Last updated: 12 Nov 2007

Assessing progress in English

Statutory national curriculum tasks and tests
Pupils working above and below test levels
Optional tests: years 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8
More related links

Statutory national curriculum tasks and tests
At the end of key stages 1, 2 and 3 (years 2, 6 and 9) pupils take statutory national curriculum tasks and tests in English. The tasks and tests help to inform the final teacher assessment reported for each pupil at the end of the key stage.

Key stage 1 involves children responding to oral and written questions, while in key stage 2 pupils sit writing, spelling and reading tests and in key stage 3 pupils sit a writing paper, reading paper and Shakespeare paper. The tasks and tests are targeted at the different levels children work at.

For information on national curriculum assessment arrangements (on the eARA website) and to order copies of statutory tasks and tests (from the NAA website), see the Related Links, at right.

Pupils working above and below statutory test levels
For key stages 1 to 3, it will be statutory from 2008 for schools to use P scales in English and all other national curriculum subjects to record and report the achievements of children with special educational needs, who are working below level 1 of the national curriculum. See Related Links, at right, for P scales and detailed guidance.

To support teachers at key stage 3 in assessing both those working below level 4 and above level 7, optional tasks have been produced (see Related Links, at right). (Levels 4-7 are the levels covered by the tests.)

Optional tests: years 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8
Optional tests in English have been produced for each of years 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 to help teachers keep track of pupils' progress between the key stage 1, 2 and 3 statutory national tests. Follow the related links on this page to order the latest tests (from the NAA website) or find out more.

More related links

Key stage 3 Shakespeare consultation

2008 key stage 3 English test: Shakespeare set sections

Guidance on statutory tasks and tests (eARA)
http://www.qca.org.uk/eara/

Guidance on optional tests: years 3, 4 and 5 (eARA)
http://www.qca.org.uk/eara/175.asp

Guidance on optional tests: years 7 and 8 (eARA)
http://www.qca.org.uk/eara/280.asp

Sample year 7 and 8 optional tests
http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_8660.aspx

Optional KS1 tasks for the more able
http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_9146.aspx

Optional KS2 tasks for the more able

Optional KS3 tasks for the more able

Optional KS2 tasks below the level of the tests
http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_9204.aspx

Optional KS3 tasks below the level of the tests
http://www.qca.org.uk/qca_9316.aspx

Statutory P scale requirements at KS1 (on the eARA website)
http://www.qca.org.uk/eara/88.asp

Statutory P scale requirements at KS2 (on the eARA website)
http://www.qca.org.uk/eara/184.asp

Statutory P scale requirements at KS3 (on the eARA website)
http://www.qca.org.uk/eara/286.asp

Guidance on reporting KS2 and 3 assessment (on Teachernet)
http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/management/ims/datatransfers/TAs/