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What are key stages?

Children in a classroom
One of the terms you’ll hear most often during your child’s education is ‘key stage’, but what does it mean? We explain what you need to know.

What are key stages?

Key stages are the groups that have been set up to administer progressive, standardised exams during a child’s education in England and Wales. Each key stage consists of a certain range of school years. The exams associated with each key stage show how a student is doing in the areas of study that have been defined as targets in the National Curriculum. Your child’s teacher will know what these targets are, and will make sure those topics have been covered in the classroom.

How are the key stages grouped?

There’s more than one year in a key stage, and exams are given in the final year of that key stage. They are grouped as follows:

  • Early Years Foundation Stage – ages 3-5 (Nursery and Reception)
  • Key Stage 1 – ages 5-7 (Years 1 and 2)
  • Key Stage 2 – ages 7-11 (Years 3-6)
  • Key Stage 3 – ages 11-14 (Years 7-9)
  • Key Stage 4 – ages 14-16 (Years 10-11)

How will my child be assessed in their key stage?

In the final year of a key stage, exams test what’s been taught over the previous years between the last key stage (if applicable) and their current one. Students are expected to reach certain levels at each key stage test. The levels are:

  • Level W – Working towards level 1, very weak
  • Level 1 – Average for a typical 5-year-old
  • Level 2 – Average for a typical 7-year-old
  • Level 3 – Average for a typical 9-year-old
  • Level 4 – Average for a typical 11-year-old
  • Level 5 – Average for a typical 13-year-old
  • Level 6 – Average for a typical 14-year-old
  • Level 7 – Above average for typical 14-year-old

So, at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2), students are expected to be at level 2. At the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6), students are expected to be at level 4.

Visit our super SATs area to find out more about the key stage tests, and to help your child practise for them. It’s packed with links to practice papers for both key stage 1 and 2, revision planners and techniques, and instructions on how to administer a SATs test at home so your child will know exactly what to expect.

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