SATs are approaching. You want to help your child do their best. But you’ve heard horror stories about stressed Year 6s, tears over practice papers, and family arguments about revision. How do you support your child effectively without making them (or you) miserable? This guide shows you how.
Part 1: The Golden Rule
Before We Start: Getting Your Mindset Right
The goal is NOT:
- Perfect scores
- Your child working every evening until bedtime
- Catching up on everything they’ve ever struggled with
- Competing with other children
- Proving anything to anyone
The goal IS:
- Your child feeling CONFIDENT going into the tests
- Familiarizing them with the format so there are no surprises
- Addressing any glaring gaps in knowledge (gently)
- Building test-taking skills (time management, not panicking when stuck)
- Your child doing THEIR best (not someone else’s best)
- Getting through May with your relationship intact
Remember:
- SATs don’t affect which secondary school your child gets into
- SATs measure what they know RIGHT NOW, not their potential
- Your child’s wellbeing matters more than test scores
- A stressed, exhausted child won’t perform well anyway
Part 2: When to Start (And When NOT To)
The Timeline for SATs Preparation
| Time Period | What to Do | What NOT to Do |
|---|---|---|
| Year 5 and Before | • Focus on reading for pleasure • Build strong maths fundamentals • Encourage curiosity • Let them be children |
• Start SATs preparation • Buy practice papers • Create SATs anxiety early • Mention SATs at all |
| Autumn Term Year 6 (Sept-Dec) |
• Gentle introduction to test format • Familiarization (what SATs are, when they happen) • Continue strong reading/maths habits • Maybe ONE practice paper to see where they are |
• Intensive practice every night • Panic about gaps • Pressure to score highly • Compare to other children |
| Spring Term Year 6 (Jan-March) |
• Increase practice gradually (2-3 times/week) • Focus on weaker areas • Build confidence in stronger areas • Practice time management • Address any worries |
• Practice every single day • Stop all hobbies/fun • Create high-pressure environment • Make every evening about SATs |
| Easter Holidays | • Some focused revision (but not all day every day) • Mix practice with breaks and fun • Final push on tricky topics • Build confidence |
• Intensive boot camp • Cancel family plans • Practice papers all day • Create panic |
| Final 2 Weeks Before SATs | • Light practice to maintain confidence • Focus on test techniques • Ensure good sleep • Keep calm, positive environment |
• Cram intensively • Try to teach new content • Express your own anxiety • Make doom predictions |
| SATs Week | • Early nights • Good breakfast • Encouragement and reassurance • Normal evening routine |
• Last-minute cramming • Asking “how did it go?” after each test • Showing your stress • Comparing to other children |
The Sweet Spot: January-April is your main preparation window. 3-4 months is plenty.
Part 3: How Much Practice is Enough?
Finding the Balance
Recommended Practice Schedule
Autumn Term Year 6 (Optional):
- 0-1 times per week, 20-30 minutes
- Very light introduction
- Focus: familiarization, not performance
Spring Term Year 6 (January-March):
- 2-3 times per week, 30-45 minutes per session
- Mix of subjects
- Focus: building skills, addressing gaps
- Still have weekends mostly free
Easter Holidays:
- 3-4 times per week, 45-60 minutes
- More focused, but NOT all day
- Morning session, then rest of day free
- Focus: confidence, fluency, exam technique
Final 2 Weeks:
- 2-3 times per week, 30 minutes (lighter!)
- Maintaining confidence, not cramming
- Focus: staying calm, test techniques
Total over 4 months: Approximately 30-40 hours of focused SATs practice. That’s it.
Signs You’re Doing Too Much
- Child is practicing every single day
- All evening homework is SATs practice
- Weekends are dominated by practice papers
- Child has stopped hobbies/activities they enjoyed
- Regular tears or meltdowns about SATs
- Child says they hate SATs/school/learning
- Physical symptoms (headaches, stomach aches, sleep problems)
- You’re constantly nagging about practice
- Family time has been replaced by SATs time
If you see these signs: STOP. Scale back immediately.
