When it comes to sitting SATs in KS2, pupils will need to demonstrate that they have a number of different skills in order to do well.
As a parent, it’s your job to help your child enhance their skills before the exam so they come out with the best result. Read our blog for tips on how to achieve this.
Reading and interpreting questions
A lot of the questions that are included in the KS2 SATs are long-winded and complex, so children will need to be prepared for this and will need to familiarise themselves with the format of the questions before the exam.
This can be achieved by going over past papers and completing the questions in them. As the wording is often wordy, it helps if pupils are confident readers all-round. So, engaging with other texts such as books or poetry prior to the exam can also be beneficial as this can help them get to grips with the different ways that language is sometimes used.
Confidence
All exams should be approached with confidence, and the KS2 SATs are no exception. Feeling good about their abilities will help children to do their best and will ensure that they approach all of their work with a positive mind-set.
As a parent, you have a role to play in helping their confidence grow. You can support them by taking an active role and displaying your interest in what they are learning about. Ask them questions and get them to explain things to you. Not only will this consolidate their learning, it will also show them that you care about their progress, which will encourage them to do better.
Ensure that you are also praising them and offering them rewards when they get questions right on past papers.
Stamina
Exams require concentration for long periods of time, so pupils will need to do be able to demonstrate good stamina in order to do well in their SATs. Concentrating for up to an hour can be a challenge for some children, so as a parent you will need to support them in order for them to get better at this.
Starting off small is the best way to go with revision sessions and working on past papers in 20-minute slots will be beneficial. Ensure that they have breaks in between, drinking water and eating healthy snacks to aid concentration.