National Curriculum Testing For 10-11 Year Olds: Year 6

Testing: May 2012

Agenda:

• Background Information about SAT examinations

• English testing

• Maths testing

• Questions

The Purpose of the Tests

• Key Stage 2 tests are designed to test children’s knowledge and understanding of the Key Stage 2 Programmes of Study.

• They provide a snapshot of a child’s attainment and progress, since the last key stage of their learning.

Test Dates:

• Monday 14th May English Reading test 

• Tuesday 15th May English Writing test (short task) and spelling test

English Writing test (longer task) 

• Wednesday 16th May Mental mathematics test and Mathematics test A 

• Thursday 17th May Mathematics test B

Change to English Testing for 2012

• This year, the Writing Test for English will be internally marked, by your son/daughter’s English Teacher

• There will be moderation to ensure that the tests are marked consistently

• The scores from the Writing tests will be added to the external mark for the reading Test. This will create an overall level for the test.

• In 2013, there will be a new externally marked Writing Test. “A new test of spelling, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary will be developed for introduction in 2013, after a trial in 2012”

Levels• The tests cover levels 3 to 5:• Level 3 = achievement below the

nationally expected standard.• Level 4 = achievement at the

nationally expected standard.• Level 5 = achievement above the

nationally expected standard.

Optional Level 6 Test

• In 2012, there will be an additional test available: Level 6 test papers for both Mathematics and English.

• Some of our pupils will be selected to take this test. However, as yet, we have not decided which pupils will take the test. We are still monitoring progress and making decisions as to who will take the tests. More information will follow regarding this in April this year.

• Government guidelines are that selected pupils should already be working confidently at L5

English Tests: There are 3 separate tests

• Reading Paper ( External Assessment remains)

• Long Writing

• Short Writing & Spelling Test

• The Writing and Spelling Tests will be internally assessed in 2012

The Reading Paper

• Pupils have 15 minutes to read three different text types, which will be chosen from fiction and non-fiction.

• These can cover the following: narrative, information, opinion, letters, poetry, interviews, instructions, diaries and auto/biographies

• There are sample papers in the Hall for you to look through after the presentation

Question Paper

• Pupils have 45 minutes to answer the questions in the Reading Answer Booklet

• Pupils use the Reading Booklet to help them answer the questions.

• Marks range from 1 to 3 marks.

• Total marks = 50

Assessed Reading Skills

Total 50 Marks

1. Retrieval (16 marks)

2. Inference and deduction ( 18 marks)

3. Text Structure ( 6 marks)

4. Explanation with evidence

(10 marks)

1. What did Lucy have to do before the boat left the dock?

Put a ring around your choice.

put on a waterproof

suit

take a photograph

look out for whales

sit down

Focus of question: retrieval of detail.

Toward the end of the trip, Lucy admits that she has a mixture of feelings about her

experience.Explain her different feelings.

Mark Scheme: Award 3 marks for developed answers

Focus of question: Inference.

Lucy felt like a stranger on the whales’ property, but was still anxious to see them. As she approached land she was pleased she didn’t know all the whales’ secrets.

2. Lucy’s account of whale watching is made of five main events.Number each stage of the trip to show the order in which they

happen.The first one has been done for you.

goes back to the dock

sees one whale swimming

sets off on the journey

sees several whales leaping

prepares for the journey1

5

3

2

4

Focus of question: identification of structure.

In the first paragraph on page 7, the author describes the whales and makes the event seem dramatic.

Explain how each of these phrases helps to make the

description effective.

Focus of question: understanding the effect of language choices.

a) There was nothing to see for a few minutes.

• it’s a type of cliff hanger;

• it makes you want to carry on reading to find out what happens;

• it makes you tense and expectant.

Award 1 mark for references to building suspense or expectations, e.g.:

b) I was speechless

• it shows you how amazing the experience must have been;

• it makes you think it’s beyond description;

• it makes you feel that you want to go there yourself and see exactly why;

• the description shows you how shocked she was.

Award 1 mark for responses which describe the effect of the author’s choice of language on the reader, e.g.:

Reading At Home and In School

• Reading is the key to understanding and success in this paper.

• Reading regularly will:

extend a pupil’s vocabulary; increase their understanding of punctuation; inspire their imagination and develop their ability to empathise with others.

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

Encourage your son/daughter to:• practise their reading. How much can

they read and understand in 15 minutes?• read a passage out loud. Question your

son/daughter 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.

The Writing Paper

There are 2 Writing Papers:

1. Short Writing( 20 minutes) which includes a separate spelling test, where pupils are asked to spell 20 spellings

2. Long Writing ( 45 minutes), which includes up to 4 marks for handwriting

• There is no choice of task.

Writing Skills for Level 4:

• accurate punctuation of the full stop, comma, question mark, exclamation mark, speech and capital letters

• accurate paragraphing

• connecting words to link paragraphs

• range of complex sentences( sentences with 2 parts) with a range of different openings

• simple sentences

• Wow words!

Writing Skills Level 5:

• all features of Level 4 writing, plus the following:

• an awareness of using sentences to add interest and variety to the writing

• a range of vocabulary, including the semi-colon, for linking and the colon for explanation, brackets and dashes.

• a consistent viewpoint is maintained throughout the text

What you can do at home to prepare for the Writing Test.Encourage your son/daughter to practise:• writing exciting story beginnings.

Remember, it is important to capture the reader’s attention. Start with an exciting moment.

• writing story endings. How will your the tale conclude? Will there be a happy ending or will there be a ‘twist’ in the tale?  

• setting out a letter / formal phrases. Revise the features of text types.

Continued

Check your son/daughter is:• clear about how to punctuate speech. • confident about using exclamation marks (!),

question marks (?), commas (,), ellipses (…), brackets ().

• Able to use paragraphs and link them together by theme or connectives

• Revision booklets from Rising Stars or CGP are a good revision tool for use at home.

Useful websites and Resources

• www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/

• A revision booklet will be given to every pupil in the second half of this term. The intention is that this booklet can be used at home to assist with revision and practice of Literacy skills

Finally ...

• Please remember that these tests are only a snapshot of your son/daughter’s progress since the end of Year 2.

• Remember children need time to relax and enjoy themselves.

• As long as your son/daughter have tried their best: no-one needs to worry about test results or be disappointed by them.

Questions