Guidance

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.

Academic

There yearhas 2023been a change to 2024KS2 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

ItThe is recommended that the optional key stage 1 tests areshould be administered during May 2024.2023.

Date Activity
May 20242023 Key stage 1 test recommended period (optional)
Week commencing Monday 1012 June 20242023 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 1 assessments calendar 2023 (ICS, 779 KB).

Key stage 2

The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from MondayTuesday 139 May to ThursdayFriday 1612 May 2024.2023.

Date Activity
MondayTuesday 139 May 20242023 English grammar, punctuation and spelling papers 1 and 2
TuesdayWednesday 1410 May 20242023 English reading
WednesdayThursday 1511 May 20242023 Mathematics papers 1 and 2
ThursdayFriday 1612 May 20242023 Mathematics paper 3

Multiplication tables check

Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 35 June 2024.2023.

To add a full list of all important key stage 2 dates to your calendar, you can download the Key stage 2 assessments calendar 20242023 (1.17ICS, 1.4 MB).

Academic2023/24 yearacademic 2024 to 2025year

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 optional key stage 1 tests (optional) are administered during May 2025.2024.

Date Activity
May 20252024 Key stage 1 test recommended period (optional)
Week commencing Monday 910 June 20252024 Phonics screening check week

Key stage 2

The key stage 2 tests are timetabled from Monday 1213 May to Thursday 1516 May 2025.2024.

Multiplication tables check

Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within the 2-week period from Monday 23 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.

Published 18 January 2021
Last updated 9 March 2023
+ show all updates
  1. Added two downloadable calendars with important 2023 assessment dates for: key stage 1, key stage 2

  2. - 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)

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

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

  5. Primary assessment dates updated.

  6. First published.