KS1 English Reading (SATs Practice)
The KS1 reading papers give a child short texts and ask questions about them. The first paper usually combines the text and questions in one booklet with the easier texts, and the second uses a separate reading booklet with longer or harder passages. In England these tests are now optional rather than statutory. The questions test whether a child can find information stated in the text, work out what a word means from the sentence around it, put events in order, and explain something the text implies without saying it outright. The single most useful habit is going back to the text for every answer instead of relying on memory, because almost every mark is available somewhere on the page.
Before you start
No specific prerequisites - this is a good place to start.
Method
- Read the whole text once at a comfortable pace before looking at the questions, so you know roughly where things happen.
- Read each question carefully and look at how many marks it is worth. One mark usually wants one thing; two or three marks want more than one thing, so give that many.
- Go back to the text and find the part the question is about. Put your finger on it or underline it rather than answering from memory.
- For a question asking what a word means, read the whole sentence and the one before it, and choose the meaning that fits that sentence rather than the meaning you know best.
- For a question asking why a character did or felt something, look for the clue in the text and use it in your answer: say what happened and then what it shows.
- Answer in the form asked: tick one box if it says tick one, write a number if it asks for an order, and write in a full sentence when the question asks you to explain.
Worked example
Read this passage and answer the question. 'Maya pressed her nose to the window. Outside, the snow was falling thickly, covering the path she had swept only an hour before. She sighed and put the broom back in the cupboard.' Question: Why did Maya sigh? Use the text in your answer. (2 marks)
- Find the part of the text the question is about: the sighing happens in the last sentence, so the reason is nearby.
- Look for the clue: she had swept the path only an hour before, and the snow is now covering it again.
- Work out what that means: her work has been undone, so she is disappointed or fed up.
- The question says use the text, so the answer must include the evidence, not just the feeling.
- Write the answer in a sentence: Maya sighed because the snow had covered the path again, even though she had swept it only an hour before.
- Check against the marks: two marks means two parts, and this answer gives the feeling and the reason from the text.
Practice questions
Try each question, then tap to reveal the answer.
Q1Why should you go back to the text for every answer?Show answer
Answer: Because nearly every mark comes from something written on the page, and memory is easy to get wrong. Finding the exact part makes the answer accurate.
Q2A question is worth 3 marks. How many things should your answer give?Show answer
Answer: Three, usually three separate points or pieces of evidence.
Q3A question asks what the word 'thickly' means in the passage above. How do you decide?Show answer
Answer: Read the sentence around it. The snow was falling thickly, so it means heavily, in large amounts, rather than any other meaning of thick.
Q4What should you do first when the paper starts?Show answer
Answer: Read the whole text once before looking at the questions.
Q5A question says 'tick one box'. You think two answers are right. What should you do?Show answer
Answer: Choose the single answer best supported by the text and tick only that one. Ticking two loses the mark.
Q6What kind of question asks you to put things in order?Show answer
Answer: A sequencing question, where you number the events in the order they happened in the text.
Q7Why does a 'why do you think' question still need the text?Show answer
Answer: Because the mark is for an answer supported by evidence in the passage, not for any opinion.
Exam-style questions
Written in the style of a KS1 and KS2 SATs exam paper, with a full mark scheme.
Read this passage: 'Tom held the little bird carefully in both hands. Its wing hung at an odd angle and it did not struggle at all. He carried it slowly into the kitchen, calling for his mum before he had even shut the door.' (a) Give two things that suggest the bird was hurt. (2 marks) (b) Why do you think Tom called for his mum before shutting the door? (2 marks)
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 4 available
Using the same passage, find and copy one word that shows Tom was gentle with the bird, and explain your choice.
Show mark scheme
Tick each line you got. Your score builds from the marks on the scheme.
Nothing ticked yet - 2 available
Free printable worksheet
Want more practice on paper? Download the ks1 english reading (sats practice) worksheet pack - 12 pages of exam-style questions with a full mark scheme. One email opens every download in this browser for 14 days - no account, no card. Print it for personal and classroom use.
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