Key stage 2 English reading test
Published 13 September 2013
© Crown copyright 2013
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-stage-2-tests-an-overview/key-stage-2-english-reading-test
This publication was withdrawn on 27 May 2016.
Further information is available in the 2016 assessment and reporting arrangements for schools.
The levels 3-5 test
The reading booklet contains 3 or 4 texts. The least demanding text comes first with the following texts increasing in level of difficulty. Pupils have a total of 1 hour to read the texts and complete the questions at their own pace.
The reading answer booklet consists of approximately 35 to 40 questions (totalling 50 marks). The questions are:
- shorter, closed response items (such as multiple choice and matching questions)
- shorter, open response items
- longer, open response items that require children to explain and comment on the texts in order to demonstrate a full understanding
Questions are worth 1, 2 or 3 marks.
The level 6 test
Schools may choose to administer the level 6 English reading test in addition to the levels 3-5 test. Headteachers should consider a pupil’s expected attainment before entering them for the level 6 tests as they should already be demonstrating attainment above level 5. The pupil must achieve a level 5 in the levels 3-5 test and pass the corresponding level 6 test in the same year to be awarded an overall level 6 result. If the pupil doesn’t pass the level 6 test they will be awarded the level achieved in the levels 3-5 test.
The level 6 test consists of:
- a reading booklet containing around 3 or 4 texts based on a single theme
- a reading answer booklet comprising approximately 25 questions (totalling 30-35 marks)
Pupils are given 10 minutes to read the reading booklet and 50 minutes to answer the questions in the answer booklet. They can refer back to the texts in the reading booklet throughout the test.
As in the levels 3-5 test, the questions are:
- shorter, closed response items (such as multiple choice and matching questions)
- longer, more open response types that require pupils to explain and comment on the texts in order to demonstrate a full understanding
Questions are worth 1, 2, 3 or 4 marks.