Signs You’re Not Doing Enough
- Child has never seen a practice paper before SATs week
- Doesn’t know what format tests will take
- Has no concept of timing/how long they have
- Expressing worry but you’re doing nothing to address it
- Teachers have raised concerns about specific gaps
- Child asks for help/practice but you’re avoiding it
If you see these signs: Start gently but start now.
Part 4: Subject-by-Subject Strategies
Maths: How to Help at Home
What’s Actually Tested
Paper 1: Arithmetic (30 minutes, 40 marks)
- Straightforward calculations
- Four operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division)
- Fractions, decimals, percentages
- No context—just the calculation
Papers 2 & 3: Reasoning (40 minutes each, 35 marks each)
- Problem-solving
- Word problems
- Multi-step problems
- Data interpretation (graphs, charts, tables)
- Measurement, geometry, algebra
Effective Practice at Home
1. Arithmetic Fluency (Practice 10-15 mins, 3-4 times/week)
What helps:
- Times tables to 12×12 (ESSENTIAL—must be instant)
- Quick mental calculations daily
- Arithmetic practice questions (start with 5, build to 10-15 in one session)
- Focus on SPEED as well as accuracy (they need both)
How to practice:
- Use CGP SATs Question Books or past papers
- Set timer for 10 minutes, see how many they can do accurately
- Gradually reduce time as they get faster
- Make it game-like: “Can you beat your time from Tuesday?”
Low-stress approach:
- “Let’s do 10 quick maths questions before dinner”
- Praise effort and improvement, not just correct answers
- If they get frustrated, stop and come back tomorrow
2. Reasoning Practice (Once or twice weekly, 20-30 mins)
What helps:
- Working through problems together at first
- Teaching them to underline key information in word problems
- Breaking multi-step problems into steps
- Practicing reading graphs/charts/tables
How to practice:
- Do ONE reasoning paper together, talking through strategies
- Don’t just mark answers—discuss WHY they got it wrong
- Look for patterns (e.g., always rushing and making silly mistakes, or genuinely not understanding)
- Reteach concepts they’ve forgotten (using YouTube, BBC Bitesize, or textbooks)
Low-stress approach:
- “Let’s work on this together—you read the question, I’ll help you figure out what it’s asking”
- If they’re completely stuck, TEACH the concept, don’t just give the answer
- Celebrate problem-solving strategies, not just correct answers
3. Common Weak Areas to Address
| Weak Area | How to Help |
|---|---|
| Times tables | Daily practice (apps, flashcards, verbal testing in car) Make it quick and fun, not prolonged torture |
| Fractions | Visual models (pizza, chocolate bars) BBC Bitesize videos Practice equivalent fractions, simplifying, adding/subtracting |
| Word problems | Teach strategy: read carefully, underline key info, draw diagram if helpful, work step by step Practice deciding WHAT operation to use |
| Time | Analog clock practice Timetable problems Real-life applications (bus times, TV schedules) |
| Measurement conversions | Learn key conversions (100cm = 1m, 1000m = 1km, etc.) Practice converting between units |
Reading: How to Help at Home
What’s Actually Tested
Reading Paper (60 minutes, 50 marks)
- Three different texts (mix of fiction, non-fiction, poetry)
- Questions testing: vocabulary, retrieval, inference, prediction, summarizing, explaining, comparing
- Short answers and longer written responses
Effective Practice at Home
1. Reading for Pleasure (Daily, 20-30 minutes—NON-NEGOTIABLE)
This is THE most important thing you can do.
- Children who read widely do better on reading comprehension
- Reading should be enjoyable, not a chore
- Let them choose books they want to read
- Don’t make them stop reading fun books to do SATs practice
What counts:
- Novels (age-appropriate—Harry Potter, Wonder, Percy Jackson, etc.)
