SATs Mock Exam Advice
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Mock exams are a good opportunity to reduce any anxiety your child might have about sitting the SATs tests in Year 6 of primary school. Often, these mock exams can be organised by SATs tutors and can offer a range of benefits to your child in the lead-up to the exam itself. In this article, we look at why sitting a SATs mock exam might be a good idea for your child.
Help to Understand Exam Structure
Mock exams can be set out in the same way as the real SATs exams, including sample questions that are similar to those that could be asked in the real test. While children might be confident in their knowledge of particular subjects, putting that into practice in the exam room is definitely worth practicing.
Mock tests are very useful for showing your child what to expect from the SATs exam format and will put them at an advantage come SATs testing day.
Experience Test Conditions
The Key Stage 2 SATs may be one of the first times that your child experiences formal class test conditions. For Year 6 children, this can be a little unnerving and can sometimes result in unnecessary worry ahead of the exam.
Sitting a SATs mock exam can help your child become more familiar with this formal environment, without the pressure of it being the actual exam. Mock exams can provide children with reassurance and help to calm their nerves.
Improve Time Management
Similar to practice exam papers, mock exams are a great way of improving your child’s time management. Although the SATs are relatively short time-wise, children must be able to read texts and answer questions quickly and confidently before moving on to the next one immediately after.
By sitting a SATs mock exam, children can learn to manage their time more effectively, giving them a better chance of answering all the questions in the test, rather than potentially missing out on marks for unanswered questions.
Highlight Any Weaknesses
It’s unrealistic to expect children to be strong across all SATs subjects. The majority will most likely be stronger in some than others. Mock exams will identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses both in their subject knowledge and/or their exam technique.
Having your child take mock exams will help you gauge their progress and identify any areas that need to be improved. This will enable your child’s revision to be more focused and targeted in the final run-up to their SATs.
Boost Confidence
When your child has committed to their SATs revision and has shown progress through practice exam papers, mock exams can be an excellent way of boosting their confidence ahead of the real SATs exam.
If your child performs well and gains a good result in the mock test, they will recognise that their hard work is paying off and as a result, their confidence will be higher come exam day.
Practical Ways to Prepare for a Mock SATs Exam
Your child’s preparation for their mock exam should be no different to their preparation for Year 6 SATs. By the time they take the mock test, they should have been following a study plan and using SATs practice resources regularly. We would recommend the following practical tips for preparing for both mock SATs exams and the real SATs exam:
- Your child should get plenty of rest the night before the test.
- Ensure your child has a healthy, energy-packed breakfast on the morning of the exam.
- Pack any SAT materials required for the exam the night before, to avoid stress in the morning.
Related posts:
SATs Prep Materials: What You Need
SATs Exam Preparation Tips and Strategies
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