National Reading and Numeracy Tests explained for parents

They’re tests that all Y2-Y9 children take at schools in Wales, and are part of a new National Literacy and Numeracy Framework (LNF). The tests were introduced in May 2013. Their main aims are to:
 

• Give schools an accurate gauge of individual children’s skills and abilities
• Help drive up literacy and numeracy standards in children throughout Wales
• Paint a clearer picture of how children are performing nationally (until now, individual schools have carried out their own tests in literacy and numeracy)

No. Children in Wales don't take SATs; for more information about how the Welsh and English school systems differ read our overview of primary education in Wales.

The tests are currently a mixture of paper-based and online, and take between 30 and 60 minutes each (although children who need longer because of additional needs will be given extra time). Although it’s up to each school how to administer them, it’s recommended that children in Y2 and Y3 have a chance to sit the tests in smaller chunks of 20 minutes or 30 minutes at a time.

The existing paper tests for learners in Year 2 to Year 9 will be replaced by online personalised assessments in a process that will take place between 2019 and 2021. The Welsh Government says this will enable the tests to be tailored to pupils' level and will provide faster, more detailed feedback. 

Children read a passage before answering a mixture of multiple choice questions and questions needing short, closed responses like ordering, pairing and underlining. They’ll have up to an hour to finish, plus there’s time at the beginning to do practice questions.

The reading tests span year groups: Y2 and Y3 take the same test, as do Y4 and Y5, and also Y6 and Y7. But there’s no risk of children taking the same test twice as new tests will be produced for each school year.

The numeracy part of the test last for 30 minutes; children are tested on addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. A 30-minute reasoning test assesses how well they can apply calculation skills to everyday problems. 

Unlike the reading test, there’s a separate numeracy test for each year group.

Yes, they’re compulsory for all Y2-Y9 children in Wales, and since September 2013 they've become a statutory part of the school curriculum too.

Most children will be able to take the tests without special arrangements, but if your child needs extra support the school should be able to modify test papers, access and so on.

Your child’s school will let you know exactly when the tests are to be taken.

In 2020 the National Reading and Numeracy tests will be administered in primary schools between 28 April and 5 May and in secondary schools between 21 April and 5 May.

Teachers will mark the tests, and you’ll get a report back by the end of the summer term on how your child did. This will include their standardised score and a score of how your child performed compared to others the same age in Wales, as well as a progress score.

There are no set guidelines on this. Primary and secondary schools can decide between themselves how test results are used when children move schools. The Welsh Assembly Government plans to use some of the data from the tests in its planning and banding policies.

All tests will be available in English and Welsh. If your child goes to an English-medium school they’ll just sit the tests in English. If your child attends a Welsh-medium school, they’ll sit the Welsh reading test in Y2 and then the Welsh reading test in Y3 – plus, in Y3 (if they want to), the English reading test. Children in all other years and at Welsh-medium schools will sit the reading tests in English as well as Welsh.

Talk to your child about the tests, but play them down as a fun challenge everyone will be doing instead of something to be scared of. It’s a good idea to download sample tests at home to try together (see above). But the main thing is to make your child’s learning at home fun – play games and use favourite activities to help them learn.

For English, maths and science worksheets prepared for each school year group look through our Learning Journeys or browse through our activities, filtering by subject and school year to find the right resources for your child.