100+ Free KS2 SATs Practice Questions
Pass your Key Stage 2 SATs (National Curriculum Tests) exam on the first try — instant access, no signup required.
Read this text: "The detective examined the muddy footprints, the open window and the missing jewels, then nodded slowly." Why did the detective most likely nod?
Key Facts: KS2 SATs Exam
Year 6 (May)
Tests taken aged 10-11 each May
Standards and Testing Agency
100
Scaled score for the expected standard
Standards and Testing Agency
6 papers
Reading, two GPS, three maths
Standards and Testing Agency
50 marks
Total marks on the Reading paper
STA test framework
20 words
Words in the GPS spelling test
STA test framework
30 minutes
Length of the maths arithmetic paper
STA test framework
No calculators
Calculators banned in all maths papers
Standards and Testing Agency
Free
Statutory tests funded by government
Department for Education
KS2 SATs are statutory tests sat by Year 6 pupils each May in England, covering English Reading, Grammar/Punctuation/Spelling and Maths (arithmetic plus reasoning). Marks convert to a scaled score where 100 is the expected standard; writing is teacher-assessed, not tested by paper.
Sample KS2 SATs Practice Questions
Try these sample questions to test your KS2 SATs exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.
1Read the sentence: "Although it was raining heavily, the children played outside." What is the function of the word 'Although' in this sentence?
2Which sentence uses the modal verb correctly to show possibility?
3Calculate: 3,486 + 2,759
4What is the value of the digit 7 in the number 4,720,531?
5Read this short text: "Mara crept along the corridor, her heart pounding against her ribs. Every creak of the floorboards made her freeze." How does Mara most likely feel?
6Which word is spelt correctly?
7Which sentence uses a semicolon correctly?
8What is 7/10 written as a decimal?
9In the sentence "The teacher's bag was left on the table," what does the apostrophe in 'teacher's' show?
10Calculate: 1,000 - 487
About the KS2 SATs Exam
The Key Stage 2 SATs are statutory National Curriculum Tests taken by Year 6 pupils (aged 10-11) in England, usually in the second full week of May. Administered by the Standards and Testing Agency, they assess English Reading; Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS); and Mathematics. Teacher assessment covers writing and science separately. Raw marks are converted to a scaled score, with 100 representing the expected standard for the end of primary school.
Questions
100 scored questions
Time Limit
Reading 60 min; GPS Paper 1 45 min plus a 15-min spelling test; Maths arithmetic 30 min and two reasoning papers of 40 min each
Passing Score
Scaled score of 100 or above is the 'expected standard'; 110+ indicates working at a higher standard
Exam Fee
Free — statutory tests funded by the government and taken in school; no entry fee for pupils (Standards and Testing Agency (STA))
KS2 SATs Exam Content Outline
English Reading
One 60-minute paper on three texts (1,800-2,300 words, fiction and non-fiction): retrieval, inference, vocabulary in context, prediction, summarising, author purpose and language choice
Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
Paper 1 (45 min) tests grammatical terms and functions, sentence types, clauses, word classes and punctuation; Paper 2 is a 20-word spelling test (about 15 min)
Mathematics Arithmetic
Paper 1 (30 min) of straightforward calculations with no calculator: the four operations, fractions, decimals, percentages, BIDMAS, long multiplication and long division
Mathematics Reasoning
Papers 2 and 3 (40 min each) of word and multi-step problems covering place value, measurement, geometry, statistics, ratio, sequences and simple algebra
How to Pass the KS2 SATs Exam
What You Need to Know
- Passing score: Scaled score of 100 or above is the 'expected standard'; 110+ indicates working at a higher standard
- Exam length: 100 questions
- Time limit: Reading 60 min; GPS Paper 1 45 min plus a 15-min spelling test; Maths arithmetic 30 min and two reasoning papers of 40 min each
- Exam fee: Free — statutory tests funded by the government and taken in school; no entry fee for pupils
Keys to Passing
- Complete 500+ practice questions
- Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
- Focus on highest-weighted sections
- Use our AI tutor for tough concepts
KS2 SATs Study Tips from Top Performers
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the KS2 SATs taken in 2026?
The 2026 KS2 SATs are scheduled for the week beginning Monday 11 May 2026. Pupils sit the two GPS papers on the Monday, English Reading on the Tuesday, Maths Paper 1 (arithmetic) and Paper 2 (reasoning) on the Wednesday, and Maths Paper 3 (reasoning) on the Thursday.
What subjects do the KS2 SATs cover?
The paper-based tests cover English Reading; Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GPS); and Mathematics. Writing and science are assessed by the class teacher rather than by a test, so there is no written-composition exam paper.
How are KS2 SATs marked and what is a pass?
Raw marks are converted to a scaled score between 80 and 120. A scaled score of 100 or more means a pupil has met the 'expected standard'; a score of around 110 or above shows they are working at a higher standard. There is no formal pass or fail.
Can children use a calculator in the maths SATs?
No. Calculators are not permitted in any of the three KS2 maths papers. Pupils must use mental methods and written methods such as column addition, long multiplication and long division.
How long are the KS2 SATs papers?
English Reading lasts 60 minutes. GPS Paper 1 (grammar and punctuation) lasts 45 minutes, followed by a spelling test of about 15 minutes. Maths arithmetic lasts 30 minutes, and each of the two maths reasoning papers lasts 40 minutes.
Is the writing test part of the KS2 SATs?
Writing is assessed through teacher assessment using a national framework, not through a timed test paper. The objective SATs papers only cover reading, grammar, punctuation, spelling and maths.