What Is the KS2 SPaG (GPS) Test?

If your child is in Year 6, you have probably heard about the SPaG test and wondered exactly what it involves. The good news is that it is simpler than it sounds once you know how it is set out. This friendly guide explains what the test is, what its two papers contain, the topics it covers, and gentle ways to help your child prepare.

What is the SPaG test?

The SPaG test is the part of the Year 6 SATs that checks English grammar, punctuation and spelling. Children sit it in the summer term at the end of Key Stage 2, alongside their reading and maths papers.

Its official name in the National Curriculum is the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test, which is why you will often see it shortened to GPS. Many parents and teachers still call it SPaG, which stands for spelling, punctuation and grammar. So if you have wondered whether the GPS test (KS2) and the SPaG test are the same thing, they are: just two names for one assessment.

The test comes in two parts, usually called Paper 1 and Paper 2. Let us look at each in turn.

Paper 1: grammar, punctuation and vocabulary questions

Paper 1 is a written questions paper. Children read each question and write their answer in the booklet, working independently and in silence. It covers three areas: grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.

The questions are short and varied. Some ask your child to choose the right answer, some to add or correct a punctuation mark, and some to change a word or write a short sentence. A few examples of what they might be asked:

• Label a word class: Circle the adverb in the sentence below.
• Add punctuation: Insert a comma in the correct place.
• Choose the right word: Tick the sentence that uses the correct verb tense.
• Show understanding of grammar: Write the sentence again as a question.

Each question is usually worth one mark, and there are quite a few of them. The exact number of marks and the time allowed can change from year to year, so it is best to confirm the current details on GOV.UK rather than relying on older figures.

Paper 2: the spelling test

Paper 2 is the spelling paper, and it works differently from Paper 1. Instead of reading questions, your child listens. An adult who is administering the test reads aloud 20 sentences, each with one word missing. Your child writes the missing word into a gap on their answer sheet.

For example, the administrator might say: "The word is necessary. It is not always necessary to shout. The word is necessary." Your child then writes only the missing word, necessary, into the gap.

The words are drawn from the spelling content of the KS2 National Curriculum. This includes the spelling rules and patterns taught across Key Stage 2, along with the Year 5 and 6 statutory word list, a set of 100 words children are expected to learn by the end of Year 6. If you would like to see those words, our guide to the Year 6 statutory spelling words lists them with the patterns hiding inside.

The grammar, punctuation and spelling topics it covers

Put together, the two papers test a wide range of skills. It helps to know what these are so practice can be focused rather than scattered. Here is an overview of what the KS2 grammar, punctuation and spelling test covers.

A good starting point for the grammar side is being able to name the parts of a sentence. Our guide to word classes at KS2 explains nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs and the rest with simple examples, and it is one of the most useful foundations for Paper 1.

What the questions look like, with simple examples

It can be reassuring to see the questions in plain terms. None require long writing: most ask for a single word, a tick, or one piece of punctuation. Here are a few worked examples in the style of the test.

Choosing a word class. Circle the preposition in the sentence below.

The cat hid under the table.

The answer is under, because it shows where the cat is.

Adding punctuation. Insert a comma in the correct place.

After the long walk we stopped for lunch.

The comma belongs after the opening phrase: After the long walk*,** we stopped for lunch.*

Using an apostrophe. Add an apostrophe in the correct place.

The dogs lead was on the hook.

It becomes The dog's lead, showing the lead belongs to the dog.

A spelling question (Paper 2). The administrator reads: "The word is separate. Please keep the two piles separate. The word is separate." Your child writes separate.

As you can see, the skills are practical and based on everyday sentences. The trick is recognising quickly what each question is asking for, which comes with calm, regular practice.

How to prepare without pressure

The kindest and most effective approach is little and often. Around ten focused minutes on most days will help far more than one long, tiring session, because memory settles best with gentle repetition over time.

A few gentle ideas that work well:

• Focus on one topic at a time, such as commas one week and apostrophes the next, rather than everything at once.
• Revisit older topics briefly so they stay secure and do not fade.
• Read together and point out punctuation or interesting words in a favourite book.
• Talk about sentences in everyday life, noticing how they are built.

Above all, keep it light. There is no need for fear or cramming, and a relaxed child learns far more readily. For a wider plan across all the SATs subjects, our guide on how to help your child revise for SATs puts SPaG in its place alongside everything else.

Where to confirm the official test framework on GOV.UK

Test arrangements, mark schemes and dates are set each year by the Standards and Testing Agency and can change. For the most accurate, current information, always go to the official source on GOV.UK, where you can find the test framework, sample papers and the assessment timetable. Search for the Key Stage 2 SATs or the English grammar, punctuation and spelling test framework.

It is also worth knowing how the results are reported. The raw marks are converted into a scaled score, which we explain gently in our guide to SATs scaled scores explained. Understanding that can take some of the mystery out of the process.

How SATS LION helps

SATS LION turns Year 6 SPaG practice into a game, so grammar, punctuation and spelling feel more like play than revision. Short, friendly question sets cover the topics in the table above and gently revisit them over time, all following the England KS2 curriculum, so confidence builds at a comfortable pace. If you would like to see how it works, take a look at the features.