Year Group Tests for Years 2 to 6
End-of-year tests for the national curriculum in England – for the year groups that don’t sit SATs, and for the subjects the SATs don’t cover. Every test comes with a full mark scheme, a one-page answer sheet and an Excel question level analysis (QLA), so you can see exactly what each child has secured and what to teach next.
Science tests
There is no national science test for most year groups, so it can be hard to know how secure children really are. Our science tests cover Years 2 to 6, in three short parts – biology, chemistry and physics – in the style of the KS2 science sampling tests. Working scientifically is built into the questions: tables, fair tests, graphs and conclusions.
| Year | Time | Marks | What it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 2 | 30 minutes | 25 | Living things, plants, animals including humans, everyday materials and seasonal changes |
| Year 3 | 40 minutes | 30 | Plants, animals including humans, rocks, light, and forces and magnets |
| Year 4 | 45 minutes | 40 | Living things, animals including humans, states of matter, sound and electricity |
| Year 5 | 45 minutes | 40 | Living things, animals including humans, properties and changes of materials, Earth and space, and forces |
| Year 6 | 50 minutes | 40 | Living things, animals including humans, evolution and inheritance, light and electricity, plus key ideas from Years 3 to 5 |
Mark it, type it in, see the gaps
Each test has a QLA workbook: type each child’s marks and it shows every question, topic and working scientifically skill – for the whole year group, one class or one group – with what to reteach first, who to group, and a one-page report for every child. Excel for Windows or Mac, no macros.
Coming soon
We are writing tests in more subjects for each year group, each with the same mark schemes and analysis.
Frequently asked questions
Are these official tests?
No. They are written by PrimaryTools for the national curriculum in England. The science tests follow the style of the Standards and Testing Agency’s KS2 science sampling tests, which were never published in full.
When should we use them?
At the end of the summer term, to check what children have secured, or early in the next year as a starting point. The three parts can be sat together or on separate days.
Can Year 2 children read the test themselves?
Most can. An adult may read questions to children who need help with reading, but must not explain the science words.
What do we need to use the QLA?
Microsoft Excel for Windows or Mac. There are no macros to enable, and your data stays on your computer. See our test analysis help for more.