parents
- Keep the routine normal. Early nights, a good breakfast and on-time arrival matter more than last-minute revision.
- Talk about effort, not scores. Tell your child the tests check what school has taught, not how clever they are.
- Plan something nice for Thursday. A small treat after the last paper gives the week a happy end.
- Listen for worries. If your child seems anxious, tell the class teacher rather than adding pressure at home.
Looking for the full KS2 SATs practice route in Pip? See Pip for KS2 SATs.
Year 6 SATs FAQs
When are the Year 6 SATs in 2027?+
KS2 SATs week runs from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027. Grammar, punctuation and spelling are on Monday, reading on Tuesday, maths papers 1 and 2 on Wednesday and maths paper 3 on Thursday.
When do SATs results come out in 2027?+
Schools can see results from Tuesday 6 July 2027. Parents normally receive them from the school before the end of the summer term.
What score do you need to pass Year 6 SATs?+
There is no pass or fail, but a scaled score of 100 or more means your child has met the expected standard. In 2026 that needed 56 out of 110 in maths, 25 out of 50 in reading and 34 out of 70 in grammar, punctuation and spelling.
What is a good SATs score?+
Any scaled score from 100 to 120 meets the expected standard. A score of 110 or more is often described as working at a higher standard.
How can I help my child prepare for Year 6 SATs?+
Keep practice short and regular, focus on the topics your child finds hardest, keep up daily reading and make times tables quick. In the final week, ease off and protect sleep and normal routines.
Should we use past SATs papers at home?+
Ask the class teacher first, because many schools use recent past papers in class. Topic practice and older papers are a safe choice at home.
Do secondary schools look at SATs results?+
SATs do not affect which secondary school your child gets, because places are offered before the tests. Many secondaries do use the results, often with a CAT4 test, to place Year 7 pupils in sets.
What if my child is ill during SATs week?+
The school can apply to the Standards and Testing Agency for a timetable variation, so your child may sit a missed paper up to five school days later.
Sources: GOV.UK, 2027 key stage 2 tests information for parents (updated 1 September 2026) and 2026 key stage 2 scaled score conversion tables, checked October 2026.
The Pip team builds Pip, the 11+ and KS2 practice app for children in years three to six. We write these guides from real exam formats and past papers.