Determining whether SATs can be retaken is an important consideration for students, parents, and educators who are navigating the assessment landscape.
SATs, or Standard Assessment Tests, play a critical role in gauging a pupil’s educational progress in England and are administered in key stages throughout primary education.
Particularly in Year 2 and Year 6, these tests serve as a marker for not only the students’ understanding but also the quality of education provided by schools.
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Questions often arise around the flexibility of the SATs, especially when results don’t meet expectations. Unlike other standardised tests, where retakes may be a common occurrence, the structure of SATs in the UK education system is unique.
Assessing a child’s proficiency in core subjects, SATs results can have implications for a student’s further educational pathway, including support, intervention, and future opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- SATs assess educational progress and school performance.
- Results may influence further education and support.
- SATs retake policies differ from other standardised tests.
Related: For more, check out our article on Do Year 6 SATs Matter?
Understanding SATs: Purpose and Structure
SATs, or Standard Assessment Tests, are national curriculum assessments conducted in England. They serve as a measure of a pupil’s educational attainment.
These tests are taken by pupils in primary schools at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 6).
Key Stage 1 SATs assess:
- Reading: Through comprehension tasks.
- Mathematics: Including arithmetic and reasoning.
Key Stage 2 SATs evaluate:
- Reading: Focused on comprehension.
- Mathematics: Covering arithmetic, reasoning, and problem-solving skills.
- Spelling, Grammar, and Punctuation (often referred to as SPaG).
These assessments align with the National Curriculum, designed to ensure schools are helping pupils gain a solid foundation in core academic skills.
The Standards and Testing Agency oversees the administration of SATs, to maintain consistent educational standards across the country. These tests provide valuable information about how a school is performing, offering insights that can shape future teaching strategies.
The structure of SATs is as such that it provides a standardised method of assessment across all schools in England, to measure each pupil’s performance against established national standards.
Here’s a succinct summary:
- SATs: A measure of attainment as per the national standards
- Administered by: Standards and Testing Agency
- Levels: Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2
- Subjects tested: Reading, Mathematics, and Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (KS2 only)
SATs results are intended to inform parents and schools about a child’s academic abilities about their age expectations and to support the transition from primary to secondary education.
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Eligibility and Requirements for Retaking SATs

The opportunity to retake SATs is subject to specific eligibility criteria and involves a process overseen by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA).
This section delineates the conditions under which Year 6 pupils may be considered for a retake and the role of the STA in this context.
Retake Criteria and Process
Retake Eligibility: Retakes are not a standard practice for Key Stage 2 SATs; however, under exceptional circumstances, such as significant disruption or pupils being unable to sit the tests due to specific reasons, schools may consult the Department for Education (DfE) regarding potential options.
The emphasis is usually on teacher assessments to evaluate a pupil’s learning progress.
Retake Process: If a retake is considered, the school must demonstrate how initial conditions adversely affected the pupil’s performance. After approval, retakes are conducted according to the procedures established by the STA.
Role of the Standards and Testing Agency
The Standards and Testing Agency is responsible for setting the standards for educational assessments. They ensure that the administration of SATs is executed fairly and accurately across the United Kingdom.
Should a retake be authorised, the STA provides the necessary protocols to maintain the integrity of the assessment.
Teacher assessments may be used to complement the process, ensuring that the pupil’s performance is assessed holistically and under established educational standards.
Assessment Areas and Scoring Explained

The SATs assess pupil proficiency in key subjects, with emphasis on English and Maths.
The results are quantified using both raw and scaled scores to standardise performance measures across England.
Components of SATs: English and Maths
English: This component encompasses several key areas:
- Reading: Pupils are evaluated on their comprehension skills through various texts.
- Grammar, Punctuation, and Spelling (GPS): Assesses knowledge and application in written contexts.
The English grammar, punctuation, and spelling test awards a separate scaled score, while reading provides another.
Maths: This subject is divided into:
- Arithmetic: Focused on basic computation and number operations.
- Reasoning: It measures the application of mathematical knowledge in problem-solving scenarios.
Each pupil’s raw score, which is the actual number of marks obtained, is converted into a scaled score, where 100 represents the expected standard.
A score below 100 indicates that a child may need additional support, whereas a score above 100 suggests they are excelling beyond the expected level. Science, assessed through teacher evaluation, does not contribute to the SATs scaled score.
Support and Intervention Post-SATs

