National Curriculum Testing For 10-11 Year Olds: Year 6

1. National Curriculum Testing For 10-11 Year Olds: Year 6 Testing: May 2012

2. Agenda: • Background Information about SAT examinations • English testing • Maths testing • Questions

3. The Purpose of the Tests • Key Stage 2 tests are designed to test children’s knowledge and understanding of the Key Stage 2 Programmes of Study. • They provide a snapshot of a child’s attainment and progress, since the last key stage of their learning.

4. Test Dates: • Monday 14th May English Reading test  • Tuesday 15th May English Writing test (short task) and spelling test English Writing test (longer task)  • Wednesday 16th May Mental mathematics test and Mathematics test A  • Thursday 17th May Mathematics test B

5. Change to English Testing for 2012 • This year, the Writing Test for English will be internally marked, by your son/daughter’s English Teacher • There will be moderation to ensure that the tests are marked consistently • The scores from the Writing tests will be added to the external mark for the reading Test. This will create an overall level for the test. • In 2013, there will be a new externally marked Writing Test. “A new test of spelling, grammar, punctuation and vocabulary will be developed for introduction in 2013, after a trial in 2012”

6. Levels • The tests cover levels 3 to 5: • Level 3 = achievement below the nationally expected standard. • Level 4 = achievement at the nationally expected standard. • Level 5 = achievement above the nationally expected standard.

7. Optional Level 6 Test • In 2012, there will be an additional test available: Level 6 test papers for both Mathematics and English. • Some of our pupils will be selected to take this test. However, as yet, we have not decided which pupils will take the test. We are still monitoring progress and making decisions as to who will take the tests. More information will follow regarding this in April this year. • Government guidelines are that selected pupils should already be working confidently at L5

8. English Tests: There are 3 separate tests • Reading Paper (External Assessment remains) • Long Writing • Short Writing & Spelling Test • The Writing and Spelling Tests will be internally assessed in 2012

9. The Reading Paper • Pupils have 15 minutes to read three different text types, which will be chosen from fiction and non-fiction. • These can cover the following: narrative, information, opinion, letters, poetry, interviews, instructions, diaries and auto/biographies • There are sample papers in the Hall for you to look through after the presentation

10. Question Paper • Pupils have 45 minutes to answer the questions in the Reading Answer Booklet • Pupils use the Reading Booklet to help them answer the questions. • Marks range from 1 to 3 marks. • Total marks = 50

11. Assessed Reading Skills Total 50 Marks • Retrieval (16 marks) • Inference and deduction ( 18 marks) • Text Structure ( 6 marks) • Explanation with evidence (10 marks)

12. 1.What did Lucy have to do before the boat left the dock?Put a ring around your choice. Focus of question: retrieval of detail. sit down put on a waterproof suit take a photograph look out for whales

13. Focus of question: Inference. Toward the end of the trip, Lucy admits that she has a mixture of feelings about her experience.Explain her different feelings. Mark Scheme: Award 3 marks for developed answers Lucy felt like a stranger on the whales’ property, but was still anxious to see them. As she approached land she was pleased she didn’t know all the whales’ secrets.

14. 2.Lucy’s account of whale watching is made of five main events.Number each stage of the trip to show the order in which they happen.The first one has been done for you. Focus of question: identification of structure. goes back to the dock sees one whale swimming sets off on the journey sees several whales leaping prepares for the journey 5 3 2 4 1

15. Focus of question: understanding the effect of language choices. In the first paragraph on page 7, the author describes the whales and makes the event seem dramatic.Explain how each of these phrases helps to make the description effective.

16. a) There was nothing to see for a few minutes. • it’s a type of cliff hanger; • it makes you want to carry on reading to find out what happens; • it makes you tense and expectant. Award 1 mark for references to building suspense or expectations, e.g.:

17. b) I was speechless Award 1 markfor responses which describe the effect of the author’s choice of language on the reader, e.g.: • it shows you how amazing the experience must have been; • it makes you think it’s beyond description; • it makes you feel that you want to go there yourself and see exactly why; • the description shows you how shocked she was.

18. Reading At Home and In School • Reading is the key to understanding and success in this paper. • Reading regularly will: extend a pupil’s vocabulary; increase their understanding of punctuation; inspire their imagination and develop their ability to empathise with others.

19. What can you do at home to prepare for the Reading Test? Encourage your son/daughter to: • practise their reading. How much can they read and understandin 15 minutes? • read a passage out loud. Question your son/daughter about what he / she has read: Why did the character do….? How was the character feeling when ……… happened? Why did the author use the word / phrase …….? etc.

20. The Writing Paper There are 2 Writing Papers: • Short Writing( 20 minutes) which includes a separate spelling test, where pupils are asked to spell 20 spellings • Long Writing ( 45 minutes), which includes up to 4 marks for handwriting • There is no choice of task.

21. Writing Skills for Level 4: • accurate punctuation of the full stop, comma, question mark, exclamation mark, speech and capital letters • accurate paragraphing • connecting words to link paragraphs • range of complex sentences( sentences with 2 parts) with a range of different openings • simple sentences • Wow words!

22. Writing Skills Level 5: • all features of Level 4 writing, plus the following: • an awareness of using sentences to add interest and variety to the writing • a range of vocabulary, including the semi-colon, for linking and the colon for explanation, brackets and dashes. • a consistent viewpoint is maintained throughout the text

23. What you can do at home to prepare for the Writing Test. Encourage your son/daughter to practise: • writing exciting story beginnings. Remember, it is important to capture the reader’s attention. Start with an exciting moment. • writing story endings. How will your the tale conclude? Will there be a happy ending or will there be a ‘twist’ in the tale?   • setting out a letter / formal phrases. Revise the features of text types.

24. Continued Check your son/daughter is: • clear about how to punctuate speech. • confident about using exclamation marks (!), question marks (?), commas (,), ellipses (…), brackets (). • Able to use paragraphs and link them together by theme or connectives • Revision booklets from Rising Stars or CGP are a good revision tool for use at home.

25. Useful websites and Resources • www.bbc.co.uk/schools/ks2bitesize/english/ • A revision booklet will be given to every pupil in the second half of this term. The intention is that this booklet can be used at home to assist with revision and practice of Literacy skills

26. Finally ... • Please remember that these tests are only a snapshot of your son/daughter’s progress since the end of Year 2. • Remember children need time to relax and enjoy themselves. • As long as your son/daughter have tried their best: no-one needs to worry about test results or be disappointed by them.

27. Questions