How many 11-year-olds reach the expected standard?
63% of year 6 pupils in England met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together in 2025-26, up 4.6 points on 2021-22. In reading it was 75% and in maths 75%.
Met the expected standard in all three, 2025-26.
Met the expected reading standard, 2025-26.
Met the expected maths standard, 2025-26.
Key stage 2 over time
What’s this?
The share of year 6 pupils in England who met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together in their Key Stage 2 tests and assessments.
What it cannot tell you: There were no tests in 2020 and 2021, and the writing assessment changed in 2016, so compare 2017 onward.
What’s this?
The share of year 6 pupils in England who met the expected standard in reading.
What it cannot tell you: There were no tests in 2020 and 2021.
What’s this?
The share of year 6 pupils in England who met the expected standard in maths.
What it cannot tell you: There were no tests in 2020 and 2021.
Year by year
| Period | Pupils meeting the expected standard at age 11 | Pupils meeting the expected reading standard at age 11 | Pupils meeting the expected maths standard at age 11 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 63% | 75% | 75% |
| 2024-25 | 62% | 75% | 74% |
| 2023-24 | 61% | 74% | 73% |
| 2022-23 | 60% | 73% | 73% |
| 2021-22 | 59% | 75% | 72% |
| 2018-19 | 65% | 73% | 79% |
| 2017-18 | 64% | 75% | 76% |
| 2016-17 | 61% | 72% | 75% |
| 2015-16 | 54% | 66% | 70% |
Questions people ask
What are SATs?
Key stage 2 tests taken by year 6 pupils (aged 10 to 11) in England in reading and maths, plus a teacher assessment of writing. They show how many pupils reach the expected standard, which is not the same as being at the average.
Why is there no result for 2020 and 2021?
The tests were cancelled because of the pandemic.
What counts as the expected standard?
A scaled score of 100 or more in a test, or the standard set by the teacher for writing. The government sets the bar and has changed it, so compare recent years.
What does “pupils meeting the expected standard at age 11” measure?
The share of year 6 pupils in England who met the expected standard in reading, writing and maths together in their Key Stage 2 tests and assessments. It was 63% (% of pupils) in 2025-26, up 4.6 points on 2021-22. The highest we have is 65% (2018-19) and the lowest 54% (2015-16).
What does “pupils meeting the expected reading standard at age 11” measure?
The share of year 6 pupils in England who met the expected standard in reading. It was 75% (% of pupils) in 2025-26, up 0.5 points on 2021-22. The highest we have is 75% (2017-18) and the lowest 66% (2015-16).
What does “pupils meeting the expected maths standard at age 11” measure?
The share of year 6 pupils in England who met the expected standard in maths. It was 75% (% of pupils) in 2025-26, up 3.6 points on 2021-22. The highest we have is 79% (2018-19) and the lowest 70% (2015-16).
Sources: Department for Education, Explore education statistics. Updated every night. Each chart has a CSV and a Share button.
See also: GCSE results