- Non-fiction (space, animals, history—whatever interests them)
- Graphic novels (yes, these count!)
- Magazines, newspapers (especially good for non-fiction practice)
- Poetry collections
Low-stress approach:
- Read before bed every night (relaxing, not work)
- Don’t quiz them constantly about what they’ve read
- Occasionally have natural conversations: “What do you think will happen next?” “How do you think that character feels?”
2. Comprehension Practice (1-2 times/week, 20-30 mins)
What helps:
- Familiarization with question types
- Practice finding evidence in the text
- Learning to infer (reading between the lines)
- Understanding what questions are actually asking
How to practice:
- Use CGP SATs Question Books or past papers
- Do ONE text and its questions per session
- First time: work through together, discuss how to find answers
- Later: let them try independently, then review together
Key skills to teach:
- For retrieval questions (“Find and copy…”): Scan the text, find the exact words
- For inference (“How does the character feel?”): Look for clues in what they say/do, not just what text says directly
- For explanation (“Why did…”): Use evidence from text to support answer
- For vocabulary (“What does [word] mean?”): Use context clues, or if they genuinely don’t know, that’s a word to learn
Low-stress approach:
- “Let’s read this passage together and see if we can answer the questions”
- If they get frustrated, read the text TO them, then work on questions together
- Celebrate good strategies: “I love how you went back to the text to check that answer”
3. Vocabulary Building (Ongoing)
- When they encounter unknown words while reading, look them up together
- Use new words in conversation
- Word games (Scrabble, Boggle, crosswords)
- Make it fun, not a vocabulary drill
Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling (GPS): How to Help at Home
What’s Actually Tested
Grammar & Punctuation Paper (45 minutes, 50 marks)
- Short answer questions about grammar rules
- Identifying and correcting errors
- Sentence construction
Spelling Test (20 minutes, 20 marks)
- Teacher reads sentences, children write missing words
- Tests spelling rules and tricky words
Effective Practice at Home
1. Grammar (1-2 times/week, 15-20 mins)
What helps:
- Knowing terminology (noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc.)
- Understanding sentence structure (subject, object, clause)
- Recognizing punctuation rules
How to practice:
- CGP SATs Question Books (grammar section)
- BBC Bitesize grammar games and activities
- Short, focused sessions (grammar is boring—keep it brief!)
Low-stress approach:
- “Let’s do 10 quick grammar questions”
- If they don’t know a rule, TEACH it (with examples) rather than just marking wrong
- Use funny sentences to make it more engaging
2. Spelling (5-10 mins daily OR 3-4 times/week)
What helps:
- Learning spelling patterns and rules
- Practicing high-frequency words they struggle with
- Regular testing (little and often is better than occasional long lists)
How to practice:
- Use Year 5/6 spelling lists (available free online)
- Focus on words YOUR CHILD gets wrong (not whole lists if they can spell most)
- Look-cover-write-check method
- Test in context (full sentence, not just the word)
Low-stress approach:
- “Let’s practice 10 spellings before dinner”
- Make it game-like (how many can you get right out of 10?)
- Don’t make them write each word 10 times (doesn’t work and is tedious)
Part 5: Creating a Low-Stress Practice Environment
The Setup
When to Practice
Best times:
- After school but after a snack and short break (not immediately when tired/hungry)
- Before dinner (energy still good, but there’s a natural endpoint)
- Weekend mornings (fresh and rested)
Worst times:
- Late evening (when tired—creates arguments and poor performance)
- Before school (rushing, stressful)
- When they’re emotional about something else
Where to Practice
Good setup:
- Quiet space (not in front of TV)
- Good lighting
- Comfortable but not too comfortable (kitchen table often works better than bed)
- All materials ready (pencils, erasers, timer, practice papers)
- No distractions (phones away, siblings doing quiet activities)
How to Practice
The Low-Stress Session Structure:
- Start positive (1 min):
- “Let’s do some maths practice—you were brilliant at fractions last time”
- NOT “Time to work. No complaining.”
