SATs Reading Practice: Build Confidence for Test Day
The only reading app with built-in SATs practice mode. Help your Year 2 or Year 6 child prepare for their reading assessment with timed tests, scaled scores (80-120 range), and exam-style questions that match real SATs papers.
What are SATs?
SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) are statutory assessments taken by children in England at the end of Year 2 (Key Stage 1) and Year 6 (Key Stage 2). The reading tests assess children's comprehension skills, vocabulary knowledge, and ability to understand a range of texts including fiction, non-fiction, and poetry.
Year 2 SATs are taken in May and include a reading comprehension paper based on fiction and non-fiction texts. Results help teachers assess if children are working at the expected standard for their age.
Year 6 SATs are more formal and include a 60-minute reading paper with three texts and a variety of question types. Children receive a scaled score between 80-120, with 100 being the expected standard. These results are reported to secondary schools and help with setting arrangements.
How Primary Story Helps with SATs Preparation
Authentic Test Format
Practice with timed tests that mirror the real SATs format. Our questions match the style, difficulty, and structure of actual exam papers to build familiarity and confidence.
Scaled Score System
Receive scaled scores (80-120 range) just like the real SATs. Track progress over time and understand if your child is working below, at, or above the expected standard of 100.
Detailed Feedback
Get instant feedback on strengths and areas for improvement across all VIPERS reading skills. Focus practice on the specific question types your child finds challenging.
SATs Preparation Tips for Parents
Before the Test
- Practice regularly (2-3 times per week) to build stamina
- Focus on time management - Year 6 children have 60 minutes
- Read a variety of text types: fiction, non-fiction, poetry
- Practice finding evidence in texts to support answers
Managing Exam Anxiety
- Keep practice low-pressure and encourage effort over results
- Celebrate improvements and acknowledge hard work
- Ensure good sleep, healthy meals, and relaxation before test day
- Remind them that one test doesn't define their abilities
Understanding SATs Scaled Scores
Scaled scores convert raw marks into a standardized score between 80 and 120, allowing fair comparison across different test papers. A score of 100 represents the expected standard. Primary Story uses the same scoring system to help you understand how your child would perform in the actual SATs.
SATs Reading Practice: Common Questions
Everything parents need to know about SATs preparation
SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) are national curriculum tests taken by children in Year 2 (age 6-7) and Year 6 (age 10-11) in England. Year 2 SATs cover reading, maths, and writing through teacher assessment. Year 6 SATs are formal tests in reading, maths, and grammar/punctuation/spelling (GPS), with results reported as scaled scores (80-120 range, with 100 being the expected standard).
Primary Story's SATs Practice Mode provides authentic test-style reading comprehension questions matching real SATs papers. Children practice with timed tests, receive scaled scores (80-120) just like real exams, and get detailed feedback on question types they need to improve. Regular practice builds exam confidence, reading stamina, and test-taking skills without the pressure of high-stakes testing.
For Year 6 SATs: Start regular practice from September of Year 6, building from 10-15 minutes weekly to 20-30 minutes closer to test season (May). For Year 2: Begin gentle practice in Spring term with short 5-10 minute sessions focusing on comprehension skills rather than exam pressure. Primary Story adapts difficulty to your child's level, making early practice stress-free and confidence-building.
SATs scores range from 80-120 (scaled scoring). 100 is the 'expected standard' (roughly equivalent to a pass). 80-99 = Working towards expected, 100-110 = Expected standard, 110+ = Greater depth (top 25% nationally). Most children score 90-110. Primary Story's practice tests use the same scaled scoring system so you can track progress accurately.
Keep practice low-pressure and regular rather than intensive cramming. Explain that SATs are just one snapshot and don't define their ability. Use Primary Story to build familiarity with test formats—when children know what to expect, anxiety drops significantly. Celebrate effort and improvement over scores. Maintain normal bedtimes and routines during test week, and remind them they've been preparing all year.
Year 6 SATs reading tests cover: retrieval (finding information), inference (reading between the lines), vocabulary (word meanings in context), summarizing (identifying key themes), prediction, and explanation (understanding author's choices). Primary Story's comprehension questions practice all these domains using the VIPERS framework (Vocabulary, Inference, Prediction, Explain, Retrieve, Summarise) aligned to SATs requirements.
Past papers are helpful closer to test dates, but year-round reading comprehension practice is more effective for building genuine understanding. Primary Story provides unlimited practice with fresh content at your child's level—preventing memorization of answers and maintaining engagement. Daily reading (15-20 minutes) with varied question types builds stronger skills than cramming past papers in the final weeks.
Year 2 SATs are teacher assessments based on classroom work throughout the year, with shorter texts and simpler questions focusing on basic comprehension. Year 6 SATs are formal timed tests (1 hour) with longer passages, multiple-choice and written answers, and complex inference questions. Primary Story offers age-appropriate practice for both, with Year 2 focusing on confidence-building and Year 6 including exam-style timing and scoring.
Quality over quantity: 15-20 minutes daily is more effective than weekend cramming. In Year 6, gradually increase to 30 minutes 2-3 times weekly from January onwards. Practice should include: reading the text (10-15 mins), answering questions (10-15 mins), and reviewing mistakes (5 mins). Primary Story tracks time spent and provides pacing guidance to build exam stamina without burnout.
Yes! SATs-style comprehension questions develop critical thinking, inference, and analytical reading—skills valuable far beyond test day. Primary Story's practice combines exam preparation with genuine reading improvement. Children who practice regularly see gains in: vocabulary, reading speed, text analysis, and confidence with challenging materials. The skills learned help with secondary school English and lifelong reading comprehension.
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Prepare for Year 2 and Year 6 reading assessments with curriculum-aligned practice tests.