Understanding scaled scores at key stage 2

Information for schools and local authorities about scaled scores and the expected standard for the key stage 2 national curriculum tests.

At the end of key stage 2 (KS2), pupils take national curriculum tests in:

We use scaled scores to report the outcomes of these tests, to ensure we can make accurate comparisons of performance over time.

Scaled score conversion tables are available in the collection of national curriculum assessments: past test materials.

Tests are developed to the same specification each year. However, because the questions must be different, the difficulty of tests may vary slightly each year. This means we need to convert the total number of marks a pupil gets in a test (their ‘raw’ score) into a scaled score to ensure we can make accurate comparisons of pupil performance over time.

Pupils scoring at least 100 will have met the expected standard on the test. However, given that the difficulty of the tests may vary each year, the number of raw score marks needed to achieve a scaled score of 100 may also change. For example, if the overall difficulty of a test decreases compared with previous years, the raw score required to meet the expected standard will increase. Similarly, if the test is more difficult, the raw score required to meet the expected standard will decrease.

In 2016, panels of teachers set the raw score required to meet the expected standard. We have used data from trialling to maintain that standard for the tests from 2017 onwards.

To calculate the raw score for each test, you add the scores from each paper for a subject.

English grammar, punctuation and spelling

Range of scaled scores and the expected standard

KS2 tests are externally marked and marks are returned to schools on the ‘Key stage 2 test results and outcomes’ page within the ‘Dashboard’ on the National Curriculum Assessments Portal (NCA Portal).