- Explain what you’re doing (1 min):
- “Today we’re going to do one reasoning paper. It should take about 40 minutes. Let’s see how you do.”
- Set timer so they can see how much time they have
- Work time (20-45 mins depending on activity):
- Let them work independently if they can
- Be available for questions but don’t hover
- Encourage them to try before asking for help
- Mark together (10-15 mins):
- Go through answers
- CELEBRATE what they got right first
- For mistakes, ask: “What do you think you did here?” (let them self-correct if possible)
- Reteach if they genuinely didn’t understand
- End positive (1 min):
- “Well done for working hard. You’re getting faster at these!”
- Specific praise: “I noticed you’re much better at fractions than you were”
- NOT “Only 25/40? You need to do better.”
What to Say When They Get Answers Wrong
DON’T say:
- “That’s wrong. You should know this.”
- “We’ve been through this so many times!”
- “Why didn’t you read the question properly?”
- “You’re not trying hard enough.”
- “Other children can do this.”
DO say:
- “Okay, let’s look at this one together.”
- “What do you think the question is asking?”
- “Ah, I see what happened. Let me show you a different way to think about it.”
- “This is a tricky one. Lots of people find this hard.”
- “You got part of it right—you knew to [do X], you just need to [do Y] as well.”
Part 6: Recognizing and Managing Stress
Normal Nerves vs Unhealthy Stress
Normal Nerves (Okay)
- Mentioning SATs occasionally: “When are the tests again?”
- Slight butterfly feeling week before
- Wanting to do well
- Occasional complaint: “I don’t want to do practice today”
- Sleeping normally (maybe one or two restless nights close to tests)
- Still eating normally
- Still enjoying other activities
Your response: Reassure, normalize, keep things in perspective.
Unhealthy Stress (NOT Okay—Take Action)
- Frequent tears about SATs (more than once a week)
- Physical symptoms: regular headaches, stomach aches, feeling sick
- Sleep problems (difficulty falling asleep, waking up worried, nightmares)
- Appetite changes (not eating, or comfort eating)
- Withdrawn from friends and activities
- Irritable, angry, or very low mood
- Saying things like: “I’m going to fail,” “I’m stupid,” “Everyone’s better than me”
- Panic attacks (hyperventilating, heart racing, feeling like can’t breathe)
- School refusal or not wanting to go to school
Your response: STOP all pressure immediately. See strategies below.
What to Do if Your Child Is Stressed
Immediate Actions
- STOP SATs practice at home for at least 1 week
- No practice papers
- No mention of SATs
- Let them decompress
- Talk to them (in a calm moment):
- “You seem worried about SATs. What’s bothering you?”
- Listen without dismissing: “That sounds really hard”
- Validate feelings: “It’s normal to feel nervous about tests”
- Reassure about what SATs actually mean:
- “SATs show what you know right now. They don’t show how clever you are or what you can become.”
- “Your secondary school place is already decided. SATs won’t change that.”
- “Everyone finds some bits hard. That’s okay.”
- “We love you no matter what your scores are.”
- Talk to their teacher:
- Share your concerns
- Ask if they’ve noticed stress at school
- Work together on reducing pressure
- Ask how child is actually performing (sometimes children worry unnecessarily)
- Check YOUR behavior:
- Are you showing your own anxiety?
- Are you pushing too hard?
- Are you comparing them to siblings/friends?
- Are you tying love/approval to performance?
Ongoing Strategies
- Keep perspective: Talk about life after SATs (summer plans, secondary school excitement, NOT SATs results)
- Maintain normal life: Hobbies, playdates, family time continue
- Physical activity: Exercise reduces anxiety (run, swim, bike, play outside)
- Mindfulness/relaxation: Breathing exercises, calm apps (Headspace Kids, Smiling Mind)
- Sleep priority: 10-11 hours essential. No late-night cramming.
