KS2 SATs maths - what is in the papers and how to prepare
The Key Stage 2 SATs are the national tests taken in May of Year 6 in England. In maths there are three papers - one arithmetic, two reasoning - worth 110 marks between them, all sat without a calculator. The raw mark is turned into a scaled score from 80 to 120, where 100 is the expected standard. This page sets out the papers, the marks, the topics they draw on and a sensible way to prepare at home.
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The three maths papers
Three papers, 110 marks, no calculator in any of them. The arithmetic paper is short and fast; the two reasoning papers are where most of the marks - and most of the thinking - sit.
Paper 1 - Arithmetic
30 minutes · 40 marks · no calculator
Straight calculations: the four operations with whole numbers, decimals and fractions, percentages of amounts, long multiplication and long division. One or two marks each, no context.
Paper 2 - Reasoning
40 minutes · 35 marks · no calculator
Problems in context across the whole Key Stage 2 curriculum: number, fractions, ratio, algebra, measurement, geometry and statistics. Some questions ask for working or an explanation.
Paper 3 - Reasoning
40 minutes · 35 marks · no calculator
The same format as Paper 2 with a different mix of topics. Together the two reasoning papers carry 70 of the 110 marks.
Marks, scaled scores and the expected standard
The three raw marks are added to give a total out of 110, and that total is converted to a scaled score. A scaled score of 100 means the child has reached the expected standard for the end of Key Stage 2. The raw mark needed for 100 is set each year once the papers have been marked; in 2025 it was 58 out of 110 in maths. Children scoring well above 100 are working at greater depth; below 100, the school will plan extra support for Year 7.
What the papers test
The papers draw on the whole Key Stage 2 programme of study, with the weight on Year 5 and Year 6 content. The areas below are the ones to make sure are secure.
- Number and place value. Numbers to 10 million, rounding, negative numbers.
- Four operations. Long multiplication and division, order of operations, mental methods.
- Fractions, decimals and percentages. Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions; equivalences; percentages of amounts.
- Ratio and proportion. Scaling recipes and maps, sharing in a ratio, unequal sharing.
- Algebra. Simple formulae, sequences, missing-number equations, pairs of unknowns.
- Measurement. Converting units, perimeter, area (including triangles and parallelograms), volume.
- Geometry. Properties of shapes, angles in triangles and around a point, coordinates in four quadrants, reflection and translation.
- Statistics. Pie charts, line graphs and the mean.
Practice
SATs-style practice papers - coming
We are writing original Year 6 questions in the three-paper format above. Practice papers will be listed here as soon as there are enough questions to build them properly - we would rather have none than a thin one. In the meantime the links below cover the same curriculum.
How to prepare
- Start in the autumn term, not in April - little and often over months beats a cram in the weeks before May.
- Treat Paper 1 as a fluency drill: 40 marks in 30 minutes means well under a minute per mark. Times tables, column methods and fraction rules need to be automatic.
- Practise reasoning questions by explaining the answer aloud. Many reasoning marks are for the method, so a child who can say why gets the mark even with a slip in the arithmetic.
- Work without a calculator always - none of the three papers allows one.
- After every practice session, sort the mistakes: did not know it, knew it but rushed, or ran out of time. Each needs a different fix.
- Keep it in proportion. SATs report on the school as much as the child, and secondary schools reassess in Year 7. A calm, well-rested child scores better than an anxious one.
Frequently asked questions
When are the KS2 SATs taken?
In May of Year 6, at the end of Key Stage 2. The maths papers are sat over the SATs week alongside English reading and grammar, punctuation and spelling.
How many maths papers are there and how long are they?
Three. Paper 1 (Arithmetic) is 30 minutes and worth 40 marks. Papers 2 and 3 (Reasoning) are 40 minutes each and worth 35 marks each. That makes 110 marks in total, and no paper allows a calculator.
What is a scaled score, and what does 100 mean?
The raw mark out of 110 is converted to a scaled score between 80 and 120. A scaled score of 100 is the expected standard for the end of Key Stage 2; below 100 means the standard was not met, and higher scores show working above it.
How many marks did a child need in 2025 to reach the expected standard in maths?
In 2025 the maths threshold for the expected standard was 58 out of 110 raw marks. The threshold is set each year after the papers are marked, so it can move slightly from year to year.
Do children still take KS1 SATs?
KS1 SATs (at the end of Year 2) became non-statutory since 2023/24. Schools may still use the papers as an internal assessment, but the statutory tests are the KS2 SATs in Year 6.
Does MathsUK have KS2 SATs practice papers?
Not yet. Our question bank is being written, and SATs-style practice papers for Year 6 will appear on this page when there are enough questions to build them honestly. Until then, the Year 6 topic practice and worksheets cover the same curriculum.