The reading paper
Reading
60 min · 50 marks
Three texts (fiction, non-fiction, poetry). Tests retrieval, inference, vocabulary and authorial intent.
In 2027, reading was sat on Tuesday — see the full test schedule for how this fits with Maths and GPS.
The seven question types
Every reading question falls into one of these categories. Recognising which type a question is helps a child know what kind of answer — and evidence — it needs.
Retrieval
Finding a fact or detail that is directly stated in the text.
Inference
Working out something the text implies but doesn't say outright.
Vocabulary in context
What a word or phrase means as it's used in that specific sentence.
Summarising
Condensing a section or whole text into its key points.
Prediction
What might happen next, based on evidence so far.
Comparison
Comparing details, characters or ideas across texts or within one text.
Authorial choice
Why the author chose a particular word, structure or technique, and its effect.
Managing the time pressure
With 60 minutes across three texts, a rough budget of 15–20 minutes per text leaves a buffer for the final, usually hardest text. Many children lose marks not because they can't answer the third text's questions, but because they never reach them — practising with a visible timer builds the habit of moving on rather than perfecting an early answer.
Inference questions are worth extra attention at home: ask "how do you know?" after any answer, including correct ones, since the paper marks on evidence from the text, not just a plausible-sounding answer.
Frequently asked questions
What's on the KS2 reading SATs?
One paper, 60 minutes, 50 marks, built around three unseen texts — usually a mix of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. Questions get progressively harder as the paper moves through the texts.
Why is the reading paper considered the hardest?
Time pressure. Sixty minutes has to cover reading three unfamiliar texts and answering 50 marks' worth of questions — many children spend too long on the first text and run out of time for the third, which is usually the hardest and highest-scoring.
What text types appear?
A typical paper includes one fiction extract, one non-fiction text (often informational or biographical), and one poem, though the exact mix varies year to year.
What question types are tested?
Retrieval (finding a stated fact), inference (working out something not directly stated), vocabulary in context, summarising, prediction, comparison across texts, and questions about the author's choices and their effect on the reader.
How can my child finish the reading paper in time?
Practising with a visible timer and a rough per-text time budget (roughly 15–20 minutes per text) helps children learn to move on rather than getting stuck perfecting an early answer at the expense of the rest of the paper.
How do I improve my child's inference skills?
Ask 'how do you know?' after any answer, including correct ones — inference questions are marked on evidence from the text, not just a plausible-sounding answer, so children need practice justifying answers with a specific quote or detail.
How do I help with reading at home?
Read a range of text types together, not just fiction — non-fiction and poetry appear on every paper and are often the least-practised at home. Discuss vocabulary in context rather than just checking definitions, since that's how the paper tests it.