- Healthy eating: Regular meals, limit sugar, stay hydrated
- Positive self-talk: Replace “I can’t do this” with “I’m still learning this” or “I can do my best”
When to Get Professional Help
Contact GP or school counselor if:
- Physical symptoms persist (ongoing headaches, stomach aches)
- Panic attacks
- Severe anxiety affecting daily functioning
- Depression symptoms (persistent low mood, loss of interest in everything, talking about worthlessness)
- Self-harm or suicidal thoughts (URGENT—get help immediately)
Remember: Your child’s mental health is more important than test scores. Always.
Part 7: The Final Weeks Before SATs
Final Month (Mid-April to Mid-May)
What to Focus On
DO focus on:
- Confidence-building (reviewing topics they CAN do)
- Test strategies (time management, what to do when stuck)
- Familiarization (so format isn’t a surprise)
- Wellbeing (sleep, exercise, calm environment)
DON’T focus on:
- Teaching brand new content (too late)
- Intensive cramming (doesn’t work and creates stress)
- Drilling their weaknesses over and over (demoralizing)
- Constant practice (diminishing returns)
Test-Taking Strategies to Teach
Time Management:
- “Don’t spend 10 minutes on one hard question. Move on and come back if you have time.”
- “Check the time every 10-15 minutes.”
- “If a question is worth 1 mark, spend about 1 minute. If it’s worth 3 marks, spend about 3 minutes.”
What to Do When Stuck:
- “Skip it. Circle it to come back to.”
- “Make your best guess rather than leaving blank.”
- “Don’t panic. Move to the next question.”
Checking Work:
- “If you finish early, go back and check answers.”
- “Especially check arithmetic calculations—easy to make silly mistakes.”
- “Make sure you’ve answered the question asked.”
Reading Questions Carefully:
- “Underline key words in the question.”
- “Watch for words like ‘not,’ ‘except,’ ‘always.'”
- “If it says ‘show your working,’ make sure you do.”
The Week Before SATs
Your Priorities
- Sleep (Most Important)
- 10-11 hours every night
- Regular bedtime (not later than usual)
- Calming bedtime routine
- No screens 1 hour before bed
- Calm, Normal Routine
- Don’t make this week feel dramatically different
- Keep usual activities (if they have football on Tuesday, let them go)
- Family time as normal
- Minimal Practice
- Maybe one light review session mid-week
- Quick recap of strategies
- NOT full practice papers
- Positive Environment
- Encouragement without pressure
- “You’ve worked hard and you’re ready”
- NOT “This is so important” or “Don’t mess this up”
- Practical Preparation
- Lay out uniform night before (one less thing to think about)
- Pack water bottle
- Plan good breakfast (protein + carbs—not sugar crash)
- Know what time to leave for school
What NOT to Do
- Cram every evening
- Pull late nights
- Keep mentioning how important SATs are
- Compare to other children (“Emily’s been practicing every day…”)
- Express your own anxiety
- Make dramatic changes to routine
- Say things like “This will determine your future”
Part 8: SATs Week Itself
The Schedule (2026 Dates: 11-14 May)
| Day | Test | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 11 May | Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling Paper 1 Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling Paper 2 (Spelling) |
45 minutes 20 minutes |
| Tuesday 12 May | Reading | 60 minutes |
| Wednesday 13 May | Maths Paper 1 (Arithmetic) | 30 minutes |
| Thursday 14 May | Maths Paper 2 (Reasoning) Maths Paper 3 (Reasoning) |
40 minutes 40 minutes |
Your Role During SATs Week
Morning Routine
Every morning:
- Wake them with plenty of time (not rushed)
- Good breakfast:
- Protein + complex carbs (eggs and toast, porridge with nuts, yogurt with granola)
- Not sugary cereal (energy crash mid-test)
- Water or milk (avoid sugary drinks)
- Calm, positive send-off:
- “Have a good day. Just do your best.”
