National Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessments (also known as SATs) are a series of
educational assessments carried out on children attending schools in
England,
Wales and
Northern Ireland that follow the
National Curriculum.
The assessments are carried out at three ages: seven (school year 2, at the end of
Key Stage 1), eleven (Year 6, the end of Key Stage 2) and fourteen (Year 9, the end of Key Stage 3). Some aspects of subjects are
teacher-assessed, whilst others involve sitting an
examination paper. The results are considered when school and
LEA performance
league tables are being compiled, but they do not lead to any formal qualification for the candidates taking them. Many schools find them a valuable introduction to public examinations, before the relative importance of
GCSEs.
The exam-based assessments (
National Curriculum Tests) are often referred to as
SATs (Standard, or Statutory, Assessment Tests or Tasks), which was their title when they were being developed in the
1990s. There is no connection with the American university-entrance examination of the same name.
At age seven:In examination papers:
*
Reading*
Writing (including
handwriting and
spelling)
*
MathematicsBy teacher assessment:
*
Speaking and
listening, reading and writing
* Mathematics
*
ScienceAt age eleven:In examination papers:
* Reading
* Writing, handwriting and spelling
* Mathematics (including
mental arithmetic)
* ScienceBy teacher assessment:
*
English* Mathematics
* Science
At age fourteen: (although some schools now do them a year early at the age of 13)
In examination papers:
* English (including reading, writing and studying a
Shakespeare play)
* Mathematics (including mental mathematics)
* Science
From 2008, ICT will also be assessed via an online assessment procedure currently being piloted in many UK schools.
By teacher assessment:
* English
* Mathematics
* Science
*
History*
Geography* A modern
foreign language*
Design and Technology*
Information Technology*
Art*
Music*
Physical Education*
Citizenship*
UK government info on assessments at age 7*
UK government info on assessments at age 11*
UK government info on assessments at age 14
