Primary assessments: future dates
Future dates for the 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.
2022/23 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 2023.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| May 2023 | Key stage 1 test period |
| Week commencing Monday 12 June 2023 | Phonics screening check week |
To add a full list of all important key stage 1 dates to your calendar, you can download the .
Key stage 2
The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Tuesday 9 May to Friday 12 May 2023.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 9 May 2023 | English grammar, punctuation and spelling papers 1 and 2 |
| Wednesday 10 May 2023 | English reading |
| Thursday 11 May 2023 | Mathematics papers 1 and 2 |
| Friday 12 May 2023 | Mathematics paper 3 |
Multiplication tables check
Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 5 June 2023.
To add a full list of all important key stage 2 dates to your calendar, you can download the .
2023/24 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
It is recommended that the key stage 1 tests (optional) are administered during May 2024.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| May 2024 | Key stage 1 test recommended period (optional) |
| Week commencing Monday 10 June 2024 | Phonics screening check week |
Key stage 2
The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 13 May to Thursday 16 May 2024.
Multiplication tables check
Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 3 June 2024.
2024/25 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
It is recommended that key stage 1 tests (optional) are administered during May 2025.
| Date | Activity |
|---|---|
| May 2025 | Key stage 1 test recommended period (optional) |
| Week commencing Monday 9 June 2025 | Phonics screening check week |
Key stage 2
The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 12 May to Thursday 15 May 2025.
Multiplication tables check
Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 2 June 2025.
Last updated
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Added two downloadable calendars with important 2023 assessment dates for: key stage 1, key stage 2
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- 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)
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Line added to the information about the KS1 tests for the 2023/24 academic year.
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Dates updated for the 2023/24 academic year.
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Primary assessment dates updated.
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First published.
Update history
2024-10-10 14:30
Added the downloadable KS1 assessments calendar with key dates for the academic year 2024 to 2025
2024-10-01 09:31
Dates added for the academic year 2026 to 2027. Detailed timetable confirmed for the key stage 2 tests in 2025. Downloadable calendar added for key stage 2 assessments in the academic year 2024 to 2025.
2024-02-12 09:02
Added dates and links for schools carrying out the Department for Education’s early years foundation stage framework profile assessment in primary schools.
2023-11-02 14:03
Dates added for the academic year 2025 to 2026.
2023-10-11 10:59
Added downloadable key stage 1 assessments calendar with important dates for the academic year 2023 to 2024.
2023-10-09 09:55
Removed past assessment dates from the academic year 2022 to 2023. Added the downloadable KS2 assessments calendar for the academic year 2023 to 2024. Added the schedule of KS2 tests in May 2024.
2023-03-09 10:58
Added two downloadable calendars with important 2023 assessment dates for: key stage 1, key stage 2
2022-12-12 09:00
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 timetableAdded test dates for the academic year 2024/2025Amended 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)
2022-04-07 15:55
Line added to the information about the KS1 tests for the 2023/24 academic year.
2022-03-21 17:00
Dates updated for the 2023/24 academic year.