- “Remember to read questions carefully.”
- “Love you. See you after school.”
- NOT “This is so important!” or “Don’t mess up!”
- Pack:
- Water bottle (schools usually allow these)
- Tissues (nerves can make noses run)
- Snack for break (if school allows)
After School Each Day
When they come home:
- DON’T immediately ask “How did it go?”
- Let them decompress first
- Many children don’t want to talk about it
- Some will volunteer information; listen without judgment
- Provide comfort:
- Snack they like
- Downtime
- Physical activity to burn off nervous energy
- If they want to talk:
- Listen: “It sounds like it was tough”
- Validate: “That question does sound tricky”
- Reassure: “You did your best. That’s all anyone can ask.”
- DON’T quiz them on specific questions or try to work out what they got right/wrong
- If they’re upset:
- “It’s done now. You don’t have to think about it anymore.”
- “I’m proud of you for trying your hardest.”
- “Tomorrow is a new test. You can have a fresh start.”
- Distraction: favorite activity, funny movie, play outside
- Normal evening:
- Regular routine
- NO revision or practice for next day’s test
- Early night (8pm bedtime for Year 6 is appropriate)
- Calming activities before bed
What NOT to Do
- Interrogate them about how it went
- Try to figure out their score
- Show disappointment if they say it was hard
- Compare to how other children found it
- Practice for next day’s test (too late, just creates stress)
- Make them go to bed at 6pm (unusual = stressful)
- Cancel all fun activities (makes week miserable)
Friday (Day After Last Test)
Celebrate!
- It’s over!
- Do something fun as a family
- Treat them to something special
- “I’m so proud of how hard you worked” (NOT “I’m sure you did brilliantly”—you don’t know yet)
Part 9: Using Resources Wisely
What to Buy (And What Not To)
Essential (Worth Buying)
| Resource | Cost | Why It’s Worth It |
|---|---|---|
| CGP SATs Question Books (Maths, Reading, GPS) |
~£6 each Total: £18 |
High-quality practice questions organized by topic Allows targeted practice on weak areas Good value |
| Past SATs Papers (3-4 sets) | Free online OR ~£20 for printed set |
Exact format of real tests Best for familiarization Can download free from gov.uk |
| CGP 10-Minute Tests | ~£4 each Total: £12 |
Short, manageable practice sessions Less overwhelming than full papers Good for regular practice |
Total essential spend: £30-50
Optional (If Budget Allows)
- CGP Study Books (£6 each): Explains concepts if child has gaps
- Times tables apps/games (Free-£5): Makes practice fun
- Spelling/vocabulary workbooks (£5-8): If spelling is a weakness
Not Worth It (Save Your Money)
- Expensive SATs “courses” or “bootcamps” (£100+)—create pressure, not necessary for most children
- Every SATs book published (you only need 2-3 good ones, not 20)
- Flashy “guaranteed pass” programs (no such thing)
Free Resources
- Past SATs papers: Free download from gov.uk (search “Key Stage 2 SATs past papers”)
- BBC Bitesize: Free videos and practice for all subjects
- Khan Academy: Free maths practice
- Spelling lists: Year 5/6 statutory spelling list (free online)
- YouTube: Lots of free SATs practice and explanation videos
Should You Get a Tutor?
Consider tutoring if:
- Child has significant gaps in knowledge
- You don’t have time or knowledge to help
- Child responds better to someone else teaching them (common!)
- Child is very anxious and needs expert reassurance
- You can afford it (£25-50/hour, 8-12 sessions = £200-600)
You probably DON’T need tutoring if:
- Child is on track (teacher says they’re fine)
- Working at or above expected standard in class
- You can support practice at home
- Budget is tight (you can prepare effectively with books and free resources)
If you do tutor:
- Start January at earliest (not earlier—too much pressure)
- Once a week is enough
- Make sure tutor focuses on confidence AND competence
- Check child isn’t becoming reliant (should still be able to work independently)
Part 10: After SATs
The Waiting Period (May-July)
What happens:
- Tests finished mid-May
- Papers sent away for external marking
- Results sent to schools early July
- Schools share results with parents mid-July
During this time:
- LET IT GO. Don’t obsess about how they did.
