Guidance

Primary assessments: future dates

Future dates for key stage 1 and key stage 2 tests (commonly referred to as SATs), phonics screening check, multiplication tables check and reception baseline assessment.

Future dates for primary assessments are detailed below to assist schools with their forward planning. Schools must keep these periods free for administering the assessments.

There has been a change to KS2 test dates in 2023, following the announcement of a bank holiday on Monday 8 May 2023.

2021/222022/23 academic year

Reception baseline assessment

Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.

Key stage 1

The key stage 1 tests should be administered during May 2022.2023.

Date Activity
May 20222023 Key stage 1 test period
Week commencing Monday 612 June 20222023 Phonics screening check week

Key stage 2

The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from MondayTuesday 9 May to ThursdayFriday 12 May 2022.2023.

Date Activity
MondayTuesday 9 May 20222023 English grammar, punctuation and spelling papers 1 and 2
Tuesday Wednesday 10 May 20222023 English reading
WednesdayThursday 11 May 20222023 Mathematics papers 1 and 2
ThursdayFriday 12 May 20222023 Mathematics paper 3

Multiplication tables check

Schools shouldmust administer the multiplication tables check within the 3-week2-week period from Monday 65 June 2022.2023.

2022/232023/24 academic year

Reception baseline assessment

Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.

Key stage 1

TheIt is recommended that the key stage 1 tests should(optional) beare administered during May 2023.2024.

Date Activity
May 20232024 Key stage 1 test recommended period (optional)
Week commencing Monday 1210 June 20232024 Phonics screening check week

Key stage 2

The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 813 May to Thursday 1116 May 2023.2024.

Multiplication tables check

Schools shouldmust administer the multiplication tables check within the 3-week2-week period from Monday 53 June 2023.2024.

2023/242024/25 academic year

Reception baseline assessment

Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first 6 weeks after they enter reception.

Key stage 1

TheIt is recommended that key stage 1 tests should(optional) beare administered during May 2024. This is subject to confirmation as to when end of key stage 1 assessments are made non-statutory.2025.

Date Activity
May 20242025 Key stage 1 test recommended period (optional)
Week commencing Monday 109 June 20242025 Phonics screening check week

Key stage 2

The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 1312 May to Thursday 1615 May 2024.2025.

Multiplication tables check

Schools shouldmust administer the multiplication tables check within the 3-week2-week period from Monday 32 June 2024.2025.

Published 18 January 2021
Last updated 712 AprilDecember 2022 + show all updates
  1. - Removed dates for 2021/2022 (as these tests are now in the past) - Updated KS2 test dates for the academic year 2022/23, to reflect the date changes following the announcement of a bank holiday on Monday 8 May 2023, and to include the full test timetable - Added test dates for the academic year 2024/2025 - Amended lines to reflect that KS1 tests will be non-statutory from 2023/2024 (applies to academic years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025) - Changed the multiplication tables check (MTC) period from a 3-week period to a 2-week period, as the third week is only applicable for timetable variations (applies to all academic years)

  2. Line added to the information about the KS1 tests for the 2023/24 academic year.

  3. Dates updated for the 2023/24 academic year.

  4. Primary assessment dates updated.

  5. First published.