KEY STAGE 1 

The Key Stage 1 Maths test will comprise two papers:

Paper 1: arithmetic, worth 25 marks and taking around 15 minutes.

Paper 2: mathematical fluency, problem-solving and reasoning, worth 35 marks and taking 35 minutes, with a break if necessary.

There will be a variety of question types:

• multiple choice
• matching
• true/false
• constrained (e.g. completing a chart or table; drawing a shape)
• less constrained (e.g. where children have to show or explain their method).

Children will not be able to use any tools such as calculators or number lines.

KEY STAGE 2 

Children will sit three papers, with questions taken from the new national curriculum and including a variety of work from Year 3 to Year 6.

Paper 1 is made up of sums and calculations. Papers 2 and 3 will put more of an emphasis on problem solving and reasoning skills. There will be a mixture of question levels; not just different levels of ability, but also different levels of complexity. So, some questions will involve more steps than others, or might involve more than 1 Maths topic.

Paper 1: arithmetic, 30 minutes, 40 marks

This will consist of fixed response questions, where children have to give the correct answer to calculations, including long multiplication and division. It will contain questions from the number and place value, calculations, fractions (including decimals), ratio and proportion and algebra sections of the curriculum. Each question has squared paper to allow for working out.

Papers 2 and 3: reasoning, 40 minutes, 35 marks for each paper

They will contain questions from the number and place value, calculations, fractions (including decimals), ratio and proportion, algebra, measurement, geometry and statistics sections of the curriculum.

They will involve a number of question types, including:

• Multiple choice
• True or false
• Constrained questions, e.g. giving the answer to a calculation, drawing a shape or completing a table or chart
• Less constrained questions, where children will have to explain their approach for solving a problem

Children will not be allowed to use a calculator in any of the tests.