Year 6 SATs are one of the most significant milestones in primary school, and Maths is often the subject children feel most anxious about. The good news is that with focused revision on the right topics, children can approach the test with real confidence.
This guide covers exactly what to revise, how the papers work, and where to find free Year 6 SATs Maths resources.
What Is on the Year 6 SATs Maths Papers?
There are three papers, all sat in May of Year 6:
- Paper 1 — Arithmetic (30 minutes): Mental and written calculation. No calculator.
- Paper 2 — Reasoning (40 minutes): Problem-solving, worded questions and data interpretation.
- Paper 3 — Reasoning (40 minutes): Same format as Paper 2.
The Most Important Topics to Revise
Arithmetic (Paper 1)
This paper rewards speed and accuracy. Focus on:
- Long multiplication and long division
- Adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing fractions
- Converting fractions, decimals and percentages
- Order of operations (BODMAS)
- Negative numbers
- Powers and roots
Reasoning (Papers 2 and 3)
These papers test whether children can apply maths to problems. Key topics:
- Ratio and proportion
- Basic algebra: finding the value of unknowns
- Area, perimeter and volume
- Angles in triangles, quadrilaterals and on straight lines
- Reading and interpreting graphs and tables
- Mean, including finding a missing value from a mean
How to Revise Effectively
- Start with arithmetic — 10 minutes of daily arithmetic practice from January makes a measurable difference by May.
- Work through past papers — KS2 SATs papers from 2016 onwards are freely available on the Standards and Testing Agency website. Use them under timed conditions.
- Review mistakes carefully — understanding why an answer was wrong is more valuable than doing more questions.
- Use interactive practice — breaking up paper-based revision with interactive lessons keeps children engaged. Skoolmaths has Year 6 Maths lessons and SATs revision activities covering every topic on the papers.
Free Year 6 SATs Maths Resources
Here are the best free resources available:
- Skoolmaths — free interactive worksheets and activities for KS2 Maths, including Year 6 content.
- Standards and Testing Agency — official past papers and mark schemes.
- Skoolmaths Year 6 Maths — curriculum-aligned interactive lessons covering the full Year 6 programme of study.
When Should You Start Revising?
Ideally, SATs preparation starts in September of Year 6 with steady, low-pressure practice. Intensive revision in the final half-term before May helps consolidate everything. Avoid leaving it all to the Easter holidays — there simply isn’t enough time to cover everything well.
Ready to start? Explore our free Year 6 Maths lessons and SATs revision resources on Skoolmaths.