SATs preparation and tutoring

How can I support my child with their SATs tests?

There’s so much you can do to help your child excel in the SATs, but you should never feel pressured by the process. You can simply begin by accessing free SATs questions from our online SATs resources, answering questions about maths and English throughout your day, or practising times tables as you play with your child. At Explore Learning, we also offer SATs tuition to support your child in the lead up to the exams. 

What SATs preparation materials does my child need?

Explore Learning members studying for  maths SATs and English SATs receive access to learning materials, question samples, and practice papers that you can simply download from your members’ area. These preparation materials, along with expert SATs tuition with our tutors, will provide the support your child needs to prepare for the SATs.

What revision techniques work best?

There’s not a single way to revise for the SATs because every child works differently. What you can do is try different methods, including reading aloud, writing, or listening to lessons, to gauge the technique that works best for your child. After a few tuition sessions with your child, our expert maths and English tutors can also give tips on which techniques would best suit your child’s learning style.

How will schools prepare children for the SATs tests?

Primary schools will typically begin preparation for SATs starting from January. Students will be exposed to multiple revision cycles and practice SATs questions that will gradually increase until Easter. Just before the exams, schools will prepare mock tests for students to be fully prepared and ready to go.

What level should my child be aiming for in the SATs?

The government sets specific expected standards that students should meet to be at the national level in comparison to other students in their age group. The expected standard differs for writing, reading, and maths, but the concept is the same across the different tests. The results will indicate whether students are working below the expected standard, at the expected standard, or above the expected standard. In all cases, the results are simply there to indicate the areas where students can develop and where teachers need to support them.

How far in advance should my child start preparing for the SATs?

Your child has been preparing for the SATs since they started Year 3. Everything they are doing at school leads up to the SATs exams. You can help by supporting them with their homework, reading daily, practising spellings and times tables whenever you can. If there are areas of difficulty that your child encounters during Key Stage 2, then consider Explore Learning SATs tuition as a way to complement and support the work they are doing at school.