The SATs:
The Standard Assessment Tests or SATs in the United Kingdom refer to an important examination a child sits for in Year Six or when they are 10 to 11 years of age. During this time, they are in Key Stage 2 and the SATs include components on English reading, English grammar, and mathematics. The data from their results is passed on to secondary schools and are used during the setting process. If your child is in year six, you will be in the midst of preparing for the SATs. This SAT preparation guide will provide you with the understanding to help your child study and plan for the test.
Preparation Tips:
1. Make a note of the dates
The SATs are held in May and the results are released in July. While your child’s school will keep you informed about the dates, it is important that you keep them in mind and work towards them. It is also vital that you start early. If you wait until the last minute to hire SAT tutoring in London, your child will have a lot to study in a very short time which can result from excess pressure and failure to perform at their best. Enrolling your child in SAT preparation classes ahead of the exams will give them the opportunity to practice answering questions and perfect their time management.
2. Do some extra work
It is important that your child dedicates time to prepare for the SATs every day. This means they will have to allocate time to do additional work after they have completed their homework. The extra work could be as simple as practicing and recalling times tables as they will be beneficial in the mathematics portion of their SATs or practicing their spelling which is required for success in the English grammar test. It is vital that your child creates a habit of extra study and starts this preparation process as early as possible.
3. Prioritise
It is important to be cognizant of your child’s weaknesses. Asking your child to work on past papers and practice tests as part of their extra study can pinpoint areas that require improvement. In the English grammar portion of the SATs, students will be tested on topics like sentence structure, grammar, punctuation, and spelling. For instance, if spelling poses an issue, you can prioritise it during the preparation for the SATs.
4. Get a tutor
While you can easily gain access to SAT test material online you may realise that there are certain areas you cannot help your child with. Employing a professional with expertise in this field could make a difference in achieving academic success for your child. The SATs expert will be able to break down challenging topics your child may be struggling with and tailor their tuition sessions in a way that prioritises their weaknesses in a way that best suits them. Gaining this understanding will also benefit your child far beyond SATs.
5. Know what to look for
When helping your child prepare for the SATs, it is important that you have a sound understanding of the test. Knowing what each test consists of will give you a better understanding of the SATs and what your child needs to do as part of their study plan for the test. Making sure to communicate with your child, their teachers and their tutor will allow you to best support them through the SATs preparation.
By Taiwo Bali