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Standards and Testing Agency gov.uk

Key stage 2 tests: varying the test timetable

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Schools should administer KS2 tests to the whole cohort on the days specified in the statutory timetable outlined in the ‘Important dates’ section of the KS2 assessment and reporting arrangements.

In limited circumstances, pupils may be able to take a test at a different time, or on a different day, from the rest of the cohort. In exceptional circumstances, a school may need to reschedule a test for the whole cohort to a different day.

Under no circumstances should a test be administered before the day specified in the statutory timetable.

Failure to follow this guidance could result in a maladministration investigation.

Administering a test in multiple sittings on the scheduled day

Schools can administer a test in multiple sittings between 7am and 7pm on the scheduled date without seeking approval from the Standards and Testing Agency (STA). Schools should be prepared to explain the arrangements if they receive a monitoring visit from the local authority.

Schools may vary the start time of a test on the scheduled day if:

  • the school needs to stagger the administration to accommodate the availability of staff or facilities
  • the school has a large cohort and needs to administer the test in 2 or more sittings
  • there are pupils who need scribes, readers, transcribes, prompters, signers or translators and there are not enough staff to support these pupils to take the test at the same time
  • a pupil is not going to be in school at the time the rest of the cohort is taking the test
  • a pupil is unwell when the rest of the cohort takes the test, but is in a fit state later in the day
  • arrangements are needed to support a pupil who arrives at school with an injury that affects their ability to take the test with the rest of the cohort

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    Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Licence

    Read the original at the source: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/key-stage-2-tests-varying-the-test-timetable

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    Standards and Testing Agency — imported from official source
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    https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/standards-and-testing-agency.atom ATOM
    Imported
    October 12, 2026 09:01
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    https://www.gov.uk/guidance/key-stage-2-tests-varying-the-test-timetable#2026-10-12T08:...

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