KS2 SATs 2027: A Parent's Guide

By Websink Tutoring · Updated 18 October 2026

When are the 2027 SATs?

The Key Stage 2 tests run from Monday 10 May to Thursday 13 May 2027. Every school in England sits the same papers on the same days:

There is no test for writing or science. Those are judged by your child's teacher during the year. If your child is ill on a test day, the school can usually arrange for them to sit a missed paper within five school days.

How the scores work

Raw marks are converted to a scaled score between 80 and 120. A score of 100 or more means your child has met the expected standard for the end of primary school; below 100 means they have not yet reached it. Results go to schools in early July, and the school passes them on to you with the end-of-year report.

SATs do not decide which secondary school your child attends, and there is no pass or fail for the child. Secondary schools do look at them, though, often for setting in Year 7 — so a secure maths and reading score gives your child a better starting point.

How to help at home

• Arithmetic little and often. Ten minutes of mixed calculation a few times a week does more than a long weekend session. Times tables up to 12 × 12 should be instant.
• Read every day, and talk about it. The reading paper tests inference and vocabulary, not just decoding. Ask “why do you think she did that?” rather than “what happened?”
• Practise the reasoning style. Reasoning papers ask children to explain and show working. Past papers are free on GOV.UK.
• Start in the autumn, not March. Steady work across Year 6 gives better results and a much happier child.

How we help

Our primary tutors work through reading, SPaG and maths with timed arithmetic practice, and spot early whether a reading difficulty is about decoding, fluency, vocabulary or comprehension — each needs a different fix. If your child is also sitting the 11+, see our 11+ tutoring.

Sources

• GOV.UK: 2027 key stage 2 tests, information for parents
• GOV.UK: 2027 key stage 2 assessment and reporting arrangements