2026 KS1 SATs Papers
Download all the 2026 KS1 SATs past papers, answers and mark schemes for free, including English reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling.
From 2024 the KS1 SATs are no longer statutory, so the 2026 KS1 tests were optional. Schools could choose to use them to support their own teacher assessment of Year 2 pupils.
2026 KS1 English Reading SATs Papers
The KS1 English Reading test has two papers: Paper 1 (a combined reading prompt and answer booklet) and Paper 2 (a separate reading booklet and answer booklet).
| Year | Reading Booklet 1 | Reading Booklet 2 | Reading Answer Booklet | Additional Materials ⓘTest instructions for teachers | Answers ⓘFull answers and mark schemes | Complete ZIP File ⓘZip file with all standard resources bundled together | Premium Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2026 English Reading Booklet 1One of Our Tigers is Missing! and Swansⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper English Reading Booklet 1 (One of Our Tigers is Missing!, Swans)This Key Stage 1 English reading assessment contains two texts with comprehension questions. One of Our Tigers is Missing! is a narrative about two children who help a park ranger find a missing tiger and her cubs at a safari park. Swans is a non-fiction text about swan behaviour, habitats, nesting, and feeding habits. Questions test retrieval, inference, and vocabulary understanding. Questions: 20 | 2026 English Reading Booklet 2Jack's New Boat and Bambooⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper English Reading Booklet 2 (Jack's New Boat, Bamboo)This is the Reading Booklet for the 2026 Key Stage 1 English reading assessment. It contains two texts for pupils to read: Jack's New Boat, a story about a boy who receives a toy boat from his uncle but loses it at sea before finding it again, and Bamboo, a non-fiction text explaining what bamboo is, how it grows, and its various uses in building, cooking and clothing. | 2026 English Reading Answer Bookletⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper English Reading Answer BookletThis answer booklet assesses reading comprehension through two texts. Questions 1–9 focus on Jack's New Boat, a narrative about a boy whose toy boat is lost at sea during a storm whilst staying with his uncle. Questions 10–18 are about Bamboo, a non-fiction text covering what bamboo is, how it grows, and its uses in furniture, food and clothing. Question types include retrieval, vocabulary, inference and sequencing. Questions: 18 | 2026 English Reading Answers Explainedⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper English Reading Answers ExplainedThis answer guide explains every question from the 2026 KS1 English Reading SATs. It covers two texts: a story about finding a missing tiger at a safari park, and a non-fiction text about swans and bamboo. The guide provides model answers, retrieval strategies, inference tips, and common errors for vocabulary, sequencing, true/false tables, and find-and-copy questions. Questions: 38 | |||
| Source: Standards and Testing Agency (STA) | Open Government Licence |
About these 2026 KS1 English papers
- One of Our Tigers is Missing!, Swans
- This Key Stage 1 English reading assessment contains two texts with comprehension questions. One of Our Tigers is Missing! is a narrative about two children who help a park ranger find a missing tiger and her cubs at a safari park. Swans is a non-fiction text about swan behaviour, habitats, nesting, and feeding habits. Questions test retrieval, inference, and vocabulary understanding.
- KS1 English 2026 Reading Paper 2 Answer Booklet
- This answer booklet assesses reading comprehension through two texts. Questions 1–9 focus on Jack's New Boat, a narrative about a boy whose toy boat is lost at sea during a storm whilst staying with his uncle. Questions 10–18 are about Bamboo, a non-fiction text covering what bamboo is, how it grows, and its uses in furniture, food and clothing. Question types include retrieval, vocabulary, inference and sequencing.
- Jack's New Boat, Bamboo
- This is the Reading Booklet for the 2026 Key Stage 1 English reading assessment. It contains two texts for pupils to read: Jack's New Boat, a story about a boy who receives a toy boat from his uncle but loses it at sea before finding it again, and Bamboo, a non-fiction text explaining what bamboo is, how it grows, and its various uses in building, cooking and clothing.
- KS1 English 2026 Reading Answers Explained
- This answer guide explains every question from the 2026 KS1 English Reading SATs. It covers two texts: a story about finding a missing tiger at a safari park, and a non-fiction text about swans and bamboo. The guide provides model answers, retrieval strategies, inference tips, and common errors for vocabulary, sequencing, true/false tables, and find-and-copy questions.
2026 KS1 Maths SATs Papers
Paper 1 (Arithmetic) and Paper 2 (Reasoning).
| Year | Question Paper | Instructions Audio | Additional Materials ⓘTest instructions for teachers | Answers ⓘFull answers and mark schemes | Complete ZIP File ⓘZip file with all standard resources bundled together | Premium Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2026 Maths Question PaperPaper 1ⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper Maths Question Paper (Paper 1)This is the KS1 Mathematics Paper 1: Arithmetic assessment from the 2026 national curriculum tests. It contains 25 questions testing basic arithmetic operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions. Questions involve single and double-digit calculations, missing number problems, and finding fractions of whole numbers such as one half of 14 and one quarter of 100. Questions: 25 2026 Maths Question PaperPaper 2ⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper Maths Question Paper (Paper 2)Key Stage 1 Mathematics Paper 2: Reasoning assessment from 2026. Tests number operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), place value, shape properties (pentagons, triangular prisms), measurements (length, mass, time), money calculations, fractions, data interpretation (pictograms, block diagrams), arrays, and problem-solving. Includes both aural and written questions requiring working out and multiple-step reasoning. Questions: 32 | |||||
| Source: Standards and Testing Agency (STA) | Open Government Licence |
About these 2026 KS1 Maths papers
- Paper 1
- This is the KS1 Mathematics Paper 1: Arithmetic assessment from the 2026 national curriculum tests. It contains 25 questions testing basic arithmetic operations including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and fractions. Questions involve single and double-digit calculations, missing number problems, and finding fractions of whole numbers such as one half of 14 and one quarter of 100.
- Paper 2
- Key Stage 1 Mathematics Paper 2: Reasoning assessment from 2026. Tests number operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division), place value, shape properties (pentagons, triangular prisms), measurements (length, mass, time), money calculations, fractions, data interpretation (pictograms, block diagrams), arrays, and problem-solving. Includes both aural and written questions requiring working out and multiple-step reasoning.
2026 KS1 Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling SATs Papers
Paper 1 (Spelling) and Paper 2 (Questions). The KS1 GaPS test has always been optional.
| Year | Paper 1 (Spelling) | Paper 2 (Questions) | Spelling Materials ⓘAudio listening tests for spelling test | Additional Materials ⓘTest instructions for teachers | Answers ⓘFull answers and mark schemes | Complete ZIP File ⓘZip file with all standard resources bundled together | Premium Downloads |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2026 GaPS Paper 1 (Spelling)ⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper GaPS Paper 1 (Spelling)This is the Paper 1: Spelling component of the Key Stage 1 English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling assessment for 2026. The test contains 21 spelling items, including a practice question. Children write missing words into sentences, testing their ability to spell common words appropriate to Year 2 level, including plural nouns, verbs in different tenses, and high-frequency vocabulary. Questions: 21 | 2026 GaPS Paper 2 (Questions)ⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper GaPS Paper 2 (Questions)This Key Stage 1 English grammar, punctuation and spelling assessment contains questions testing sentence structure, word classes, and punctuation conventions. Children identify and use nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs, apply correct punctuation marks (full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas and apostrophes), recognise statements and commands, form verb tenses, add prefixes and suffixes, and write correctly punctuated questions. Questions: 19 | 2026 GaPS Spelling Transcriptⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper GaPS Spelling TranscriptThis is the administrator's transcript for the Key Stage 1 English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: spelling test for 2026. It provides instructions for test administrators to read aloud twenty spelling words in context sentences to pupils, who write the correct spellings in their answer booklets. The test includes words testing common letter patterns, vowel digraphs, consonant blends, suffixes, silent letters, and days of the week. Questions: 20 | 2026 GaPS Answers Explainedⓘ 2026 KS1 SATs Paper GaPS Answers ExplainedThis answer explanation booklet covers the 2026 KS1 Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling paper. It provides detailed explanations for 19 questions testing conjunctions, punctuation marks (question marks, exclamation marks, full stops, commas, apostrophes), verb tenses, word classes (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs), capital letters, prefixes and suffixes, and writing questions with correct punctuation. Each answer includes guidance on common errors and strategies for parents helping children. Questions: 19 | |||
| Source: Standards and Testing Agency (STA) | Open Government Licence |
About these 2026 KS1 GaPS papers
- KS1 English 2026 Grammar Punctuation Spelling Paper 1 Spelling
- This is the Paper 1: Spelling component of the Key Stage 1 English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling assessment for 2026. The test contains 21 spelling items, including a practice question. Children write missing words into sentences, testing their ability to spell common words appropriate to Year 2 level, including plural nouns, verbs in different tenses, and high-frequency vocabulary.
- KS1 English 2026 Grammar Punctuation Spelling Paper 1 Spelling Teachers Version
- This is the administrator's transcript for the Key Stage 1 English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: spelling test for 2026. It provides instructions for test administrators to read aloud twenty spelling words in context sentences to pupils, who write the correct spellings in their answer booklets. The test includes words testing common letter patterns, vowel digraphs, consonant blends, suffixes, silent letters, and days of the week.
- KS1 English 2026 Grammar Punctuation Spelling Paper 2 Short Answer Questions
- This Key Stage 1 English grammar, punctuation and spelling assessment contains questions testing sentence structure, word classes, and punctuation conventions. Children identify and use nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs, apply correct punctuation marks (full stops, question marks, exclamation marks, commas and apostrophes), recognise statements and commands, form verb tenses, add prefixes and suffixes, and write correctly punctuated questions.
- KS1 English 2026 Grammar Punctuation Spelling Answers Explained
- This answer explanation booklet covers the 2026 KS1 Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling paper. It provides detailed explanations for 19 questions testing conjunctions, punctuation marks (question marks, exclamation marks, full stops, commas, apostrophes), verb tenses, word classes (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs), capital letters, prefixes and suffixes, and writing questions with correct punctuation. Each answer includes guidance on common errors and strategies for parents helping children.
2026 KS1 Spelling Words
The words from the 2026 KS1 Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling test (the Spelling paper), which were read aloud for pupils to spell.
| No. | Word |
|---|---|
| 1 | bell |
| 2 | bank |
| 3 | goat |
| 4 | lake |
| 5 | wider |
| 6 | skip |
| 7 | city |
| 8 | roots |
| 9 | lady |
| 10 | place |
| 11 | Monday |
| 12 | called |
| 13 | active |
| 14 | shortest |
| 15 | another |
| 16 | knife |
| 17 | wrote |
| 18 | fry |
| 19 | hurries |
| 20 | fossil |
20 spelling words.
2026 KS1 SATs Results
KS1 results have always been based on the teacher's overall assessment of each child, with the tests used as one piece of evidence to inform that judgement. The papers were marked by the school, not sent away to be marked externally.
Because KS1 assessment became non-statutory from 2024, schools that used the 2026 KS1 tests did so for their own purposes. Results were not collected by the DfE and do not appear in the primary school league tables.
To see how a raw mark converts to a scaled score and the expected standard, see the 2026 KS1 SATs Scaled Scores section below, or use our free scaled score converter.
2026 KS1 SATs Scaled Scores
The Standards and Testing Agency publishes the raw-score to scaled-score conversion tables alongside the results in July 2026. We'll add the 2026 KS1 tables here as soon as they are released.
In the meantime, you can use our free scaled score converter, or view the 2025 KS1 scaled scores as a guide.
About the 2026 KS1 SATs
Children in Year 2 (those aged 6-7 at the time) took the 2026 KS1 SATs at some point during May 2026. Unlike the KS2 SATs, there was no fixed national timetable: schools administered the tests flexibly across the month, at a time that suited them.
The 2026 KS1 tests were authored, produced and managed by the STA (Standards and Testing Agency) under the authorisation of the DfE (Department for Education).
The KS1 tests were taken in English Reading and Maths, with Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GaPS) as an optional extra. They were sat under informal conditions and marked by the child's own teacher, alongside teacher assessments in writing and science.
Pupils with additional educational needs were offered support and/or extra time where appropriate. Modified materials using braille and large print were available to eligible pupils.
Once marked, a child's score could be converted to a scaled score using the published conversion tables:
If a child's scaled score was below 100, they had not reached the expected standard.
If a child's scaled score was between 100 and 109, they had reached the expected standard.
If a child's score was 110 or over, they had exceeded the expected standard and were judged as working at greater depth.
More KS1 SATs Past Papers
| Decade | Years |
|---|---|
| 2020s | 202220232024202520262027 |
| 2010s | 2016201720182019 |
FAQ
What were the 2026 KS1 SATs papers?
The 2026 KS1 SATs were the Year 2 assessments in English Reading and Maths, with Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling (GaPS) as an optional test that most schools also used. Download every paper above, or browse other years on the KS1 SATs hub.
Who took the 2026 KS1 SATs?
The 2026 KS1 SATs were taken by Year 2 children, aged 6 to 7 - which is why they are also called '2026 Year 2 SATs'. For how the tests work, see the KS1 SATs hub.
Are the 2026 KS1 SATs papers free to download?
Yes - every 2026 KS1 SATs paper is free to download, with its marking scheme, plus our Answers Explained for English Reading and GaPS.
