What does SATs stand for?

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What you need to know about SATs

They've been a major part of the education system in England for the last few decades, so you’ll likely have heard of SATs. An essential part of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, these national exams have been taken by millions of primary school pupils over the years, preparing them for their next steps in education.

Not to be confused with the American SAT exams which are taken in high school and are featured in numerous TV shows and films, English SATs are typically taken when children are in Year 2 and later in Year 6. But when did they originate and why are they so important?

Here, BBC Bitesize takes a closer look at SATs, from when they started to what to expect in 2026. You can find out more below!

A female teacher stands at the front of a classroom smiling, as her pen points to the whiteboard. She is wearing a blue top with a pink cardigan over it and has brunette hair. Next to the whiteboard is a large shelf with colourful folders and books on it. In the forefront of the images is the back of children's heads as they face their teacher and raise their hands to get her attention. The classroom children wear navy blue jumpers and blue polos, as well as white tops and grey pinafores
Pupils across England have been taking SATs for decades
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What are SATs and what does it stand for?

The acronym stands for Standard Assessment Tests. An SAT is a national exam taken by primary school children, especially throughout England, first during Key Stage 1 when the pupils are usually around the age of six and seven and later during Key Stage 2, when pupils are typically around the age of 10 and 11.

For Key Stage 1, it is usually up to the school if they choose to have pupils sit SATs exams or not - whereas during Key Stage 2 in Year 6, everyone takes SATs. When it comes to the tests themselves, SATs are a way of evaluating how much you have learned so far in primary school and how you are doing in English and Maths.

The tests measure your progress and while it can feel scary or daunting to take them, you cannot fail them. SATs not only measure your progress, but they're also a way for the government to measure your school's performance and make your new secondary school aware of your progress.

Depending on your school or where you live, SATs or similar tests can look a bit different. For example, pupils in Wales used to take SATs but now take tests known as National Tests.

In Scotland, pupils take National Standardised Assessments and in Northern Ireland, primary school children typically take Level of Progression tests. All of these examinations vary in terms of which Key Stage you take them and how often you are assessed.

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What year did SATs start?

A little girl with blonde hair wearing a navy blue puffy coat crosses the road holding hands with a woman with short curly brown hair, who wears light blue jeans and a red waterproof coat. They are assisted by a lollipop man, holding a vibrant lollipop stick and fluorescent yellow high-vis jacket, black trousers and a black cap. Also crossing the road is an older man with grey hair wearing a big brown coat on and jeans. On the left hand side of the road, we see red brick houses, a green car driving and a yellow bus shelter in the distance
A child crosses the road with the help of a lollipop man in the 1990s

It may feel like they’ve been around for much longer – but pupils didn’t start taking SATs until the 1990s. The Standard Assessment Tests followed the 1988 Education Reform Act, which also introduced the three Key Stages - KS1,KS2 and KS3.

Gradually introduced throughout the 1990s, Key Stage 1 students were the first to be assessed and throughout time, SATs have developed and changed. In their early days, SATs were more practical in terms of assessment than a written test.

In the early 90s, the then Education Secretary Kenneth Clarke streamlined SATs, moving to paper-and‑pencil tests taken simultaneously by all pupils. Today, SATs in England see pupils assessed in both English and Maths.

A little girl with blonde hair wearing a navy blue puffy coat crosses the road holding hands with a woman with short curly brown hair, who wears light blue jeans and a red waterproof coat. They are assisted by a lollipop man, holding a vibrant lollipop stick and fluorescent yellow high-vis jacket, black trousers and a black cap. Also crossing the road is an older man with grey hair wearing a big brown coat on and jeans. On the left hand side of the road, we see red brick houses, a green car driving and a yellow bus shelter in the distance
A child crosses the road with the help of a lollipop man in the 1990s
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How are SATs graded?

Children sit in a classroom under exam conditions. A girl with brown hair in a pony tail is at the forefront of the photo, wearing a short sleeved white school shirt. Next to her sits a boy with long blond hair who wears a blue shirt. They both site side by side on a wooden table, filling out their exam papers with yellow and black pencils that have red tips. They sit on dark green plastic chairs and in the background is a wooden blue door and another desk which is full of filing boxes piled up on top of one another
Children sit in a classroom under exam conditions

SATs and grading vary depending on if you take them in KS1 or KS2. When it comes to KS1, the tests are marked internally by teachers at that specific school, and the raw marks are turned into a scaled score.

The minimum score is 85 and the maximum score is 115. A result of 100 or more means the pupil is working at the government expected standard – but don’t worry, as mentioned previously, SATs are also a way of monitoring your progress and the teaching standards of the individual school.

When it comes to KS2, SATs are marked externally, and raw scores are again turned into a scaled score. The lowest scaled score that can be awarded on a KS2 test is 80, whereas the highest score is 120 and similarly to KS1, a score of over 100 shows the pupil has met the expected standard in the test.

Children sit in a classroom under exam conditions. A girl with brown hair in a pony tail is at the forefront of the photo, wearing a short sleeved white school shirt. Next to her sits a boy with long blond hair who wears a blue shirt. They both site side by side on a wooden table, filling out their exam papers with yellow and black pencils that have red tips. They sit on dark green plastic chairs and in the background is a wooden blue door and another desk which is full of filing boxes piled up on top of one another
Children sit in a classroom under exam conditions
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Why do I need SATs?

Five children, three girls and a boy, sit on desks lined up under exam conditions. They all wear red cardigans and jumpers for uniform and are writing in exam papers using wooden pencils
SATs are a huge part of primary school life

An essential part of your progress in education, SATs are not only important when it comes to transitioning to secondary education, but also to assess your development. And while it can feel daunting, especially in the lead up to them, SATs are more than just a result on a piece of paper.

In many ways, the tests are an opportunity to challenge yourself and highlight areas for improvement, as well as your own strengths. If you ever feel worried about taking SATs, do speak to your parents/guardians or a teacher for support – we're all in this together!

Five children, three girls and a boy, sit on desks lined up under exam conditions. They all wear red cardigans and jumpers for uniform and are writing in exam papers using wooden pencils
SATs are a huge part of primary school life
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When do SATs start in 2026?

KS1 and KS2 SATs are scheduled to start in May 2026 – but there is still plenty of time to prepare and BBC Bitesize is filled with activities, games and fun videos to get you feeling ready.

For KS1, each school will decide the specific dates they take place. As for KS2, SATs dates for next year are Monday 11 May to Thursday 14 May 2026.

At some point in July 2026, SATs results will be released, and your school will be able to provide information regarding the exact date. To find out more about SATs in 2026, find out more from BBC Bitesize here.

This article was written in December 2025

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Learn more about KS1, KS2 and SATs prep