The new English grammar, punctuation and spelling test will be introduced in the 2012/13 school year. Maintained schools, academies and Free Schools have a statutory duty to administer the test to children who have completed the Key Stage 2 programme of study in May 2013. All children working at level 3 or above must take the test.

This page answers questions about what the new test will contain and how it has been developed.

Further information about the test is provided in the Key Stage 2 assessment in 2013 section of this website.

 
 What is covered by the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test?

The English grammar, punctuation and spelling test will only include questions that assess elements of the current English curriculum.

The test model, structure and weighting of the assessable domain (what is covered by the test) are described in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test framework, which can be downloaded from this website.

The domain has been finalised following the trial of a number and variety of item types (questions) for each component of:

  • sentence grammar (through identification and grammatical accuracy)
  • punctuation (through identification and grammatical accuracy)
  • vocabulary (through grammatical accuracy); and
  • spelling.
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 How will each of the components be tested?

The English grammar, punctuation and spelling test framework describes how each of the different components will be tested. This document is available to download from this website along with illustrative sample materials.

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 How will the different components e.g. spelling or punctuation be weighted within the test?

The different weightings are described in the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test framework which can be downloaded from this website. This document was developed following a technical pre-test (school-based trial) that took place in June 2012.

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 Who ensures that the test is robust and of a high standard?

Ofqual is responsible for regulating the new test, and for confirming that it meets the regulatory criteria.

During the test development process the tests are reviewed by panels of teachers, curriculum advisors, subject specialists and markers as well as undergoing a series of trials. Information of the validity of these tests is obtained throughout the test development process.

STA has developed the test to ensure that it meets the five core regulatory criteria of validity, comparability, minimal bias, manageability and reliability.

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 How will you ensure that the test is fair to children with special educational needs?

One of the regulatory criteria for any test is minimising bias. STA has carried out a range of activities to ensure that the test is fair for all children. This activity included review by experts and statistical analysis of outcomes.

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 How will the test be administered?

It will be administered in a similar way to other Key Stage 2 tests. STA will be responsible for the test delivery and will communicate test administration arrangements to schools and local authorities nearer the time.

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 Who will set the levels for this test?

STA will carry out a standard setting exercise to set the level on the test once the test has been administered in May 2013.

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 How will the level 6 test be different to the level 3-5 test?

The level 6 test has been designed to assess whether a child is working at a level 6 standard on the areas of the curriculum associated with grammar, punctuation and spelling. This requires the assessment of elements of the Key Stage 3 programme of study.

Questions in the level 6 test will be more difficult and designed to elicit responses that demonstrate a higher level of understanding on the part of the child than for the 3-5 test. The level 6 test will include an extended response task, and may also include different question types that enable children to demonstrate their attainment more appropriately at level 6.

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