The Key Stage 2 Tests

1
The Key Stage 2 Tests

• All children in the final year of Key Stage 2
  (Year 6) are assessed in English Mathematic
  s Science
• Optional tests are carried out in Years 3 , 4 and
  5 and are marked and moderated internally. These
  are used to guide Teacher assessment and target
  setting.

2
The Levels

• The tests cover levels 3 to 5.
• Level 3 represents achievement below the
  nationally expected standard.
• Level 4 represents achievement at the nationally
  expected standard.
• Level 5 represents achievement above the
  nationally expected standard.
• Children who narrowly fail by a few marks to
  achieve level 3 will be awarded level 2.

3
ENGLISH

• There will be tests in
• Reading
• Writing (long and short task)
• Spelling ( in context)
• Handwriting (in context)

4
The Reading Test

• The time allowed for the reading test will be 45
  minutes plus 15 minutes reading time.
• The Reading Test will be marked out of 50.
• The Reading Test will focus on several genres of
  different types of texts including -
• Narrative, Information, Opinion, Letters,
• Poetry, Interview and Instructions.

5
Reading Skills

• Retrieval of Information
• These types of question involve finding and
• copying information in the text or using
• their own words to explain what the writer
• has said or what has happened.

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1. What did Lucy have to do before the boat left
the dock?Put a ring around your choice.
Focus of question retrieval of detail.
put on a waterproof suit
take a photograph
look out for whales
sit down
7
Reading Between the Lines
In these types of questions, children need to
find clues and hints in the text and explain what
they have worked out from them.
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2. In the fourth paragraph, the author describes
the whales and makes the event seem
dramatic.Explain how this phrases helps to make
the description effective.
Focus of question understanding the effect of
language choices.
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There was nothing to see for a few minutes.
Award 1 mark for references to building suspense
or expectations, e.g.

• its a type of cliff hanger
• it makes you want to carry on reading to find out
  what happens
• it makes you tense and expectant.

10
Authors Technique In these types of questions,
the children have to explain why the writer
chose to use a particular word or phrase what
effect the word or phrase has and why a piece of
writing is organised in the way that it is.
11
5. Why did the author choose the words launched
and crashed to describe the whales
movements. Award 1 mark for Its big and moves
fast. Award 2 marks for It looked like a rocket
taking off.
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The Writing Tests

• The Writing Tests are designed to allow children
  to show their best independent work.
• Children will be required to complete one longer
  piece of writing in 45 minutes and one shorter
  piece of writing in 20 minutes.
• There will be no choice of questions.
• Handwriting will be assessed as part of the
  longer writing test and can be awarded up to 3
  marks.
• Children will sit a separate Spelling Test of 20
  words to be written within a passage. The
  Spelling Test will be marked out of 7.

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What types of writing are tested?

• Formal letter of complaint or letter arguing a
  point of view
• Informal letters and postcards
• Speeches
• Radio Adverts
• Recount of events from a diary to a police
  report.
• Newspaper report
• Magazine article
• Instructions
• Short story
• Playscripts

14
Writing Skills

• Style (This area carries the most marks in the
  writing test)
• Being able to write quickly and effectively in a
  range of writing.
• Writing that sounds like it should and is
  organised in the correct way.
• Using techniques to grab the readers attention.
• Sentences that are varied and that use
  interesting, descriptive language.

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• Accuracy
• Correct punctuation of sentences. A piece of
• writing will be penalised for lack of full stops
• and capital letters.
• Correct use of speech marks, apostrophes,
• commas.
• Writing in paragraphs.
• Ensuring that the writing makes sense.

16
How the children will be preparing at school

• Regular practice of Reading Comprehensions
• Regular practice of Spelling in context.
• Regular timed writing tasks long and short
• Exemplar materials shown to pupils
• Understanding success criteria

17
What you can do at home to prepare for the
Reading Test.

• Encourage your child to
• practise their reading. How much can they read
  and understand in 15 minutes?
• read a passage out loud. Question your child
  about what he / she has read Why did the
  character do.? How was the character feeling
  when happened? Why did the author use the
  word / phrase .? etc.

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What you can do at home to prepare for the
Writing Test.

• Encourage your child to practise
• planning a story in about 7 10 minutes.
  (orally)
• Writing / discussing exciting story beginnings.
  Remember, it is important to capture the readers
  attention. Start with an exciting moment - give
  explanations later in the story.
• Writing/ discussing story endings. How will it
  conclude? Will there be a happy ending or will
  there be a twist in the tale?  
• Collect WOW words and phrases (interesting
  vocabulary).

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MATHEMATICS

• The test will consist of
• Test A - a 45 minute, non-calculator paper
• Test B - a 45 minute paper in which calculators
  are allowed.
• Mental mathematics test.

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Now have a go at the Maths questions in your
booklet.
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What you can do at home

• Practise mental arithmetic with your child. (Oral
  games e.g. Fizz Buzz)
• Encourage your child to read information sources
  carefully such as TV schedules / bus timetables /
  weather charts in newspapers.
• Practise drawing and measuring shapes (including
  angles if you are brave enough!).
• Practise converting metric weights and measures
  e.g. 17 kg 17,000 g, 2.05 l 2050 ml

22
SCIENCE

• The Science test will consist of two papers, each
  45 minutes long.
• Many questions will ask children to recall facts.
• Other questions will assess childrens
  understanding of scientific processes and
  investigations.

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Now have a go at the Science questions in your
booklet.
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Carrier bags
Some children investigate how much mass each of
five different carrier bags will hold before it
breaks. They add 0.5kg packs of sand to each
bag until it breaks.
Which question were they testing?
3a
Tick ONE box.
?
25
Carrier bags
3b
They record the mass in kg before each bag broke.
Why did they test each type of bag three times?
to check their results were accurate
..................................................
..................................................
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Carrier bags
3c
The results for one of the bags does not seem
likely.
Which of these bags should they test again?
Super bag
..................................................
..................................................
Explain your answer. ............................
..................................................
...................... ...........................
..................................................
.......................
they should test Super bag because Test 2 is very
different from 1 and 3
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Carrier bags
3d
One of the children suggest that Budget bags are
the strongest bags.
Are the results sufficient to decide if Budget
bags are the strongest?
Tick ONE box.

? Budget bags hold the most mass for
each test
OR
? they did not test enough bags
Explain your answer.
..................................................
..................................................
.. ...............................................
..................................................
.....
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Teacher assessment

• As well as receiving a test level in each of the
  core subjects of Maths, English and Science, each
  child will also receive a teacher assessment
  level.
• Unlike the written tests the teacher assessment
  level
• covers all aspects of the subject
• considers the childs levels of attainment over
  the course of the year.

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Reporting results

• All test papers are marked externally.
• Test papers and results for end of KS2 will be
  returned to schools by beginning of July 2007.
• Results are issued to parents with each childs
  end of year report.

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Test Timetable 2007
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And finally ...

• The tests are only a snapshot.
• Remember children need time to relax and enjoy
  themselves.
• As long as they have tried their best, no-one
  needs to worry about their test results or be
  disappointed by them.