- Don’t try to calculate their score based on what they said
- Enjoy the last weeks of primary school (trips, activities, fun!)
- Focus on transition to secondary school (much more important)
Results Day (July)
Understanding the Results
You’ll receive:
- Scaled scores for Reading, Maths (GPS usually given as scaled score too)
- Score of 100 = expected standard
- Below 100 = below expected
- Above 100 = above expected
- 110+ = high score
- Highest possible: 120
How to Respond
If results are good (at or above expected):
- Celebrate! “Well done, you worked really hard.”
- Keep it in perspective: “These show you’re ready for secondary school.”
- Don’t make it their whole identity: “You’re so clever” → “You worked hard and it paid off”
If results are below expected:
- Stay calm and positive
- “These tests don’t show everything you can do.”
- “You’re still going to [secondary school name] and you’ll do great there.”
- “Lots of people who don’t do brilliantly at SATs go on to do really well at GCSEs.”
- Focus on strengths: “You did well in reading, and maths is something you can work on in Year 7.”
- DON’T show disappointment or frustration
What SATs results DON’T mean:
- They don’t affect which secondary school your child goes to (already decided in March)
- They don’t predict GCSE results reliably (lots changes between age 11 and 16)
- They don’t measure intelligence, creativity, kindness, resilience, or any of the other things that matter
- They don’t define your child’s worth or future
The Bottom Line
Key Principles for Supporting SATs Preparation
1. Start Reasonable, Not Early
January-April is your window. 3-4 months of focused practice is plenty.
2. Little and Often Beats Intensive Cramming
2-3 times per week, 30-45 minutes is more effective than weekend marathons.
3. Focus on Confidence AND Competence
A child who feels capable will perform better than an anxious high-achiever.
4. Practice Should Be Productive, Not Punitive
If every session ends in tears, you’re doing it wrong.
5. Wellbeing Trumps Scores
Sleep, exercise, play, family time are NOT optional extras. They’re essential.
6. Your Relationship Matters More Than Test Results
Don’t sacrifice your relationship with your child for a few extra marks.
7. Keep Perspective
SATs are one assessment on a few days in May. They’re not your child’s life story.
Quick Reference Guide
The Dos and Don’ts
| DO | DON’T |
|---|---|
| Practice 2-3 times/week for 30-45 mins | Practice every single day for hours |
| Focus on familiarization and confidence | Try to teach them everything they’ve ever struggled with |
| Celebrate effort and improvement | Focus only on scores and comparison |
| Keep normal routine and activities | Cancel all fun to make room for SATs |
| Reassure that SATs don’t define them | Say “SATs determine your whole future” |
| Be available to help when stuck | Hover constantly or get frustrated with mistakes |
| Prioritize sleep and wellbeing | Allow late-night cramming |
| Talk to teacher if child is struggling or stressed | Suffer in silence or push through regardless |
| Use free or low-cost resources effectively | Spend hundreds on unnecessary courses |
| Stay calm and positive during SATs week | Show your own anxiety or interrogate them after tests |
Remember: Your child is more than a SATs score. Support them in doing their best, but never at the cost of their wellbeing or your relationship.
Years from now, they won’t remember their exact scores—but they will remember whether you made them feel loved, supported, and capable.
You’ve got this. And so have they.
Need Expert Support for SATs Preparation?
Tutorful connects you with experienced tutors who specialize in building both confidence and competence. Our tutors know how to prepare children for SATs effectively without creating unnecessary stress—focusing on understanding, not just test techniques. Whether your child needs help with maths, reading, or just a confidence boost, we can help.
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