Primary Exams and Tests

Tests are a normal part of school life. Most tests are set and marked by individual schools but in addition to these there are three occasions between the time your child begins school and leaves the primary phase when statutory national assessments are undertaken. This article focuses specifically on these:

• School entry tests known as baseline assessment
  (age 4 – 5)
• Key Stage 1 national curriculum assessments in Year 2
  (age 6 - 7)
• Key Stage 2 national curriculum assessments in Year 6
  (age 10 – 11)

Baseline Assessment
When children begin formal schooling usually at age four or five, teachers assess what each child knows, understands and can do. This is known as baseline assessment. It takes place as part of normal classroom activities and helps teachers to plan to suit the needs of your child. Assessment is usually carried out within 7 weeks of your child starting school and as a minimum looks at:

• Language and literacy - the skills of talking, listening, reading and writing
• Mathematics - knowledge of numbers and mathematical words
• Personal and social development – being able to work, play and cooperate with others

Baseline assessment is not like a formal test. Your child might be asked to look at a book and talk about it or point to something in a picture, and an adult will also spend some time watching your child in the classroom to see how he/she interacts with others. It is as straightforward as that and most children don’t even notice that assessments are being carried out. Once the assessment is complete your child’s school will make arrangements to discuss the results with you.

KS1 Tests and Tasks
Towards the end Year 2 children aged six or seven undergo their second statutory assessment. Although teachers assess children’s attainment in all subjects your child will undertake statutory tests and tasks in English (reading, writing, spelling) and mathematics only. The tasks will be spread between the beginning of January and the middle of June but all the tests will be taken during May. Tests and tasks cover a range of different levels and teachers ensure that children undertake the most suitable ones. Exact timings are not given for the tests so children can take a break if they need to.

The reading task is similar to a normal classroom reading session. Children are asked to read a short section from an unfamiliar book, talk about what has been read then answer a few questions. There is also a written comprehension test where children have to tick boxes or write a few words to answer the questions. Children already achieving at above average levels take a more difficult reading test.

For the writing task, a story or short non-fiction book is read aloud as a stimulus and children then write their own ideas in response to the text. Children at all levels do this task. There is also a short spelling test.

There is a practical mathematics task for children who are working below average levels and a written test for all other children. This begins with five oral questions followed by a range of written problems. If your child finds reading the questions difficult a teacher or teaching assistant can help.

Children who are exceptionally talented may also be entered for the tests taken by 11 year olds (Level 4). The expected standard for Year 2 children is level 2 with level 1 being below and level 3 above. All parents receive a report showing the levels their children attained for the tests and tasks.

KS2 Tests and Tasks
At the end of Key Stage 2 in year 6 children take statutory tests in English, mathematics and science. These are all timed paper-and-pencil tests and children throughout the country take the same tests on the same days. In 2002 the tests will be during the week Monday 13th May to Friday 17th May.

English
There are four English tests covering reading, writing, spelling and handwriting. In the reading test children spend 15 minutes reading a range of short extracts and 45 minutes answering questions about them. In the writing test children are given four different starting points covering fiction and non-fiction and they have 15 minutes to plan and 45 minutes to write showing their best independent work. The spelling test lasts for about 10 minutes and the handwriting test takes a further 5 minutes. All the marks are aggregated to give an overall English test score. The extension paper which is taken by a very few children nationally lasts for 60 minutes and covers both reading and writing at a more advanced level.

Mathematics
There are three mathematics papers. Mental arithmetic is tested via a 20-minute tape and tests A and B are written papers each lasting for 45 minutes. Children are allowed to use calculators in test B. Both papers test children’s knowledge of number, problem solving, shape, space and measures and data handling. For children working well above expected levels in mathematics there is an extension paper lasting for 30 minutes. This test is based on work normally covered by children in the first three years at secondary school.

Science
There are two written science papers A and B, both of which last for 35 minutes. Questions cover life processes and living things, scientific enquiry, materials and their properties and physical processes which are the four programmes of study followed in primary schools. For children working well above expected levels in science there is an extension paper lasting for 30 minutes. This test is based on work normally covered by children in the first three years at secondary school.

The expected standard for Year 6 children is level 4 with level 3 being below and level 5 above. Children who pass extension papers are awarded level 6. All parents receive a report showing the levels their children attain.