Optional SATs Tests
In preparation for KS2 SATs, many schools test pupils in year 3, year 4 and year 5 in English (reading and writing) and Maths. Pupils in the past were often tested in year 7 and year 8 in preparation for their KS3 SATs. Indeed, despite pupils no longer being externally examined in KS3, many schools still use these progress tests as an alternative form of assessment.
In 2003 the QCA/QCDA published optional tests to enable schools to assess children's progress in the run up to their KS2 SATs exams.
From 2003 to 2007 the QCA/QCDA published year 7 optional tests in Maths and English to help teachers track the progress of their pupils in preparation for KS3 SATs. All available year 7 optional tests can be downloaded completely free from FreePastPapers.co.uk. Optional tests may also be taken in year 8. These tests are published however they are only available to purchase from the STA by schools and are not free to download.
Note: In 2006 the QCA/QCDA published further optional papers however these are not available for download as they can still be purchased through the STA.
Optional SATs - Year 3 - English
In year 3 some schools assess pupils by setting them these formal English progress tests. The English progress tests encompass reading, writing and spelling.
| Year | Reading Booklet | Reading Answer Booklet | Spelling Task | Story Task | Writing Shorter Task | Marking Scheme | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |
Gifts From The Sea
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Display Tray
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The Moving Statue
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Mysterious Object
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Reading
Spelling
Story
Writing Shorter Task
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| 2006 | Currently unavailable due to STA copyright. |
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Optional SATs - Year 3 - Maths
Optional year 3 Maths tests consist of two papers (Paper A and Paper B) and a Mental Maths listening test.
| Year | Paper A | Paper B | Mental Maths Transcript | Mental Maths Answer Sheet | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |
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| 2006 | Currently unavailable due to STA copyright. |
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Optional SATs - Year 4 - English
Optional year 4 English tests are used to support pupil assessment, much like those in year 3. The 2003 tests include two reading booklets.
| Year | Reading Booklet A | Reading Booklet B | Reading Answer Booklet A | Reading Answer Booklet B | Writing Longer Task | Writing Shorter Task | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |
Feet First
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Legs Race
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How Fit Are You?
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What might have happened?
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Reading
Writing
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| 2006 | Currently unavailable due to STA copyright. |
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Optional SATs - Year 4 - Maths
Optional tests in year 4 are much like those taken in year 3 with two papers (Paper A and Paper B) and a Mental Maths assessment.
| Year | Paper A | Paper B | Mental Maths Transcript | Mental Maths Answer Sheet | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |
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| 2006 | Currently unavailable due to STA copyright. |
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Optional SATs - Year 5 - English
These papers were published by the QCA/QCDA in 2003 to aid teachers assessing pupils' English before their KS2 SATs assessments in year 6.
| Year | Reading Booklet | Reading Answer Booklet | Writing Longer Task | Writing Shorter Task | Marking Scheme | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |
Footprints In Space
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Meeting Oran
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Joe's Boots
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| 2006 | Currently unavailable due to STA copyright. |
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Optional SATs - Year 5 - Maths
These papers were published by the QCA/QCDA in 2003 to help teachers assessing pupils' Maths before their KS2 SATs assessments in year 6. A further set of papers were published in 2006 however these remain under copyright by the QCA/QCDA and are not available for free download.
| Year | Paper A | Paper B | Mental Maths Transcript | Mental Maths Answer Sheet | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |
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| 2006 | Currently unavailable due to STA copyright. |
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Year 7 Optional Tests - English
Optional tests in year 7 were written to help teachers monitor the progress of pupils as they progressed towards KS3 tests. Since 2009 when formal KS3 tests were dropped, these papers have stopped being published and only those from 2003-2007 exist. The English tests consist of separate reading, writing and spelling assessments.
| Year | Reading Booklet | Reading Answer Booklet | Spelling Task | Spelling Task (Teacher's Version) | Writing Longer Task | Writing Shorter Task & Answer Booklet | Teacher's Guide | Subject Specific Guidance | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |
It's A Dog's Life
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All About Dogs
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Strange Sighting
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I'm Sorry
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Unavailable |
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| 2004 |
Stranger Than Fiction?
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Looking For The Past
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Magazine Interview
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Jungle Adventure
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Unavailable |
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| 2005 |
What Lies Beneath Your Feet
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The Chunnel
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Something To Remember
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Safety First
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Unavailable |
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| 2006 |
Making Cartoons
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Model Animation
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Come And Join Me!
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What's On
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Unavailable |
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| 2007 |
Flying High
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The Circus
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Circus Performers Needed
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My Place
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Unavailable |
Unavailable |
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Year 7 Optional Tests - Maths
Optional Year 7 Maths tests consist of two papers (Paper 1 and Paper 2) and a Mental Maths assessment. They were published between 2003 and 2007 and are all free to download below.
| Year | Paper 1 | Paper 2 | Mental Maths Transcript | Mental Maths Answer Sheet | Teachers Guide | Subject Specific Guidance | Marking Scheme |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |
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Unavailable |
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| 2004 |
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Unavailable |
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| 2005 |
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Unavailable |
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| 2006 |
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Unavailable |
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| 2007 |
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Unavailable |
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