After the KS2 tests, schools often provide support and intervention, ensuring that pupils who faced difficulty have resources and strategies in place to assist their educational journey moving forward.
This support can be paramount in allowing students to progress despite any challenges they faced during the SATs.
Resources for Improvement
Teachers have access to a variety of resources to support pupils who need to improve their skills after the SATs. Tailored intervention programmes may include additional practice materials that focus on specific areas where a child may have struggled.
For instance, if a SATs paper in mathematics indicated a need for further development, targeted worksheets and online tools can help. During the pandemic, digital resources have proven especially valuable, and these often continue to supplement learning.
Schools may also utilise the National Tutoring Programme, which provides additional tuition to help children catch up.
- Online platforms for interactive learning exercises.
- Printed practice worksheets tailored to individual needs.
- Continued use through national initiatives, such as the National Tutoring Programme.
Understanding Extra Help and Adjustments
Following SATs, extra help and adjustments can be put in place by schools for students who need them. Teachers are instrumental in identifying the necessity for such support.
Access arrangements are available for future examinations for those who may need them, including pupils with specific requirements for speaking or written tasks.
These arrangements ensure all students have the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities fairly and without undue difficulty.
- Personalised support plans for pupils needing additional help.
- Access arrangements to level the playing field for future exams.
- Guidance and adjustments driven by careful teacher assessments.
These interventions post-SATs are crucial in ensuring that all pupils can progress and improve in their educational journey, regardless of the challenges they may have encountered during their KS2 tests.
Implications of SATs Results on Education Pathways
The SATs results play a crucial role in shaping educational trajectories, as they are often taken into account for secondary school placement and have implications for long-term academic attainment.
Secondary School Placement and Beyond
SATs results, particularly achieving the expected standard, are a key factor in the placement of pupils into secondary schools.
These results may influence the set level pupils are placed in for certain subjects, which can affect their educational journey and peer group dynamics.
Furthermore, secondary schools often use SATs data to predict future performance, guiding their approach to teaching and support for new Year 7 pupils.
Achievement at the expected level in SATs also has further-reaching consequences beyond secondary education.
There’s an implication that these early results could influence college admissions, as consistent academic performance often begins with foundational knowledge at the primary level.
Additionally, SATs results feed into measures of school performance, with high aggregate scores reflecting favourably on the quality of education delivered by primary schools, as mandated by the government.
It is crucial to understand that SATs are but one aspect of a comprehensive evaluation of a pupil’s capabilities and potential, and while important, they are not the sole determinant of future academic success.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section addresses common inquiries regarding the SAT examination and GCSE retakes, including the potential for retaking these assessments and the considerations around multiple attempts.
Is it possible to retake the SAT examination after completing secondary education?
Individuals can retake the SAT examination multiple times. There is no restriction on when one can sit for the exam after finishing secondary education.
What are the implications of achieving a lower score on a subsequent SAT attempt?
Achieving a lower score on a retaken SAT exam may impact university application deliberations, as some institutions consider the highest score, while others may review all submitted scores.
Can the SAT be retaken through an online platform?
The SAT cannot be taken online; it must be retaken at a designated testing centre on specified dates.
How do universities perceive multiple attempts at the SAT examination?
Universities have varying policies regarding multiple SAT attempts; some may view improvement favourably, while others take the best score or the most recent one.
What options exist for individuals seeking to retake their GCSEs at age 16?
Individuals can retake their GCSEs at various learning institutions, including colleges and adult education centres, or as private candidates.
What provisions are in place for a child who is absent during the Year 6 National Curriculum assessments in the UK?
If a child misses their Year 6 National Curriculum assessments, special considerations can be applied, or the child may be able to sit the tests at a later date.