The short answer

KS2 SATs revision works best when it starts steadily in the autumn of Year 6, focuses on the topics worth the most marks, and builds up to timed practice papers in the spring. Short daily practice in arithmetic and reading does more than intensive cramming in the weeks before May.

What is in the Year 6 SATs?

The Key Stage 2 SATs are taken in May of Year 6. There are three subjects and six papers:

  • Maths: one arithmetic paper and two reasoning papers
  • English reading: one paper with questions on several unseen texts
  • Grammar, punctuation and spelling: one grammar and punctuation paper and one spelling test

Writing is assessed by teachers in school rather than in a test. The Standards and Testing Agency publishes the exact dates each year, and your child's school will share the timetable.

A simple revision timeline

Autumn term

Find the gaps. A few practice questions from each paper will show which topics are secure and which need work. Start short daily arithmetic practice and keep reading every day.

Spring term

Work through weaker topics one at a time. Add reasoning questions, inference practice for reading, and the grammar terms that appear in the GPS paper. Try one practice paper every couple of weeks.

Easter to May

Move to timed papers in the real format. Review every mistake, practise exam technique, and keep sessions short. The week before SATs is for rest and confidence, not new topics.

Key Stage 2 maths revision tips

  • Do five to ten arithmetic questions every day. Speed and accuracy here earn easy marks
  • Make sure times tables are instant. They support almost every topic
  • For reasoning papers, read the question twice, underline what it asks, and show your working
  • Revise fractions, decimals and percentages together, since many questions link them
  • Check answers with a quick estimate. Does the answer look sensible?

Key Stage 2 English revision tips

  • Read daily and ask "how do you know?" questions to practise inference
  • Look at how many marks a reading question is worth. A three-mark answer needs more than one point
  • Learn the key grammar terms, then practise using them in real sentences
  • Keep a list of tricky spellings and test them little and often

Key Takeaway

SATs results matter, but what your child carries into Year 7 matters more. Revision that truly secures maths and English pays off long after May.

Keeping SATs revision calm

Year 6 can feel busy. Keep revision sessions short, praise effort as well as results, and protect weekends and downtime. If your child seems anxious, talk about the SATs as a chance to show what they know, not a judgement of who they are.

Is online SATs practice useful?

It can be, especially when it is live and one-to-one. A tutor can watch your child work through a question, spot a misunderstanding straight away and adjust the lesson. Self-marking quizzes are fine for arithmetic and spelling, but reasoning and reading answers benefit from a person looking at them.

After the SATs: getting ready for Year 7

Once May is over, keep reading and keep a little maths going over the summer. Children who arrive at secondary school with secure KS2 skills settle more quickly and feel more confident in new subjects.

If you would like one-to-one support, see my Key Stage 2 SATs revision page, or explore maths tutoring and English tutoring.

Kate

About Kate

Kate is a specialist tutor with 13 years of teaching experience across the primary years. She prepares pupils for grammar and independent school entry, and teaches English, maths and reasoning from Year 2 onwards. Read more about Kate.