SATs 2026 dates: Year 6 SATs will take place the week beginning 11 May 2026
When are the KS1 SATs?
The KS1 SATs for year 2 can take place any time during May 2026, with the exact dates decided by each individual school.
When are the KS2 SATs?
Monday 11 May 2026 — English grammar & punctuation (45 minutes), Spelling (20 minutes)
Tuesday 12 May 2026 — English reading (60 minutes)
Wednesday 13 May 2026 — Maths Paper 1 (Arithmetic) (30 minutes) and Maths Paper 2 (Reasoning) (40 minutes)
Thursday 14 May 2026 — Maths Paper 3 (Reasoning) (40 minutes)
What SATs papers will children take?
Year 6 children will sit the following KS2 SATs papers during the week beginning Monday 11 May 2026. Some schools may also be chosen for science sampling and will sit a KS2 science paper.
- KS2 reading SATs: This is one paper which tests reading comprehension skills with questions based on three different passages of texts. The test lasts approximately 1 hour.
- KS2 SPaG (spelling, punctuation, and grammar) SATs: There are two papers, one for spelling and one for punctuation and grammar. Children will be tested on their spelling abilities and understanding of punctuation and grammar rules. The spelling test lasts around 20 minutes, and the written element lasts approximately 45 minutes.
- KS2 maths SATs: There are three papers, one for arithmetic and two for reasoning, lasting approximately 30 minutes for arithmetic and 40 minutes for each reasoning paper.
When are the Year 6 SATs results released?
The results from the KS2 SATs will be available in the late summer, usually in July. They are reported as scaled scores, with a score of 100 indicating the expected standard. Schools decide how to communicate results to parents.
How to prepare children for KS2 SATs 2026
Preparation for the KS2 SATs should be a balance between academic preparation and ensuring children are not overly stressed. Regular, structured revision sessions can help, as can mock assessments to familiarise students with the format. These ten tips for SATs include practical and creative ideas for helping prepare your class for SATs and beyond.
Explore SATs practice & revision materials
Our SATs collection comprises a range of one-off worksheets, workbooks and complete revision packs to ensure your children meet or exceed the expected standard by the end of their primary school journey. These resources are designed to familiarise children with the test format and provide comprehensive revision materials.
English SATs resources
- Our most popular free SATs resource is the English SATs reading practice paper.
- For more comprehensive practice, consider Reading SATs practice for KS2, a pack of 10 practice papers.
- Additional reading comprehension support is available from the Comprehension at upper KS2 pack.
GPS (SPaG) SATs resources
- Our free GPS resources include the Key Stage 2 GPS practice paper, Year 6 GPS revision booklet, and Year 6 grammar revision.
- For a comprehensive collection, try our GPS SATs practice for KS2 pack.
Maths SATs resources
- Free practice test papers include Maths SATs practice paper 1: arithmetic, Maths SATs practice paper 2: reasoning, and Maths SATs practice paper 3: reasoning.
- Our Maths revision reference booklet is a favourite among Teachit members.
- Try the Year 6 maths assessments pack for a comprehensive set of 10 test papers and accompanying mark schemes.
- For extending the maths skills of your higher-attainers, try the Challenging maths pack.
For more SATs preparation and revision materials and top tips for SATs week, visit the full SATs collection.
Supporting children’s mental health before, during and after SATs
It's crucial to support children's mental health during the SATs period. Encourage a positive mindset, ensure they're getting enough sleep, and help them find stress-relief activities. Remind them that while doing their best is important, their value is not determined by test results.
Explore our collection of resources for supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing, including:
