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KS2 Writing Tasks

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KS2 Writing Tasks

YearWriting Test (Shorter Task)Writing Test (Longer Task)Writing Test (Answer Booklet)Answers โ“˜Full answers and mark schemesScaled Scores / Levels โ“˜Raw mark to Scaled Score conversion tablesComplete ZIP File โ“˜Zip file with all standard resources bundled togetherPremium Downloads
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
Source: Standards and Testing Agency (STA) | Open Government Licence
About these KS2 Writing papers
External
This is the answer booklet for the KS2 Writing Test Longer Task from 2012. Students write a formal letter to their headteacher with the prompt Guest Appearance. The assessment evaluates sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting. The booklet provides lined pages for students to complete their extended writing piece.
Guest Appearance (External)
This is a KS2 Writing Test longer task from 2012 that assesses pupils' ability to write a persuasive letter. Students are asked to write to their headteacher recommending a guest (children's writer, sportsperson, chef, or their own choice) to visit the school for a day. The paper includes instructions and a planning page with prompts for students to organize their ideas, consider persuasive language, and structure their letter appropriately.
Birdspotter, Atlantis (External)
This 2012 KS2 writing test contains a shorter writing task and a spelling test. The writing task asks students to write a detailed description of an unusual bird for a fictional wildlife survey called Birdspotter. The spelling test uses a passage about Atlantis with 20 blanks for students to fill in dictated words.
Internal
This is an answer booklet for the KS2 English Writing Test longer task. Students complete a creative writing task titled Up, Up and Away, which requires them to write two diary entries: one set the evening before a balloon flight and one the evening after. The assessment evaluates sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting.
Up, Up And Away (Internal)
This is a KS2 Writing Test longer task from 2012 requiring students to write two diary entries about winning a hot air balloon flight. Students must write one entry for the evening before the flight expressing their thoughts and feelings, and one entry for the evening after describing the experience during takeoff, the flight itself, and their reflections. The paper includes a planning page with prompts to help structure their writing.
They've Got Talent, Dragons (Internal)
This 2012 KS2 English assessment contains two sections: a shorter writing task and a spelling test. The writing task requires students to write a review of an act from a talent show, choosing from suggested acts or creating their own. The spelling test uses a passage about dragons with 20 missing words that students must spell correctly after hearing them read aloud. The test assesses sentence structure, punctuation, text organisation, composition, and spelling ability.
Ks2 English 2011 Writing Test Longer Task Answer Booklet
This is the Answer Booklet for the 2011 KS2 Writing Test Longer Task. Students write a response to the prompt Record Breaker over 45 minutes including planning time. The booklet provides lined pages for students to complete their extended writing piece, which is assessed across four criteria: sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting.
Record Breaker
This is a KS2 Writing Test instructions and planning booklet for the longer writing task. Students are required to write a newspaper report about a record-breaking event, choosing from three provided scenarios: a child who talked non-stop, continuous trampolining, or a large collection. The booklet includes a planning page with prompts for structuring the report, covering what record was broken, who broke it, where and when it happened, interesting details, and other people's reactions.
Charity Choice, Boomerangs
This KS2 English assessment contains two components: a shorter writing task asking students to write a persuasive speech about choosing a charity to support (with options including endangered animals, books for children, or a local children's club), and a spelling test based on a text about boomerangs. The writing task assesses sentence structure, punctuation, text organisation, composition and effect. The spelling component requires students to fill in 20 missing words within an informational passage.
Simply The Best, Collecting
This 2010 KS2 Writing Test contains two components: a shorter writing task where pupils recommend someone for a Simply the Best award, explaining why that person deserves recognition, and a spelling test based on a passage about collecting as a hobby. The writing task assesses sentence structure, punctuation, text organisation, composition and effect. The spelling test contains 20 words to be completed within the context passage about various types of collecting, autographs, and factors affecting collectible values.
Looking After A Miptor
This is a KS2 Writing Test longer task booklet from 2010 that assesses instructional writing skills. Students are asked to write a guide for looking after an imaginary animal called a miptor. The paper includes a planning page with prompts covering habits, training, exercise, eating, and other care considerations. Students have 45 minutes total, including up to 10 minutes for planning.
Ks2 English 2010 Writing Test Longer Task Answer Booklet
This is the answer booklet for the 2010 KS2 English Writing Test Longer Task. Students write a creative piece titled Looking After a Miptor (a fictional creature). The assessment evaluates sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting. The booklet provides lined pages for student responses, with space for planning and extended writing.
Ks2 English 2009 Writing Test Longer Task Answer Booklet
This is an answer booklet for the KS2 English Writing Test longer writing task from 2009. Students write a response to the prompt Trainer Try-Out with 45 minutes allowed including planning time. The paper assesses sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting, with blank pages provided for the written response.
Trainer Try-Out
This is a KS2 Writing Test booklet for the longer task from 2009. Despite the filename referencing instructions, the paper asks students to write a report about trainers after imagining they tested them for a week. Students evaluate the trainers' good points, suitability for sports, and areas for improvement. The booklet includes a planning page with prompts for organizing ideas about style, materials, special features, and suggestions for improvement.
A Busy Place, The Crater
This 2009 KS2 writing assessment contains two components. The Shorter Writing Task asks students to write a descriptive piece about a busy place, such as a market or crowded street, with a planning section provided. The Spelling Test uses a passage titled The Crater about a volcanic caldera in Tanzania, where students fill in 20 missing words read aloud by the teacher to assess spelling accuracy in context.
Memories of the School Year, The Silk Trade
This KS2 Writing Test answer booklet contains two assessment tasks. The Shorter Writing Task asks students to write a page for a class memory book about the school year, choosing from topics like most fun activity, biggest challenge, or most exciting moment. The Spelling Test section uses a cloze passage about The Silk Trade, requiring students to fill in 20 missing words dictated by the teacher to assess spelling accuracy.
Pip Davenport
This is the instruction and planning booklet for the KS2 English Writing Test longer task from 2008. Students are asked to write a biography of a fictional character named Pip Davenport, an inventor of funfair rides who lived from 1850 to 1920. The booklet provides an outline of Pip's life including his work with his uncle, his inventions and prize-winning achievements, and his later work writing books with his wife. A planning page prompts students to note ideas about Pip's character, extra life details, and his inventions.
Ks2 English 2008 Writing Test Longer Task Answer Booklet
This is the Answer Booklet for the 2008 KS2 English Writing Test Longer Task. Students have 45 minutes including planning time to complete an extended piece of writing on the topic Pip Davenport. The booklet provides lined pages for student responses. Assessment covers sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting.
Save It
This is a KS2 English Writing Test longer task from 2007. Students are asked to write a leaflet about protecting the environment, specifically persuading friends and family to help through topics such as recycling, litter, wildlife, water use, and transport. The paper includes the task instructions and a planning page where students organize their ideas before writing.
It's a Mystery, Reilly
This 2007 KS2 English assessment contains two sections: a writing task that requires students to continue a mystery story opening about a character named Ali entering through a door, focusing on descriptive writing and creating atmosphere; and a spelling test based on an extract from the story 'Reilly' by Mary Rayner, where students fill in 20 missing words from a passage about a stray cat entering a home.
Ks2 English 2007 Writing Test Longer Task Answer Booklet
This is the answer booklet for the 2007 KS2 English Writing Test Longer Task. Students are given a writing prompt titled Save It and must produce an extended piece of writing over 45 minutes. The assessment evaluates sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting. This booklet provides lined pages for students to complete their written response.
Endangered Creature, Top Tips
This is a 2006 KS2 Writing assessment containing two components. The Shorter Writing Task requires students to write an information page about an imaginary endangered creature called the Tongo Lizard, testing composition, text organisation, sentence structure and punctuation. The Spelling Test section, titled 'Top Tips', is a cloze passage about photography with 20 missing words that students must spell correctly from dictation.
Dear Diary
This is the instruction and planning booklet for a KS2 Writing Test longer task from 2006. Students are asked to write two diary entries from different perspectives: one from Tom, who enjoyed a family day out, and one from Sara, who did not enjoy it. The planning page provides space for students to develop their ideas about where the siblings went, what they did, and the contrasting reasons for their opinions.
Ks2 English 2006 Writing Test Longer Task Answer Booklet
This is the Answer Booklet for the 2006 KS2 Writing Test Longer Task. Students write two diary entries: Tom's Diary beginning with "I had a great day..." and Sara's Diary beginning with "I had an awful day...". The assessment tests sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting. Additional pages are provided for continuation of the diary entries.
Can I Stay Up?
This is a KS2 Writing Test longer task from 2005 that assesses students' ability to write a playscript. Students must continue a scene titled Can I Stay Up? in which a character named Joe attempts to persuade his parents to let him watch television late at night. The task requires proper playscript format including character names, dialogue, and stage directions. A planning section prompts students to consider the parents' objections and how the scene concludes.
It's My Favourite Meal, Bacteria
This KS2 Writing Test from 2005 contains two parts: a Shorter Writing Task asking students to describe their favourite meal using sensory details (appearance, smell, taste), and a Spelling Test with 20 words tested in context through a cloze passage about bacteria. The writing task assesses sentence structure, punctuation, text organisation, composition and effect. The spelling test evaluates ability to spell scientific and general vocabulary correctly.
Ks2 English 2005 Writing Test Longer Task Answer Booklet
This is the answer booklet for the KS2 Writing Test longer task from 2005. Students are given a creative writing prompt based on a short dialogue scene titled Can I Stay Up?, featuring a child named Joe asking his parents for permission to watch television. The booklet assesses sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting. Students have 45 minutes including planning time to complete their response.
Time For A Change?
A KS2 Writing Test longer task from 2004 that assesses pupils' ability to construct a persuasive argument. Students must write a speech for assembly presenting their views on a proposed new school timetable that would begin at 7:00am with registration, include morning exercise and breakfast, condensed lesson time, and close at 1:30pm. The paper includes a planning page with space for four reasons to support their position.
Ks2 English 2004 Writing Test Longer Task Answer Booklet
This is the Answer Booklet for the 2004 KS2 Writing Test Longer Task. Students have 45 minutes including planning time to complete an extended piece of writing. The booklet provides lined pages for students to write their response. Assessment covers sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting.
Eyewitness, Olympic Games
This KS2 writing test contains two sections. The shorter writing task asks students to complete an accident report form based on a scenario where they witnessed a car swerving to avoid a fox. The spelling test consists of a cloze passage about the Olympic Games, where students fill in missing words read aloud by the teacher. The writing task assesses sentence structure, punctuation, composition and effect.
A New Toy, Stunt Doubles
This 2003 KS2 English assessment contains two components: a writing task requiring students to compose a radio advertisement for a new toy, demonstrating persuasive writing skills; and a spelling test based on a passage about stunt doubles in action films, testing students' ability to spell words in context including technical vocabulary related to stunts, safety procedures, and training.
The Queue
This is the instruction and planning booklet for a KS2 Writing Test longer task from 2003. Students are presented with a four-panel storyboard showing a boy buying a new game, and must write a story based on these events. The task requires students to demonstrate narrative writing skills including character development, sequencing events, and creating an original ending. A planning section provides prompts for useful words and phrases covering characters, settings, and plot development.
Ks2 English 2003 Writing Test Longer Task Answer Booklet
This is the Answer Booklet for the 2003 KS2 English Writing Test Longer Task. It provides lined pages for students to complete their extended writing piece, with 45 minutes allocated including planning time. The booklet shows the marking criteria categories: sentence structure and punctuation, text structure and organisation, composition and effect, and handwriting, with a total of 31 marks available for this component.

All children in Year 6 take a KS2 Writing Assessment as part of their KS2 SATs.

The test itself is not a formal, timed exam but is instead a 'teacher assessment' that's written and marked by your child's school around the KS2 Writing Framework.

Here you will find all available past KS2 SATs Writing assessments, published prior to the switch to teacher assessments in 2013. This includes Level 6 tests materials together with the sample tests for Year 3, Year 4 and Year 5 published in 2003 and 2006.

These tests may seem quite old (indeed they are from the former national curriculum) but they remain useful for practise at home or inspiration for teachers to use in the classroom.

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