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KS2 SATs results — dates, scaled scores and what they mean

Schools received the 2026 KS2 results on Tuesday, 7 July 2026. The 2027 results reach schools on Tuesday, 6 July 2027. Here's how scaled scores work, what expected standard and greater depth actually mean, and whether any of it affects secondary school.

80–120
scaled score range
100
= expected standard
110+
= greater depth

When do results come out?

All KS2 papers are marked externally by markers appointed by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) — not by your child's own school. Schools receive the results roughly six to eight weeks after the test week, then decide how and when to pass them on to parents, which must happen before the end of the summer term. See the full guide to SATs marking and access arrangements for how the mark scheme works and what support — readers, scribes and more — is available for children who need it.

2026 KS2 SATsTest week: Monday, 11 May 2026Results to schools: Tuesday, 7 July 2026
2027 KS2 SATsTest week: Monday, 10 May 2027Results to schools: Tuesday, 6 July 2027

Raw score vs scaled score

Your child's raw score is simply the number of marks they got out of the total available on a paper. The STA then converts that into a scaled score between 80 and 120, so that a score of 100 means the same thing every year — the expected standard — even though the raw-mark threshold needed to reach 100 shifts slightly depending on how hard that year's papers were.

This is why a raw score of 58 out of 110 in maths might convert to 100 in one year, and a raw score of 61 might be needed in another. Use the scaled score converter to check the exact conversion for a specific year and subject.

Expected standard, greater depth, and working below

80–99
Working below
Below the expected standard for the child's age.
100–109
Expected standard
Met the national expected standard.
110–120
Greater depth
Working at greater depth beyond the expected standard.

Wondering whether your child's score is a good one? See what is a good SATs score? for the national averages, the marks needed for 100 and 110, and what to do about a 99.

What the result codes mean

Most children receive a plain scaled score. These codes appear instead when a child didn't sit a paper in the usual way.

Scaled score (80–120)The standardised result for a child who sat and completed the paper. 100+ meets the expected standard.
AAbsent — the child did not sit that paper.
BDisapplied — the child was not tested at KS2 level (usually agreed with the school in advance).
PKGPre-key stage, growing development of the expected standard — based on teacher assessment, for children working below the test's range.
PKFPre-key stage, foundations for the expected standard — for children working significantly below the test's range.

Do SATs results affect secondary school?

Not for admission — secondary school places are allocated before SATs results exist, based on the National Offer Day process, not test scores. But secondary schools do receive each incoming child's scaled scores before September, and commonly use them to inform setting or streaming in Maths and English, and to identify children who may benefit from early literacy or numeracy support.

There is no retake for KS2 SATs — a child sits each paper once, in May of Year 6, and that result stands. See the full guide section on secondary school transition for more detail.

Frequently asked questions

When are KS2 SATs results 2027?
Schools can view the 2027 KS2 results online from Tuesday, 6 July 2027. The tests themselves run from Monday, 10 May 2027, and schools then decide how and when to share results with parents, which must happen before the end of the summer term.
When are KS2 SATs results 2026?
Schools received the 2026 KS2 results on 7 July 2026. Schools then decide exactly when and how to share results with parents, but they must do so before the end of the summer term.
How are SATs marked and by whom?
All KS2 SATs papers are marked externally by markers appointed by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) — not by the child's own school. Papers are collected shortly after the test week and returned as scaled scores in July.
What is a scaled score?
A scaled score converts a child's raw mark (the number of marks they got) into a standardised score between 80 and 120. A scaled score of 100 always represents the expected standard, regardless of how the raw-mark threshold for 100 shifts from year to year as papers vary in difficulty.
What's the difference between raw score and scaled score?
The raw score is simply the number of marks a child got out of the total available on a paper. The scaled score is that raw score converted onto the standardised 80–120 scale, so that a score of 100 means the same thing — expected standard — every year, even though the papers themselves aren't identical difficulty.
What does 'expected standard', 'greater depth' and 'working below' mean?
A scaled score of 100 or more means a child met the expected standard for their age. 110 or above means greater depth — a higher level of attainment. Below 100 means working below the expected standard, called 'working towards' in school reporting.
What happens if my child scores below 100?
There's no formal consequence at KS2 — SATs are not a pass/fail test and there's no retake. Scores below 100 are used by schools (and the secondary school your child moves to) to identify areas where extra support may help, not as a barrier to progression.
Can my child retake SATs?
No. KS2 SATs are sat once, in May of Year 6, with no resit opportunity. A child's result stands regardless of an off day, illness recovered from just before the test, or any other one-off factor.
Do SATs results affect secondary school?
Not for admission — secondary school places are offered before SATs results exist. But secondary schools do receive scaled scores before September and commonly use them for setting or streaming in Maths and English, and to flag children who may need additional early support.
What do the result codes mean (A, B, PKG, PKF)?
'A' means a child was absent for that paper. 'B' means a child was disapplied and not tested at KS2 level. 'PKG' (pre-key stage, growing) and 'PKF' (pre-key stage, foundations) are used for children working significantly below the standard of the test, based on teacher assessment rather than a scaled score.
What is a good SATs score?
100 or above is the target — that's the expected standard, and it's what the large majority of children are aiming for. 110+ is greater depth, a level beyond expected. There's no 'perfect' score to chase: 100+ already means a child is meeting the national standard for their age. Check the exact raw-mark thresholds for a specific year and subject with the scaled score converter below.

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