Year 6 SATs scores explained: what 100 means

Updated

Year 6 SATs results are reported as scaled scores, not percentages. In most cases, the first number parents want explained is 100. It means a child met the expected standard in that subject.

The full scaled-score range is 80 to 120 for reading, maths, and grammar, punctuation and spelling (SPaG).

What the numbers mean

  • 100 or above — your child met the expected standard
  • Below 100 — your child has not met the expected standard yet in that subject
  • 80 to 120 — the reporting scale used for Year 6 SATs

This is not a pass-or-fail label. It is the reporting scale used for the end of Key Stage 2 tests.

Raw marks and scaled scores

A raw mark is the number of questions your child answered correctly.

That raw mark is then converted into a scaled score using a conversion table for that year’s paper. This is why the result is reported as a scaled score rather than as a percentage.

The conversion table changes each year. That helps keep the standard consistent even when one year’s paper is a little easier or harder than another.

Which subjects get scaled scores

Your child receives scaled scores for:

  • reading
  • maths
  • SPaG

Writing is assessed separately by the teacher, so there is no Year 6 SATs writing scaled score. Science is sampled nationally in some years, but it is not part of every child’s reported SATs score set.

When results arrive

Schools usually receive Year 6 SATs results in early July. Parents normally see them in the end-of-year school report before the summer term ends.

What to do with the score

Use the score to decide what kind of support would help next, not as a label for your child.

  • If the score is 100 or above, note the subject and keep practice steady rather than overcorrecting.
  • If the score is below 100, ask the school which specific skills still need support.
  • Look across subjects rather than reacting to one number in isolation.

If you want a broader picture than one result can give, use Year 6 SATs past papers to see the question format and a SATs readiness estimate to track how practice is building over time.

See where your child stands before SATs week

Kidfriendly turns short practice sessions into a clearer readiness picture, so you can see what is getting stronger and what still needs attention.

  • a readiness estimate shaped by ongoing practice, not a single paper
  • subject-level visibility that helps parents choose the next step
  • short SATs sessions that are easier to repeat than full papers

Learn more about the Kidfriendly method here.

FREE READINESS ESTIMATE

Get a free SATs readiness estimate

Use the Kidfriendly app to get a free SATs readiness estimate based on in-app practice. It helps parents and guardians see whether progress is building over time and what to focus on next.