SATs Springboard insights: September's GPS learning gaps.

In our previous SATs blog, LbQ content author Darryl Keane revealed the initial insights from schools nationwide that took part in the Learning by Questions SATs Springboard.

Not to be outdone, our English content author Kate Wilkinson-Brindle shares the GPS questions that Year 6 classes found the most challenging so far this school year. Take it away, Kate...

Now that hundreds of pupils have completed our new English SATs Diagnostic, GPS1, we can share with you the 3 questions that were the most challenging for our Year 6s.

For those looking for some context, or if you simply want to step into the shoes of these Year 6 pupils, feel free to sample the first GPS diagnostic here.

The 3 most challenging GPS questions

Let's find the gaps in grammar knowledge so far this academic year.

Question 20: Find and copy the relative pronoun in this sentence

Year group: 5

SATs content domain: G1.5b Relative pronouns

Question 20 is the final, and therefore trickiest, question in our first diagnostic set, so there's no surprise that it was found at the top of our list. 'Find and copy the relative pronoun in this sentence', proved difficult for many as only 43% of pupils could correctly identify the relative pronoun.

This word class question is taught in Year 5 alongside relative clauses, but this recently learned knowledge may not have become embedded. A common misconception here was to identify the word 'tumbled' as the relative pronoun.

For pupils who made an error with this question, teachers could choose to either use our 'Revision of Year 5/6 Word Classes' resource or the mastery resource 'Use Relative Clauses'.

Question 11: What is the preposition in this sentence?

Year group: 3

SATs content domain: G1.7 Prepositions

This topic is taught in Year 3, so pupils may not have come across this term for a few years. Only 45% of pupils answered this question correctly, with the most common misconception being to incorrectly identify the word 'blue' as a preposition.

Teachers could choose to allocate one of two suggested sets for pupils who struggled with this question – the mastery set 'Use Prepositions' or 'Practise Identifying Prepositions'.

Question 16: What two things are wrong with this sentence?

Year group: 4

SATs content domain: G5.7 Inverted commas and other punctuation to show direct speech

Only 47% of pupils could correctly answer Question 16. This question asks pupils to identify what two things are wrong with a sentence that includes direct speech.

Although many pupils could correctly identify that there was a missing capital letter at the start of the direct speech, 9% of pupils thought that the second error was that there was a comma missing after the reporting clause.

A further 8% of pupils thought that the inverted commas were around the reporting clause. The content domain G5.7 (Inverted commas and other punctuation to show direct speech) is taught in Year 4, and the misconceptions show that some pupils are unsure of the term 'reporting clause'.

For pupils who found this question difficult, teachers could choose to either allocate a mastery set 'Using Inverted Commas and Other Punctuation to Show Direct Speech', or the practice set 'Practise Punctuating Direct Speech'.

How does your class compare with the nationwide data?

Become part of the SATs conversation

Keep your eyes peeled on the LbQ website and socials as we'll be revealing lots more insights into the nationwide SATs picture all the way up to the tests in May.

Or, you can grab a seat at the SATs Springboard table and become part of the conversation.

Sign up today for a demo.