National Curriculum assessment
National Curriculum assessments (also known as SATs) are a series of educational assessments carried out on children attending schools in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that follow the National Curriculum.
The assessments are carried out at three ages: six or seven (school year 2, at the end of Key Stage 1), ten or eleven (Year 6, the end of Key Stage 2) and thirteen or fourteen (Year 9, the end of Key Stage 3). Some aspects of subjects are teacher-assessed, whilst others involve sitting an examination paper. The results are considered when school and LEA performance league tables are being compiled, but they do not lead to any formal qualification for the candidates taking them. Many schools find them a valuable introduction to public examinations, before the relative importance of GCSEs.
The exam-based assessments, National Curriculum Tests, are referred to as SATs (Standard Attainment Tests).[1] This was their title when they were being developed in the 1990s and there is no connection with the American university-entrance examination of the same name.
Areas tested in national curriculum assessments
At age seven:
In examination papers:
- Reading
- Writing (including handwriting and
spelling ) - Mathematics
These tests are carried out by class teachers and not under strict exam conditions. The outcomes are used to support teacher assessment. By teacher assessment:
At age eleven:
In examination papers:
- Reading
- Writing, handwriting and spelling
- Mathematics (including mental arithmetic)
- Science
By teacher assessment:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
At age fourteen: (although some pupils may take them a year early at the age of 13)
In examination papers:
- English (including reading, writing and studying a
Shakespeare play) - Mathematics (including mental mathematics)
- Science
From 2007, ICT is also being assessed via an online assessment procedure currently being piloted in many UK schools. This has now been abandoned and the questions developed being used for in school tests and reference purposes.
By teacher assessment:
- English
- Mathematics
- Science
- History
- Geography
- A modern foreign language
- Design and Technology
- Information Technology
- Art
- Music
- Physical Education
- Citizenship
References
- ^ "The Standards Site", DfES
External links
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